Describes teletext, a one-way broadcast transmission of text and graphics viewed on a television screen, and its use by publishers as one means of transferring textual and graphical information. Among the services described are news reports; weather forecasts; transportation, community, and consumer information; and advertising. (Author/JJD)

Videotex systems are reviewed and grouped into five general classes: information retrieval, transactions, messaging, computing, and telemonitoring. The videotex technologies providing these services at the user end are described and a series of technological enhancements for each service is discussed. (Author/JJD)

Describes Learn Alaska, an electronic educational system run jointly by the University of Alaska and the state Department of Education. Explains use of teleconferencing, videotex, teletext, and software teledelivery. (JM)

Discussion of videotex services for the general adult public and students covers investment by information provider (public libraries) and costs to user of a home system, problems of training for home use of telereference services, and six factors to be considered before introducing videotex services in the library. (EJS)

Identifies technologies available to libraries and information centers for increasing and redirecting information services to patrons. Viewdata and teletext services, videodisc technology, online catalogs, and microcomputers are highlighted, and methods and strategies for effective implementation are discussed. (EJS)

Describes the two-way Highly Interactive Optical Visual Information System (Hi-OVIS), involving the transmission and reception of educational, advertising, and public service programing, which has been in experimental use in Japan since 1978. Utilizing fiber optics, the system equips each house with a keyboard, television, television camera, and…

A study was conducted to determine who, within a target user group, used and benefitted from a videotex system. The subjects were large-scale farmers who agreed to have videotex terminals installed in their homes to receive a wide range of informational and commercial transaction services provided by a bank holding company. At the end of an…

The Manitoba Telephone System has established an experimental integrated home information system called Project Ida in a trial group of 100 homes. Discussed here are the origin, current operation, and future prospects of this system, which includes videotex, fire monitoring, telemetering, and educational television. (Author/JJD)

Surveys over 700 Iowa farmers regarding their use of teletext and videotex technologies. Finds that for younger, higher-income farmers, these technologies are emerging as a "best source" for relatively perishable or highly volatile information like market prices; otherwise, these technologies complement rather than replace existing…

Because of the drastic reduction in prices and the availability of versatile, inexpensive software, the home computer today is enjoying an exponential growth and may be effecting a fundamental change in mass communication and processes. Existing media suffer from many inherent limitations and offer unspecified audiences very low or no referability…

Report on Viewtron, first commercial videotex service in the United States, includes its multifarious services, subscription base, management by Viewdata, and failure to succeed as quickly as was expected. Explanations for this shortfall are discussed, and based on a review of the entire system, recommendations are made for boosting sales.…

Social, technological, and economic factors relevant to informed decision-making are presented to provide policymakers with an understanding of factors involved in national entry into videotex and/or teletext technologies. It is assumed that the policymaker has a basic knowledge of computers, but little or no knowledge of the videotex-related…

The most important developments now taking place or being planned are emphasized in this collection of eight papers on the emerging aspects of information technology. In addition to an introduction by Ric Foot and a keynote address by John Butcher, the specific papers are as follows: (1) "Telesoftware as Part of the Knowledge Network,"…

Intended as an introductory level treatment for readers with little technical background, this primer focuses on the technology of electronic text, its current utilization, and potential use. Included are explanations of the terms associated with electronic text, an exploration of the use of television in providing videotex services, a call for…

Designed to provide an overview of the nature and focus of activity in the fledgling videotex industry in the United States and Canada, this updated and extended report presents in-depth reviews of 26 projects which reflect the involvement of such industries as publishing, retailing, agriculture, banking, other financial intermediaries,…