Overview

No foreign language video resource is more convenient or more adaptable to the needs of the foreign language classroom than the laser disc. Unlike videotaped materials requiring either custom editing or constant rewinding and fast forwarding to move seamlessly from one video segment to another, the laser disc is randomly accessed media capable of replaying video segments almost instantly and locating disparate excerpts rapidly. The remote control devices traditionally used to access laser disc video segments, however, have at best been cumbersome, requiring that large frame or timing numbers be entered from the remote keypad. Not only is it all too easy to enter frame numbers incorrectly but it is also a time consuming process requiring valuable instructor attention. The process is easily streamlined, however, using computer generated bar codes in conjunction with a bar code reader connected to the laserdisc player. Instructors can prepare bar encoded sheets representing the segments they wish to display. At presentation time, these codes can be scanned using a hand-held bar code reader which selects the appropriate video segments with the push of a button.

Generating Bar Codes

Laser disc compatible bar code generation software is available from several software manufacturers. Ours is a DOS based program from Data Works Inc. entitled The Laserdisc Controller Version 3.1 which was published in March of 1993. While it is not as user friendly as a Windows based program would be, it is still quite easy to use and represents an economical way of generating laser disc controlling bar codes. The Laserdisc Controller was designed to control a laser disc player either directly or by generating scanner controller bar codes. We will use it exclusively for the latter function. The program is located on all of the Zenith microcomputers located in the Italian cluster of the Foreign Language Media Center in 211 Smith Hall. To access it, you must exit Windows and enter the word barcode at the C:> prompt. Once the program has fully loaded, an opening screen similar to the one below will appear:

You are now ready to input the data needed to create bar codes for the laser disc sequences you wish to present. A detailed outline of the procedure for doing so appears below.

Procedure for Generating Bar Codes

1. Select the laserdisc sequences you wish to use in class by noting the FRAME or TIME numbers of the begining and ending points of each sequence.

2. Indicate that the Laser Printer is on-line and ready to print by answering Y (Yes) to the question Is your Laser Printer currently on-line and Ready? found on the opening screen of The Laserdisc Controller program. (See the Screen)

3. Delete any previously created barcode Presentation One by selecting the Utility Menu (G) from the Main Menu and the Delete Presentation Option (E) from the Utility Menu indicating that Presentation 001 is to be deleted. (See the Screen)

4. Initiate a Laserdisc bar code generation session by selecting the Create/Rehearse Presentations (B) from the Main Menu. (See the Screen)

5. Create bar code Presentation One by entering 001 in the upper right hand corner of the Presentation Outline screen. (See the Screen)

6. Create video sequence number one by pressing F9 (Add Steps) and then accept step number one as the current step number by pressing ENTER. (See the Screen)

7. Select the type of Laserdisc coding system to be used for the video sequence searches by selecting either Frame Search/Playback (L) for Frame based laserdiscs or Time Search/Playback (M) for Time coded laserdiscs. (See the Screen)

8. Enter the starting Frame or Time number always using 5 digit numbers (ie. frame 121 = 00121) followed by the ending Frame or Time number (5 digits) and then select a Video Attribute of 1 and an Audio Attribute of 3. (See the Screen)

9. Enter Descriptive Notes for the sequence to facilitate later sequence selection from the bar code printout. (See the Screen)

10. Repeat steps 6 through 9 for each additional video sequence desired pressing ESC after the last sequence to return to the Main Menu. (See the Screen)

11. The bar codes for Presentation One can be printed out by selecting Print Presentation Outline (C) from the Main Menu.

Using Bar Codes for Laserdisc Presentations

Not all Laserdisc players are equipped with the hardware necessary to allow for bar code reader input. Companies which manufacture players that are bar code compatible, usually include bar code scanners in their product lines. Only three of the Pioneer Laserdisc players owned by the Foreign Language Media Center at Delaware are bar code compatible and only one Pioneer bar code scanner is currently available for use from the Media Center. This bar code scanner is a UC-V108BC handheld which requires no swipe movement to complete the scan. The scanner is simply placed over the printed bar code and the scan command button pushed to initiate a new video sequence. The scanner may be connected to the Laserdisc player using a specially designed cable or it can act as an infrared remote which is directed in conjunction with a button press at the face of the player once the bar code has been scanned. The scanner is designed to retain the last bar code scanned allowing a given segment to be repeated many times in succession without repeated scanning.