Contents
Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science is an incredible multi-media experience in science. Conceptual information is given within the four categories of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences.
Click on a subdivision of any of these categories and listen to an explanation. Other aspects of the subdivision can be accessed by a click of the mouse.
Check out "Who's Who" to learn about the lives and works of famous
scientists. In "Quiz Master", check your scientific knowledge
quotient by taking a fun multiple choice test. View various videos in
"Video Start", use the "Matter Explorer" to simulate viewing
different kinds of matter under very powerful microscopes, view 3D
versions of common molecules in "Virtual Molecule", or learn about
our universe through "Earth and Universe".
The information is integrated so well, you can link from any page of
information to various other related topics, pictures, videos, or
scientists. Concepts and person's names are pronounced. Whole passages
of certain topics are narrated. The narration is clear and concise. The pictures are beautiful. This is multi-media at its best!
I highly recommend purchase of Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science for both junior high and senior high school libraries. The information given is excellent for learning about a topic for the first time and seeing its relationship to other scientif
ic ideas. Although the text is about 8th grade level, younger students can understand much of what is narrated, and the pictures will appeal to even younger students. Elementary school librarians should also consider Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Scienc
e for their more mature readers and gifted students.
I was so impressed with Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science, I
intend to purchase it to use with my elementary-aged children. We
can spend much time together exploring many interesting facts about science (and have fun while doing it).
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Ease of Use
Installation was not quite as easy as the 3 steps on the package would indicate. I would recommend you read the "Read Me" file before trying to install Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science. I had to upgrade the version of QuickTime on my
hard drive before the CD would work properly, but instructions for the upgrade were easy to follow within the "Read Me" file. After installation, just click on the "Eyewitness Science 2.0" icon. Navigation is as simple as clicking yo
ur mouse on any "hot" icon on the main page. The arrow cursor becomes a pointing finger (just as on the Internet) on a "hot" icon. To leave a section of the encyclopedia, simply click outside the page you are viewing. My o
nly complaint with the Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science is its speed. It retrieves information slowly whether you access from the CD-ROM or from the hard drive.
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System requirements
Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science is a cross platform CD-ROM. Whether you use Windows or Macintosh operating systems, you will need double-speed CD-ROM speed, an 8-bit audio player (or card), a screen display of 640 x 480
pixels using at least 256 colors, speakers, and a mouse. On a Macintosh, you also need a 68LC040 CPU 25 MHz running system 7.0, at least 12 MB of RAM, and 25 MB memory in the hard drive. With Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, you also need a 486DX 33MHz CPU,
at least 8 MB of RAM, and 22 MB of memory in the hard drive.
I installed and ran Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science on a PowerPC Macintosh 6115CD with 40 meg RAM running System 7.0.
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Other Reviews
IconJohn gives Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science
"4.5 stars--excellent . . . Dorling Kindersley has put out some outstanding educational CD-ROMs . . .
and Encyclopedia of Science is no exception. . . . Children and parents alike will really enjoy this one."
Software Clearance Outlet refers to Eyewitness Encyclopedia Of Science as "the essential multimedia reference guide to science and technology. A highly
visual, interactive encyclopedia with
invaluable knowledge and insight into the increasingly technical world in which we live."
Thanks to 