Reference software is software which emulates and expands upon print reference forms including the dictionary, translation dictionary, encyclopaedia, thesaurus, and atlas. Like print references, reference software can either be general or specific to a domain, and often includes maps and illustrations, as well as bibliography and statistics. Reference software may include multimedia content including animations, audio, and video, which further illustrate a concept. Well designed reference software improves upon the navigability of print references, through the use of search functionality and hyperlinks.
Origins and development
Many dictionaries and encyclopedias rushed into CD-ROM editions soon after the widespread introduction of the CD-ROM to home computers. A second major development occurred as the internet also became widely available in homes, with reference works becoming available online as well. The conversion of previously print-only reference materials to electronic format marked a major change to the marketing and accessibility of such works. A striking case study is that of the venerable Encyclopædia Britannica, which was previously only available at prices of USD 1500 and higher, restricting it to the better libraries and the wealthy. Today, the Encyclopædia Britannica and World Book Encyclopedia retail in electronic format for around 50 USD, with cheaper OEM versions sometimes bundled with new computers. Such dramatic changes brought conventionally restricted knowledge repositories to the fingertips of an almost universal audience in a period of less than 11 years. The opportunities brought by new media enticed new competitors into the reference software market. One of the earliest and most well-known was Microsoft Encarta, first introduced on CD-ROM and then also moving online along with other major reference works. In the dictionaries market, one of the more prolific brands was Merriam-Webster, which released CD-ROM and then online versions of English dictionaries, thesauri and foreign language dictionaries. Since 2010, reference materials have begun to appear as apps on Smartphones. In the field of English as a foreign or second language, this is seen as an interesting pedagogical development and is the subject of much discussion [1], as language learners increasingly abandon print dictionaries for online editions and apps like the one produced by Macmillan Education[2]. A list of online dictionaries is maintained under "dictionaries". Wikipedia and its offspins (such as Wiktionary) marked a new departure in educational reference software. Previous encyclopedias and dictionaries had compiled their contents on the basis of invited and closed teams of specialists. The Wiki concept allowed anyone and everyone to join in creating and editing an online set of reference works.
reference, software, confused, with, reference, management, software, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, boo. Not to be confused with Reference management software This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Reference software news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Reference software is software which emulates and expands upon print reference forms including the dictionary translation dictionary encyclopaedia thesaurus and atlas Like print references reference software can either be general or specific to a domain and often includes maps and illustrations as well as bibliography and statistics Reference software may include multimedia content including animations audio and video which further illustrate a concept Well designed reference software improves upon the navigability of print references through the use of search functionality and hyperlinks Origins and development EditMany dictionaries and encyclopedias rushed into CD ROM editions soon after the widespread introduction of the CD ROM to home computers A second major development occurred as the internet also became widely available in homes with reference works becoming available online as well The conversion of previously print only reference materials to electronic format marked a major change to the marketing and accessibility of such works A striking case study is that of the venerable Encyclopaedia Britannica which was previously only available at prices of USD 1500 and higher restricting it to the better libraries and the wealthy Today the Encyclopaedia Britannica and World Book Encyclopedia retail in electronic format for around 50 USD with cheaper OEM versions sometimes bundled with new computers Such dramatic changes brought conventionally restricted knowledge repositories to the fingertips of an almost universal audience in a period of less than 11 years The opportunities brought by new media enticed new competitors into the reference software market One of the earliest and most well known was Microsoft Encarta first introduced on CD ROM and then also moving online along with other major reference works In the dictionaries market one of the more prolific brands was Merriam Webster which released CD ROM and then online versions of English dictionaries thesauri and foreign language dictionaries Since 2010 reference materials have begun to appear as apps on Smartphones In the field of English as a foreign or second language this is seen as an interesting pedagogical development and is the subject of much discussion 1 as language learners increasingly abandon print dictionaries for online editions and apps like the one produced by Macmillan Education 2 A list of online dictionaries is maintained under dictionaries Wikipedia and its offspins such as Wiktionary marked a new departure in educational reference software Previous encyclopedias and dictionaries had compiled their contents on the basis of invited and closed teams of specialists The Wiki concept allowed anyone and everyone to join in creating and editing an online set of reference works See also EditEncarta and other CD ROM encyclopedias Comparison of reference management software Educational software Lists of encyclopedias List of online dictionaries List of online encyclopedias Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reference software amp oldid 1048087380, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
