Technology

Helen's original vision was to use modern technology for teaching where there are no teachers or classrooms. From this simple goal we outlined the design criteria for such technology:

The main criteria we had to meet are

• Audio visual (student may not be able to read)
• Cost effective
• Reliable
• Usable with minimum of training and no experience
• In the user's own language
• Interactive, if possible

Computers are mostly too expensive and generally go wrong too often so we have used a DVD format as this ticks all the above boxes. We are using the Acoustic Solutions DVD 222 model from Argos for under £60. These can be charged from a car battery and weigh just over 1KG. They can also be attached to a larger screen for use by a group. The discs can also be played on any conventional DVD player and Eurotalk have also made CDROM versions available for people who do have computers.

Students have to respond to questions during the lessons using a remote control or the buttons on the machine. As most remote controls have over 40 buttons on them they are not very easy to use. For this reason one of our Associates, Rick Wood, has developed a "Starfish Controller". This is a stand alone remote control with just the six buttons needed for operating the learning DVDs.

Our Partners Eurotalk have invested heavily in developing software that will allow us to dub an additional language onto the baseline English version of a lesson quickly and cheaply. This involves translating the script into the relevant language and recording the soundtrack. When this has been achieved the new localised version of the lesson can be made in a few days.

The lessons can also be played on small hand-held devices costing about £45 which hold the learning in flash format on an SD card. This allows up to 70 lessons to be held on one machine with very low power usage.

Originally we were installing the DVD players in secure shipping containers costing about £7,500 fully equipped. Although these are still a possibility for some locations we are concentrating more on individual portable DVD players as they are more versatile.

In South Africa we have linked up with Trans Africa Media to produce a one-off product specifically for that country. This is our first four HIV titles in all 11 official languages of South Africa on a two disc set. In addition we have added French and Swahili so the disc can be used in other parts of Africa too.