Of Computers and Television in Education : Comit

University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario: 16mm.
"A useful tool for analyzing and manipulating data, the computer also has unlimited patience, thus allowing a student to work and learn at his own speed in a process of constant interaction. With colour, sound, and movement, television has tremendous potential to educate—potential that is just beginning to be explored. This film describes the joint research project by the University of Waterloo and IBM, an experimental system for the educational environment which combines the best features of televisions and computers. COMIT (Computerized Multimedia Instructional Television) utilizes video equipment, audio retrieval, and display screens which can function as ordinary television sets or can display information stored in the system. In addition, COMIT uses standard IBM 3270 keyboards and sonic pens. A wide range of graphics capabilities allows a student to move information across the screen, provides multicolour programming, and incorporates text or graphic superimposition. University of Waterloo COMIT users included Dr David Winter, Kinesiology; Dr Elliot Avedon, Leisure Studies; Dr Bev Marshman, Mathematics; Dr Grant Russell, Economics; Dr Paul Beam, English; Dr Bryce Kendrick, Biology; and Dr Christopher Knapper, Teaching Resources. Dr John Moore, University Project Director, comments that this is a vital step towards expanding our educational resources and that it could even be the forerunner of off-campus education provided by cassettes and home computer systems."