Description:
Did you ever wish you could peer inside your PC or a hovercraft to see how they work? With easy-to-understand text and detailed, narrated animations, Interactive Technology gives you the chance to do just that, offering a thorough introduction to the technological advances that we rely on in everyday life. This two-CD set divides technology into nine chapters, with such topics as aircraft, power stations, land vehicles, and optics. Select the computer chapter, for instance, and you can step through 10 pages explaining everything from how bits and bytes encode data, to how a hard disk drive works, to the future of virtual reality and the Internet. Each page offers a brief audio introduction, a longer explanatory text, plus thumbnails you can click on to see photos, animations, or video. Throughout the text, difficult terms are underlined, and a simple click brings up a quick definition. At the end of each chapter there's a short multiple-choice quiz to check comprehension. What really sets this program apart is the historical background it provides for each topic. You don't just learn how a jet engine works, you also get to explore the history of flight, from da Vinci's early sketches to hot air balloons and the Wright brothers. There's even an illustrated timeline, which spans technological achievements from the invention of stone tools to the space station. We were also especially impressed by the numerous animations. Accompanied by narration, they show the inner workings of machines in clear, detailed illustrations. Suitable for students ages 8 and up, Interactive Technology offers an excellent mix of technical detail and historical background. It's certain to grab the interest of anyone with a nagging desire to know just what makes the world run. --Ken Feinstein
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