Dave Stone, University Laboratory High School, Urbana, IL.

Activity 3b, C&I 335, Summer, 1998.

Exploring Emerging Technologies

I chose to explore four emerging technologies for this activity: 1) Java Applets, 2) VRML (Virtual Reality Markup Language), 3) RealAudio/RealVideo and 4) Advanced Communication Features of Browsers.

For each technology listed, I indicate my perception of 1) one or more potential educational uses (with a focus toward my particular teaching situation), 2) who makes the particular technology, 3) what the technology does, 4) its cost, 5) on-line sources of additional information, 6) hardware and software requirements and 7) whether University Laboratory High School presently has the resources to immediately integrate this technology into its current curricular programs, should it desire to do so.

Specific Technologies

Java Applets

• Potential Educational Uses: There are thousands of Java applets available on-line, and many more being produced everyday. An AltaVista search using "Java applets" as the key phrase, with the addition of your particular discipline area, gives you a myriad of applets, whether your teaching interests are at the preschool or post-graduate level. WWW pages which prove useful in finding biological and medical sciences applets include Java Boutique: The Ultimate Java Resource, Biological and Medical Java Applets and Relevant Information Resources about Java and Its Applications In Biology and Chemistry. Molecular biologists and geneticists have produced a large number of applets using bioWidgets, a collection of Java Beans used for development of graphics applications and/or applets within those scientific areas. A potentially useful environmental science/ecology application of Java applet technology is the Chesapeake Bay Observing Site, found on the Gamelan Biology Page .
• Technology Developer: Sun Microsystems produces the Java Development Kit and the Java Tools Bundle.
• Brief Description of the Technology: Java applets give anyone who can construct a WWW page the ability to embed programs into their WWW pages. Stored remotely on someone else's server, applets are downloaded by the browser automatically when anyone clicks on its link. Like HTML, Java is cross-platform, working on Windows, Macintosh and UNIX machines.
• Cost: Existing Java applets can simply be linked to web pages at no cost. There are a number of developer software packages available, with prices determined by vendors. The Java Tools Bundle can be bought and downloaded on-line for $169 or purchased over the phone or on-line and delivered for $189. Schools and universities are able to download these software packages free of charge until March 31, 1999.
• On-line sources of information: The ultimate resource for Java applets is java.sun.com: The Source for Java Technology.
• Hardware requirements: Not stated, though Sun Sales and Support Information can provide the most current information regarding the hardware requirements of the latest versions of their software.
• Resources available for immediate integration into Uni's biology program? Yes.

VRML (Virtual Reality Markup Language)

• Potential Educational Uses: There are many VRML sites with simulations and demonstrations available on-line. An AltaVista search using "VRML" as the key phrase, with the addition of the word biology, gave me a number of interesting simulations of cell and subcellular structure and function, as well as subcellular phenomena including transcription, translation, mitosis and meiosis. Some were still clearly works in progress, though it is clear that once these VRML simulations are fully functional, they may easily replace some of the particularly well done subcellular animations available today only on laserdisc.
• Technology Developer: Many developers of VRML authoring software exist. An excellent site to begin search of the various developers and their products is The VRML Repository.
• Brief Description of the Technology: Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is a standard language for describing interactive 3-D objects and worlds delivered across the Internet. VRML worlds can be interactive and animated, and can include embedded hyperlinks to other Web documents.
• Cost: Plug-ins can be downloaded at no cost when browsing sites which require that particular plug-in. Some VRML programs are free, many development programs currently can be purchased for prices ranging from $30 to $100.
• Online sources of information: VRML User is an excellent source of beginner information, as well as an excellent site for download of numerous beginner activities and limited-option versions of several VRML software programs. The VRML Repository and NCSA VRML are excellent sources of more technical information.
• Hardware requirements: Not stated, though each of the links to VRML software at The VRML Repository includes detailed information about the latest versions of various software packages, as well as addresses and phone numbers for further assistance.
• Resources available for immediate integration into Uni's biology program? Yes.

RealAudio/RealVideo

• Potential Educational Uses: The real value of this technology is its ability to stream small amounts of audio and video over the Internet at rates sufficient to make interactions appear to take place as if the person at the remote site were in the same room. Whether your teaching interests are at the preschool or post-graduate level, this technology allows you to very inexpensively have your students interact with students anywhere throughout the world. My main interest in this technology is that it potentially allows students to produce full motion, fully animated, stereo soundtrack video, digitize it and then place their video on the school's server. Upon clicking a link on a web page developed by my students, students at another site can access those videos, and play them in their entirety. It will also allow students in different parts of the world to collaborate in the production of video and audio materials.
• Technology Developer: RealNetworks produces RealAudio, RealVideo and RealFlash.
• Brief Description of the Technology: See "Potential Educational Uses" above.
• Cost: Individual copies of the software can be downloaded from the RealNetworks Home Page at no cost. A network version of the software, called "The SmartStart Bundle" includes a detachable lapel microphone, video capture card, 'Hot Dog Pro' Web Page editing software from Sausage.com, RealPresenter Plugin for Powerpoint, RealPublisher, a fifty copy site license and bits for RealPlayer Plus, Intranet Edition . This package is available for $1895.
• On-line sources of information: The RealNetwork's Home Page is an obvious first place to get information regarding this technology. An AltaVista search using either "RealNetworks", "RealAudio" or "RealVideo" as your search term, produces links to a number of different on-line articles dealing with application(s) of the program(s) as well as their integration with other resources.
• Hardware requirements: Not stated, though RealNetwork's Service and Support Information provides the most current information regarding the hardware requirements of the latest versions of their software and hardware.
• Resources available for immediate integration into Uni's biology program? Yes, regarding the individual package as well as the network version.

Advanced Communication Features of Browsers

• Potential Educational Uses: Plug-ins are software programs that extend the capabilities of browsers, effectively broadening the variety of ways in which information can be transferred and experienced. Software companies are developing plug-ins rapidly, so the number available through pages such as Netscape's In-line Plug-ins are expected to increase. Currently Netscape divides plug-ins into five main categories: 1) 3D and Animation, 2) Audio/Video, 3) Business and Utilities, 4) Image Viewers and 5) Presentation Plug-Ins. A quick browse through each of the categories makes clear the immediate potential of a number of the 3D and animation, audio-video, image viewer and presentation plug-ins in extending the capabilities of many programs my students currently use, or have considered using, in video production and project presentation.
• Technology Developer: Each plug-in is developed by a software company wishing to extend the capabilities of a browser, as well as make public the potential applications and versatility of their software. By following the specific category link from Netscape's In-line Plug-ins, one arrives at a page listing specific plug-ins, their potential application(s), operating platform(s) and download buttons. You will find hundreds of plug-ins, many of which can be used on a number of different computing platforms.
• Brief Description of the Technology: See "Potential Educational Uses" and "Technology Developer" information above.
• Cost: At this point, the plug-ins listed on Netscape's In-line Plug-ins appear to be free of charge.
• Hardware requirements: Not stated specifically, though any machine which meets the platform requirement and is capable of using the suggested version of the browser (both of these are listed in Netscape's In-line Plug-ins description) should be capable of using that particular plug-in.
• Resources available for immediate integration into Uni's biology program? Yes.

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Last updated on June 22, 1998