`Cat in the Hat' Coming Soon To CD-ROM
DR. SEUSS ON A DISC
NOVATO, CALIF.
THEY do not like it, Sam-I-am.
They do not like Seuss on RAM.
They do not like him on the screen.
They do not like him, sight-unseen.
Some educators aren't too happy that Living Books, a joint venture between Broderbund Software Inc. and Random House, will begin publishing the popular Dr. Seuss books on CD-ROM beginning next year.
Donald Roberts, chairman of Stanford University's Department of Communications, said there are important social dimensions to the parent-child interactions of reading time that don't translate to computers.
``There are a tremendous number of positive consequences that have nothing to do with the book being read,'' he said.
``There's contact, and a sense of security and a kind of interaction between parent and child that no computer can replicate,'' added Mr. Roberts.
CD-ROMs are computer discs that contain large amounts of information. Because they hold so much data, they can be used to store short snippets of animation and video.
Living Books has the rights to all 48 Dr. Seuss books written by the late Theodor Geisel. They are expected to cost $40 to $50 each.
The Seuss CD-ROMs contain all the text and pictures of the original books. But children can also use a mouse to click on parts of the screen picture, launching animated effects.