Ever wondered how it is that an aqualung allows scuba-divers to breathe
underwater?  Ever wondered how a modem works?  Well, if so, this title may
be just the right thing for you to pick up for your CD³².  INSIGHT:
TECHNOLOGY shows how things work by using diagrams, animations,
full-motion video clips and sound.
 
This is one of the first multimedia titles for the CD³² that actually
carry the CD³² logo.  (The only other current CD³² multimedia title is the
new GROLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA and, just like that title, INSIGHT:TECHNOLOGY
works just fine on the CDTV as well.)  

Popping the disc into the CD³² unit and booting up starts a demo.  Press
any button on the controller and the main menu appears.  The main menu is
made up of five options:  TOPICS, BROWSE, INDEX, HELPTOUR and CREDITS.

Selecting TOPICS brings up an A to Z list of available topics that can be
scrolled through using the CD³²'s controller.  (Pretty logical, huh?)  To
the right of some topics is a filmstrip symbol, which indicates that topic
includes a filmed video sequence.

Select a topic and a screen divided into three sections appears.  A title
bar at the top of the screen allows the user to flip through the topics in
alphabetical order.  On the left side of the screen is a text description
of the topic.  On the right side are two pictures.  Selecting the top
picture with the controller presents a diagram with labels on all the parts
and starts an audio explanation of the diagram.  Selecting the bottom
picture starts a slideshow showing the selected item in action and also
starts a different audio narration.  This concludes with a filmed video
sequence if that topic includes one.

Hitting the blue botton on the controller will take you to the previous
menu at any time.

Selecting BROWSE will randomly select a topic for the user to read.  It
bypasses the topic menu completely.  If the controller is not touched for
a few seconds, another topic will be selected.

Selecting INDEX will present the user with a list of over 2000 keywords. 
Selecting one of the keywords will present the user with a list of the
topics that word is found in.  You can the select the topic and it will be
presented in the same way as simply selecting it from the TOPICS menu,
except that the keyword will be highlighted everytime it is used.

For example, I found the word "Amiga" was used in two articles ("CDTV
Multimedia Player" and "computer").  I selected "computer" and was told
that the Amiga is one of the currently popular models along with the Atari
ST.  (Hmmmm...I wonder if the skies are blue in their world.  <G>)

The HELPTOUR is merely a guided tour of the INSIGHT:TECHNOLOGY options. 
It explains everything I just mentioned.

The CREDITS are exactly what it sounds like.  It simply gives you the
names of the people responsible for the program.

As one of the first educational titles of the CD³², this title has a high
profile whether it warrants one or not.  It's a very solid program, but
one of limited scope and usefulness.  If you have inquisitive children,
this would make a fine toy for them to play with.  I would not, however,
recommend this program as a primary teaching tool.  Some of the
information seems dated even though the program has a 1993 copyright date.
The CDTV is included as a topic and a keyword, but the CD³² is not.  Also,
because of the British origin of the program, the spelling of some words
(like colour instead of color, for example) may confuse younger children.
 
 Ratings:
        Graphics: 80%                   Manufacturer:
        Sound:    80%                   Commodore Electronics, Ltd.
        Gameplay: N/A                   1200 Wilson Drive
        Control:  N/A                   West Chester, PA 19380  USA
 
 OVERALL RATING:  80%                   Video Mode: NTSC

                         Click here to see the package