Multimedia encyclopedias are increasingly more popular--and it's easy
to see why. Their searchability, incorporation of sound and video, and
interactive demonstrations are just a few of the advantages they have
over paper encyclopedias. Our encyclopedia buying guide researches the
range available on CD-ROM and DVD, and recommends the best
encyclopedias.
Introduction
Encyclopedias were among the first types of software to appear on
CD-ROM, and it's easy to see why. Printed encyclopedias bring together
massive amounts of text and pictures to help explain ideas and catalogue
real-life objects, events, people, places and discoveries. With the move
from print to multimedia, users suddenly have many more ways of
accessing the information in an encyclopedia. They can search the
contents in many different ways, for example, and there are more routes
to finding information than a single, static printed index can provide.
Multimedia offers other advantages over print. Students can cut and
paste information into another document to help their research.
Encyclopedias can be kept permanently up to date thanks to the ability
to absorb new content downloaded from the Internet, and their scope has
been expanded with links pointing readers to useful Web sites. And
articles can be augmented with sounds and movies as well as graphics,
while interactive experiments and demonstrations help explain ideas,
theories and concepts. It all adds up to a far richer experience than
print could ever provide.
Market Leaders
The two most popular multimedia encyclopedias are the Encyclopedia
Britannica (Ultimate Reference Suite
CD and
DVD, and Britannica Deluxe
CD) and the Encarta range from Microsoft (Encarta Premium
Suite
CD and
DVD, and Encyclopedia
Standard and
Plus ).
They have very different origins. At the core of the multimedia
version of Britannica is the text of the printed encyclopedia
with articles spanning the years between its origin in 1768 and the
present day. Contributors include some of the greatest thinkers in
history as well as modern leaders in their fields. This historical
information is one of Britannica's great strengths.
Encarta is a newer product altogether, and was designed
specifically as a multimedia reference tool. Though originally developed
in the US, the content of the version available in the UK is created by
a UK-based team of editors and writers. It too contains many articles by
leading lights, but these are modern rather than historical figures.
Both encyclopedias pay attention to the enhancements that multimedia
offers, with interactive elements, video, audio and pictorial records
taking a prominent place. In general Encarta makes better use of
multimedia, while Britannica's content has more of an academic
focus--but the two complement each other well.
For Students
Encyclopedias like Britannica, Encarta and and the
Hutchinson are ideal for secondary school or adult users. The
Encarta's interface is extremely child-friendly: it's simple enough
for school children to use but the content is sufficiently substantial
to satisfy students studying for their GCSEs and information-seeking
adults. University students may prefer Britannica, where articles
are long and full and can be quite academic, and the encyclopedia's rich
history means there are articles by some of the great historical
figures, such as Harry Houdini and Sigmund Freud.
For Children
Dorling Kindersley's
Eyewitness Children's Encyclopedia and the
Oxford Children's Encyclopedia are good examples of
multimedia encyclopedias designed for a younger audience. These use less
complex language, tend to be graphically rich, and have easily
accessible interfaces. The focus of these encyclopedias aimed at younger
children tends to be on having fun while you're learning, as with the
Eyewitness Encyclopedia, where children can set off on a learning
adventure via a magical 3-D landscape, where questions pop up at every
turn. But for more serious research, children can move directly to the
encyclopedia itself.
Subject-Specific Encyclopedias
The encyclopedias discussed above are all general in their focus. The
original encyclopedias, like the first edition of Britannica,
were intended to record of all knowledge, and this tradition continues.
But there are also many subject-specific encyclopedias available on
CD-ROM. These are ideal for enthusiasts and hobbyists. Hunt around, and
you're likely to find a CD-ROM that covers your favourite subject
comprehensively.
For young science fans, Dorling Kindersley's
Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science is a strong choice: 3-D
models help children, students, and science buffs of all ages explore
3-D models of molecules and chemical compounds, while the QuizMaster
feature tests your science savvy and the Who's Who section introduces
major figures in the history of science. Microsoft's
Encarta Africana focuses on the history, geography and
culture of people of African descent worldwide. Gardeners might like the
Romany Growing Plants Interactive Encyclopedia with its
database of 17,000 plants, or the popular
RHS Plant Finder. And bird-watchers will delight in the
AA Encyclopedia Of British & European Birds.
Some CDs don't actually call themselves encyclopedias but still
warrant inclusion in the category. One is
Oz Clarke's Wine Guide, which shares many features with other
encyclopedias, not least its comprehensive coverage, strong database,
and good research and search tools.
Choosing an Encyclopedia
Consider the following factors when weighing up alternatives:
- Country of origin: Some encyclopedias available in the UK
were originally made for the US market. Spellings differ, which makes
searching difficult, and articles may have a US slant. For example,
articles about the history of television, or discussion of political
issues, may be culturally specific.
- Age of user: Younger users may appreciate less complex
language in articles and more graphics and fun features. Older users
or university students may require a more academic focus.
- Multimedia features and extras: Some encyclopedias offer
more than others. If you are the kind of user who likes to experiment
with new features and to browse, then a feature-heavy encyclopedia is
a good choice.
- Encyclopedias already used: If you are buying a generalist
encyclopedia for children who already use an encyclopedia at school,
you may want to consider buying a different encyclopedia for use at
home.
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