PARALLELISM IN OPEN LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENTS

One of the main shortcomings of multimedia in open learning environmen ts is the use of monitors. The monitor as currently supplied with the personal computer originates from the world of television and video. T elevision equipment is extremely suitable for the transmission of one- way messages and also for the presentation of film, video and speakers ('talking heads'). It is also suitable for giving instruction and sho wing other educational programmes, But the monitor is built as a one-w ay message medium. Pictures and images are presented but disappear as soon as other pictures are presented. Thus, a certain measure of short and long memory is required as well as the interpretation of the data and so it remains a linear medium. The organisation of the monitor di splay is a constant worry in open learning and working environments, b ecause in practice it Is continually changing. This article analyses t hese shortcomings and describes some solutions according to the concep ts and theories of Min, Koopal, Gritter, Struyker Boudier, Coleman, Mi ltenburg and Van Schaick Zillesen, developed over the last decade (Min , 1992).