AMAM plans CD-ROM

The printed word is dead.

Many critics have expressed sentiments of this sort in the wake of the computer's increasing popularity over the past few years, and with the release of a new CD-ROM, the Allen Memorial Art Museum is giving those critics good reason to fear the worst.

"Masterworks for Learning: A College Collection Catalogue" is the name of the CD-ROM currently being produced by the museum and several Oberlin College students. Upon release, it will act as an equivalent to the current book form of the museum catalogue.

The old catalogue was an academic publication that included black and white photos of the museum's most important art pieces along with descriptions of the pieces by art professionals. The new CD-ROM will provide the same descriptions, but the appearance of the art will change in several ways. The paintings, instead of appearing in black and white, will appear on computer screens in full color.

Another added bonus on the CD is virtual Quicktime models of the museum's sculpture. Instead of a flat photograph of a sculpture from one perspective, the Quicktime models allow the viewer to rotate perspectives 360 degrees around the sculpture. The CD will also offer a broader, less scholarly introduction to the museum and its artwork for non-academic viewers.

The CD-ROM is currently in the beta-plus (near final) phase of production. The finished product will be available to the professional community this December, while Oberlin College students and faculty will be able to receive their free copies in January. The CD is currently only Macintosh-compatible, but, according to Wilker, a PC-compatible version is in the works.