Launch of 'InfoTech West' magazine

Deputy Premier Ian Taylor today launched the most advanced magazine in Australia - and it did not even have any pages.

"But what it does provide is a glimpse of where communications are heading, and a run-down on some of the Western Australian companies which are at the very forefront of the new technology," Mr Taylor said.

He was speaking at the launch of 'InfoTech West' - a magazine produced not on paper but 'printed' on a computer diskette - something which looks very much like a miniature gramophone record.

"The big difference is that these discs can only be 'played' on computer and instead of playing back music, play back a recording of text, pictures and animation," Mr Taylor said.

"But the technology does not stop there.  Eventually we may see later editions of the magazine produced on the computer version of a CD disc.

"Then we will be able to sweep through the whole spectrum of communication methods - from printed pages, to recorded music and video."

Mr Taylor said 'InfoTech West' magazine had been designed by the Department of State Development and Curtin University's image technology research group, to promote Western Australian expertise in this so-called 'multi-media' technology.

"The first issue of the magazine will be sent to some 300 computer and communication companies around Australia to demonstrate the capabilities of some of our local firms and organisations," Mr Taylor said.

"I only say some of our capabilities because in order to achieve a circulation of 300 we had to adapt our magazine to the maximum computing capacity of the widest possible audience.

"That meant producing a disk which in technical terms could be played back on either an IBM computer or IBM compatible computer using a Windows 3.1 program.

"That in itself meant compromises and this particular edition of 'InfoTech West' will only show a fraction of what will eventually be possible when multi-media computers come into general use."

Mr Taylor said the magazine carried 'feature articles' on latest advances in animation and graphics and how organisations like TAFE were using multi-media to teach engineering students about dump trucks.

"This magazine is also helping to bring together people with the various technical and professional skills who will provide the core of what we expect to be the new multi-media history," Mr Taylor said.

"The effect on ordinary people is going to be huge.  What we are really seeing today is the merging of the computer, television, radio, music and publishing industries.

"In the not too distant future, we can expect to see domestic television sets and computers becoming one and the same and providing the sort of entertainment, education and information services we can now only imagine.

"For example, in the future people will not have to visit their local video shop when they want to select a home movie.

"Instead, all they will have to do is use their new TV-computer to dial up to find out what is available, and then have the selected movie sent 'instantly' to the computer by telephone."