'Discover India' CD-ROM is an educational disk, particularly relevant to National Curriculum geography, which offers a new and exciting experience: the opportunity to explore and discover, for yourself, the reality of life in India.
This demo (run>GoDiscoverDemo) has two working sections: Rural-Urban Contrasts (full), and Kanjikolly (part). All other sections have screen shots to give an idea of the information and graphics contained in them. More details of these are given below under the heading 'Material'. On these screens, the only button which works is the 'Hand' in the top right corner. The 'Hand' in the bottom left corner quits the demo.
Drawing on over 20 years experience of working with poor communities in India and throughout the world, ACTIONAID is ideally placed to provide real insights into life on the sub-continent.
Material
'Discover India' CD-ROM is an interactive learning tool for everybody interested in India.
The disk is split into six sections, which are listed below with brief descriptions of the material found in each of the sub-sections (or modules). Each section is colour-coordinated, for easy reference.
Cities: Grey
On The Move: City Growth
Through the comments of people in India, you hear reasons for moving to the city, or factors preventing such a move. The game-type format tests your understanding of the issues.
Sampangi's Story
Sampangi is a child living on the streets of Bangalore. By using video footage, 'Sampangi's Story' lets you make decisions which affect a child's life on the streets. Video clips act out the decisions you take.
The Pre-Industrial City
As for Western cities, theories of the development of urban areas in poor countries exist. Sjoberg developed one such theory, and it is applied, here, to Bangalore. You can move Sjoberg's model to test his hypothesis.
Rural-Urban Contrasts
A simple matching-pairs game introduces some of the contrasts found in India between rural and urban areas.
Development: Brown
Kanjikolly
Visit and explore the village of Kanjikolly. Video clips and narration help you find out what happens behind the doors of CV George's tea shop, how an elephant is washed or the best way to collect honey.
What Is Development?
Six projects supported by ACTIONAID India, and funded by ACTIONAID in the UK, introduce the approach taken in India to the development process.
Physical: Green
Satellite Images
Images of Bombay and the Western Ghats, and Bangalore provide an insight into what we can read from satellite images. There is also an explanation of the process involved in producing these images.
Population: Yellow
Bangalore: Where People Live
Maps of the city allow comparisons between housing types, industry and transport networks.
There are photos from the city to give a visual picture of the different areas and the buildings found in them.
Demographic Transition
The theory of demographic transition is presented as an interactive model. This is related to actual figures from India.
Population pyramids for the past 40 years, and projected forward using United Nations (UN) estimates, show the change in the population structure of India.
Enough To Go Round?
Malthus, carrying capacity and resource availability in India are all open to exploration.
Water: Blue
Where To Put The Tap?
The village of Tuppadahalli plans to install a new source of clean water. But where, the water experts ask, should the new taps be placed? By using video from this real village, you can experience the decisions being faced by the community.
Hydrological Cycle
An animated hydrological cycle is a simple and easy way to explore the theory of the circulation of water between the surface of the Earth and the atmosphere.
Choropleth maps show temperature and rainfall over India throughout the year, providing an animated description of the climatic change brought by the monsoon.
Work: Red
A Day's Work
Thousands of children in southern India work in factories making matches. For them, schooling is a luxury. 'A Day's Work' gives an insight into 24 hours in the life of one of these children.
Multimedia
The disk includes unrivalled:
Video clips
Authentic Indian music
Original photos
Narration
Models, maps and games
All these interact to bring India to life, on your desktop.
Minimum system requirements
'Discover India' CD-ROM is a hybrid disk which runs on both Macintosh® computers, and PCs using Microsoft® Windows™:
To run the digitised video you'll need QuickTime™ 2.0 from Apple.
Credits
Research
Rachael Samworth, Martin Scudder, Jane Watterson.
Design
Howard Baker, Paul Cook, Leigh Gilbert, Mark Healey, Adam Morrison, Nick Steel, Chris Walsh, Maria Wilson and Paul Wright. Managed by David Beaugeard, Bath College of Higher Education.
Financial support
The Equitable Charitable Trust.
Photography
Simon Grosset, Adam Hinton, Sornan Ponnempalath,
K. Ponnappa Subbaiah, Liba Taylor, Binu S. Thomas.
UK
Steve Brace, Sue Davison, Sîan Edwards and Barry McCann.
India
Sonora Jha Nambiar, Jagdish Raja, Binu S. Thomas and Salil Shetty.
Video
Donald Maynard, Sue Gyde-Nwadikwa, Jagdish Raja, Philip Tuppin, Geoff Walker.
Mastering
Doug Whitehead and Jason Williams (Round One Media Group, 01237 425080).
Programming
Bob Hughes, Simon Jones. Richard Stead (CD-Arts, 01803 868127).
Narration voices
Inder Malhotra, Jasmine Miah, Rose Robbins.
Production
Ben Hartshorn.
Thanks go to the following for their helpful answers to numerous questions and technical support:
Isobel Pring (NoHo Digital Ltd, 0171 916 3577); Marcus Hawkins Adams (Multi-Media Dynamics Ltd, 0734 320983); Nigel Kent (The Art of Invention, 01273 724845); Alan Snow (DFP, 01225 469235); Tony Tucker (Macromedia Europe, 01344 761111); Annie Reed (WOMAD, 01225 743188); Ken Turner (Frog Systems Ltd, 01738 441522).
