Presentation Technology is the term given to technologies that present the encoded document to the end user or patron, possibly following some conversion of one medium to another. If the storage medium is paper, for example, no conversion would be necessary, and the storage medium and the presentation medium are one and the same (unless the distribution technology used were, say, FAX, in which case there are intervening conversion processes). If the storage medium, on the other hand, were digital electronic (3.3.1.6), for example, and data networks (3.5.5) were used as the means of distribution, then the presentation technology might be a computer workstation (3.6.2.4) or the distributed encoded document could be converted to some other form such as paper.
The presentation medium is the medium into which the stored document (3.3), which has been distributed over the distribution medium (3.5.1), is converted to facilitate viewing or reading by the end user.
A Presentation or Viewing Device converts the distribution medium (3.5.1) into the presentation medium (3.6.1). This includes the class of computer workstations (3.6.2.6).
A paper document, such as a book, must itself be considered a viewing device in this context when the presentation medium is paper (3.6.1.1). See 1.2 for a classification of different formats for paper documents.
A display device with a built-in screen and magnification so that a microform (1.1.2) can be read comfortably at normal reading distances. Such devices may be accompanied by microform printers that can produce full-size (generally low-quality) paper copies of the microforms.
A device used to project or play back videotapes (1.1.3 and 3.6.1.3 onto a television screen. Normally this is accomplished through the use of a videorecorder (see below) and television set or television projection system. However, it is becoming increasingly common to play the video back through a computer workstation (3.6.2.6), possibly converting the analog signal to digital form (1.1.6).
The term videorecorder is often used to denote a device capable of both recording live television signals onto videotape and for reading recorded videotapes and transmitting the signal to a video projector or television set.
A device to project motion picture films (1.1.4), still photographic slides (1.2.9.3), or other graphic materials (1.2.9) onto a screen, and, with some device, to reproduce sound from the film soundtrack. Slide viewers enable the user to view the slides through background projection on a small screen. Other classes of projectors (such as overhead projectors) are designed to project images recorded on transparencies onto a screen.
A device capable of playing back audio documents (1.1.5) such as phonograph record players, CD players, and tape cassette players.
A device capable of supporting the creation, storage, access, distribution, or presentation of digital electronic documents (1.1.6), ranging from special purpose devices such as electronic typewriters through microcomputers to high-performance engineering or desktop publishing workstations or even large mainframe computers. They may vary considerably in performance, as typically measured by the computer's internal processing speed, storage capacity, and ability to move data between its various devices. The traditional distinction between a personal computer (PC) and a high-performance workstation is blurring, and the term workstation is generically used to cover both.
That portion of a computer workstation used to view digital electronic documents. This may consist of a display module built into the computer or it may be physically separated from the computer, but attached by cable. Display monitors may be black-and-white (1.4.1.1.1), greyscale (1.4.1.1.2), or color (1.4.1.4). They may also come in varying physical sizes typically ranging from about 8" on the diagonal to 23" or more. They may also display with varying resolution, with the higher (but not highest) performance monitors capable of displaying over 1,000 x 1,000 pixels (spots).
A device locally attached to a computer workstation capable of printing digital electronic documents stored in the computer (3.3.1.6) or distributed to the computer from across a data network (3.5.5). Such devices may utilize a range of technologies including impact printing, inkjet printing, thermal printing and laser printing. They may print at varying speeds ranging from 10 characters per second to some tens of pages per minute. They may print with resolutions varying from several dots per linear inch to several hundred dots per linear inch. They may print in black-and-white, greyscale, or color.
A printer (3.6.2.6.2) that is accessible to a computer workstation remotely across a data network (3.5.1.6). These may typically be higher performance devices than local printers, particularly regarding speed or resolution. Such devices are typically shared among many uses and users. They may have special capabilities for finishing" documents.
Computers capable of supporting multi-media (3.6.2.7) may support other "presentation" devices, such as television monitors for video recordings (although the trend is to combine the television video monitor and the computer display monitor into a single "head"), and audio playback devices for sound signals, including connections to "hi-fi" stereo equipment.
A computer workstation (3.6.2.6) capable of supporting and combining multiple media such as digital electronic, video, sound, and paper.
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