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In order to cater for the this latter group, a self-conta<strong>in</strong>ed 'PILOT browser' is be<strong>in</strong>g developed. This is be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

authored <strong>in</strong> IconAuthor 7.0, which supports HTML as a data type, as well as support<strong>in</strong>g database connectivity.<br />

This will facilitate <strong>in</strong>ternet access to the PILOT site only, and also allows scope for releas<strong>in</strong>g a CD of the<br />

PILOT database, probably on a subscription basis).<br />

Other <strong>in</strong>terfaces <strong>in</strong>clude fax-on-demand, but will not be implemented <strong>in</strong> the prototype stage due to cost<br />

constra<strong>in</strong>ts. Similarly, PILOT is be<strong>in</strong>g designed so that <strong>in</strong>teractive telephony (through landl<strong>in</strong>es and digital<br />

cellular networks, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the exploitation of Short Message Service technology on the latter) can be used as<br />

a conduit.<br />

The use of audio-based (as opposed to text-based) resources is be<strong>in</strong>g exam<strong>in</strong>ed as a complementary medium<br />

with<strong>in</strong> the PILOT system. For example, as well as hav<strong>in</strong>g textual case studies for the three groups to exam<strong>in</strong>e,<br />

there will also be documentary-style audio archive material, probably available as RealAudio files as well as<br />

stored for access<strong>in</strong>g through conventional telephony <strong>in</strong>terfaces.<br />

Conclusions<br />

At the time of writ<strong>in</strong>g (August 1996), Project PILOT is still <strong>in</strong> its <strong>in</strong>itial stage of fund<strong>in</strong>g and development<br />

(BT's fund<strong>in</strong>g is until December 1996). However, the web site [PILOT 1996] is up and runn<strong>in</strong>g, and has a<br />

"visitors book" facility which also has the option of register<strong>in</strong>g on our mail<strong>in</strong>g list (email or fax, former is<br />

preferable).<br />

In addition to the plans outl<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> this paper, there is also the potential for expand<strong>in</strong>g PILOT to other levels of<br />

education (i.e. for placements outside postsecondary education), and perhaps to other sectors where skills<br />

match<strong>in</strong>g is needed. It is also <strong>in</strong>tended to explore the development of a more <strong>in</strong>ternational service (i.e. Europe<br />

and worldwide).<br />

Apart from expand<strong>in</strong>g the service, there is considerable scope for further research with<strong>in</strong> the PILOT facility as<br />

it stands: desired outcomes <strong>in</strong>clude the ability to follow user behaviour and <strong>in</strong>teraction <strong>in</strong> (and outside of) the<br />

ma<strong>in</strong> PILOT web site; i.e. which l<strong>in</strong>ks are followed the most, possibly suggest<strong>in</strong>g areas <strong>in</strong> which PILOT’s own<br />

core facilities can be improved. An prototype of how this could be achieved is be<strong>in</strong>g developed at the Open<br />

University [Stratfold 1996].<br />

References<br />

[PILOT 1996]. http://mcie002.open.ac.uk/PILOT/<br />

[JANET 1995]. http://www.ja.net/superJANET/superJANET.htm<br />

[Karran & Lefrere 1996]. Karran, T.J. & Lefrere, P. (1996). Us<strong>in</strong>g Telematics To Support Personal Development <strong>in</strong><br />

Projects and Work Placements. Paper delivered at ‘Technology Transfer and Innovation 96’ conference, 1-3 July<br />

1996, London.<br />

[Nouwens & Bouwman, 1995] Nouwens, J. & Bouwman, H. (1995). Liv<strong>in</strong>g Apart Together <strong>in</strong> Electronic Commerce: The<br />

Use of In<strong>format</strong>ion and Communication Technology to Create Network Organisations.<br />

http://shum.huji.ac.il/jcmc/vol1/issue3/nouwens.html<br />

[Knowhere 1996. http://www.state51.co.uk/knowhere/<strong>in</strong>dex.htm<br />

[Stratfold 1996]. Stratfold, M.P. (1996) “Tracker”, http://trout.open.ac.uk/tracker.html<br />

Acknowledgements<br />

The PILOT project team: Stephen Brown, Patrick<br />

Haverty (De Montfort University), Paul Lefrere, Andy Stone (Open<br />

University), Christ<strong>in</strong>e Doherty, Terence Karran (University of L<strong>in</strong>colnshire and Humberside). Project PILOT is<br />

funded by British Telecom.<br />

Special thanks to Matthew Stratfold for assistance with prepar<strong>in</strong>g this paper.

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