Future of FARID

The Future of FARID

I am frequently asked for a CD ROM version of this program. Unfortunately, CD ROM usually means (software-only) digital video. Software-only digital video (esp. off CD) is still pretty awful.

NEWS! QuickTime 2.5 with MPEG is EXCELLENT. It will change digital video completely into what we have been asking for the past 5 years.

To minimise effort and maximise distribution opportunities, I have chosen to make a WWW version of the software which should ensure future-proof cross-platform availability and be ftp-able (to a local server) or purchaseable on CD ROM. WWW development tools are the best available, and FARID software is highly generic so could almost convert itself, except to get the interactivity involves a lot of clickable maps, cgi, Java and some hideously large file sizes. Precise technical details will have to be finalised later.

I don't have time to do the conversion myself (and watching me write perl is like watching paint dry). I need a Research Assistant and am actively seeking the following support:

GB12842.00 for a part time Research Assistant (includes National Insurance, Super Annuation and Overheads)
GB2300.00 for a computer (and software) Power Macintosh 5320 16/1.2/CD/M/TV/MPEG.
GB750.00 for a 4GB UNIX hard disc to attach to a server on the SuperJanet network at the University of Newcastle.
TOTAL REQUESTED = GB15932.00

If you can help with all or part funding (or hardware gifts :) ) please contact Megan Baxter, Faculty of Medicine Computing Centre, University of Newcastle, Newcastle NE2 4HH, United Kingdom. Tel: 0191 2225017.

Thanks for Donations and Contributions

Lord Dowding fund for funding the videodisc version of FARID.
Leeds Metropolitan University Media Services for use of their facilities.
Graham Irving, Steve Mera and Dave Dewhurst for source materials and other contributions.
Iain Massey for supporting this project and the MPEG version of the VideoDisc.
Terry Brown (and Tony McDonald) for WWW proof-of-concept development work.
Bristol Educational Technology Service for offering to do a TARGA version of the VideoDisc.
The following Shareware authors:
Maynard Handley for Sparkle MPEG player
Aaron Giles for JPEGView
Thorsten Lemke for GraphicConverter
Friends and colleagues for late night development dialogue and support: you know who you are.

Comments about these pages to Megan Baxter