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Software for going digital

I wonder how many individuals who are members of the Garden Writing Association would describe their backgrounds as:

1. journalists?
2. horticulturists?
3. educators?
4. researchers?
5. greenhouse or nursery owners?
6. landscape designers, contractors, or maintenance related?
7. interior plantscaping?
8. master gardeners?
9. public or private park/estate management?
10. photographer?

An interesting question would be the amount of formal education or degrees in the respective areas and the years of experience in those fields.

My guess is that someone who considers themselves to have professional training will appreciate the need to keep abreast with the latest improvements in computer technology, including hardware and software.

Assuming that communication is a common thread that each of the above ten backgrounds have in common, let me suggest a different approach to digital communication. Computers allow the construction of a nonlinear database that allows information nodes to be constructed in a 3 dimensional framework with links in every conceivable direction. The software that allows assess to this information is referred to as hypertext.

Hypertext software generally falls into several forms:

1. http authoring or composing (a feature of Netscape browser)
2. Platform specific such as "Hypercard" for Macintosh or "Toolbook" for Windows
3. Cross platform compatible such as "Authorware", "Director"
4. Platform independent such as "Acrobat"

Hypertext software applications allow teachers/instructors/researchers to develop a database of photos, drawings, animations, and text. The presenter can then modify how the information is presented. The same pool of information can be used to communicate with audiences from introductory courses through graduate studies.

Some presentations are strictly linear and the presenter has no convenient options to skip ahead if time is quickly elapsing and specific information at the end of the presentation MUST be covered.

The choice of software tells a lot about the presenter.

Are you like the director of a movie who arranges the order of the images and audio to tell a story? The director controls the how the information is delivered to the audience in a predetermined linear presentation.
Some presenters are more like an orchestra conductor who can place more or less emphasis of a written score.

If you answer questions from the audience your presentations can be more like an "improv" actor who doesn't have script, but has a conversational interaction with the audience.

How we perceive ourselves is likely to be reflected how we approach technology - as an annoyance, a threat, or another tool with which to express ourselves.

That is my perspective.

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA


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