Desktop Publishing: Probable Effects on University Extension
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DOCUMENT ED 283 946 CE 047 484 AUTHOR Misanchuk, Earl R. TITLE Desktop Publishing: Probajoie Effects on University Extengon. PUB DATE Jun V NOTE 34p.vPaper presented at tiChe Conference of the Canadian Association for Uljniversity Continuing Education (St. John's, Newoaofoundland, June 16-18, 1987), PUB TYPE Speechs/Conference Paperems (150) -- Reports- Gen _al (140) EDRS' PRICE MF01/K02 Plus Postage DESCRIPTORS *Extension Education; Porign Countries; Higher Education; Influences; *Lawayout (Publications); *Microcomputers; *Publ caions IDENTIFIERS *Desktop Publishing ABSTRACT _DeskUppu101ishing (DTP) cr=ould potentially become a powerful, relatively hexpensive tool for use in extension activities. This paper_describes and explamins the characteristics of DTP and examines its effects on universitrwir extension. In addition, it outlines the kind_of hardware, software/ amand skills needed and_costc describes new activities and products relamated to DTP; and examines extension functions likaly to be impinged upon by DTP. Because DTP does not require usersto embed complicate=med commands in text to produce certain printing effects, it can Woe used by individuals who do not have extensivetnrining in word cwoiocessing or computing.. Not all of the effects ofDTP are positive, ho-awever. DTP brings with it the potential for good-loo:king, but poor-glguality orunnecessary publications. Althoughvisually attracti.ve_eA, justified textcan actually impair the legibility of many iwrztrumtional materials and ti-lreby reduce their effectiveness. On the other hand, the capabilitl of mixing graphics andtext easily_is -4-ly to be a boon to educators. Word processing, advertising, Czbe_publication of bulletin° and newsletters, the development and prodwaction of distance eduCation print materials, and the printing of signs :_are among the many university extension factions that will 1 _ikely be made easier by DTP. Besides empowering.university extensi- on, DTP will also challenge administrators and gralphic artists to deve:=:lop and maintaina consistent organizatimml visual image for their university extenslon programs. (Appendixesinclude sample DTP mxaterials and lists and descriptions of additiomrl_readings on DTP -, DTP software, and typical hardware required forDTP.) (MN) *11*_**** ***_******************** Reproductions suplied by EDRS are home best that can be made from the original °document. lkir*A* ************ *==************ Desktop Publishing. Probable Effectson University Extension Earl R MLsanchuk Division of actension wid Community Relation The University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon. Saskatchewan S7N MVO ERMISSJON M NEPlit_3DUCETHIS U.S. DEPARTMENT On EDUCATION K,EATERIAL HAS Deice of EducehonnI Research end Improvement BEEN GMARANTED BY WUG11ONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (MC) This document has been reproduced es fecseeed from the person of organisation ornating .1 CI Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality TO THE EDUCATIONAL R SOURCES Podas of aew or opinions stated in Imam:cu . INORMATION CENTER merit po not necessarily represent official (RIC)." OEM position Of W.ey. ithstract The characteristics of desktop publishing (DTP) are described and explained, and its effects on university extension are examined, Ln uage that assumes absolutely no knowledge of either computers =ix printkg processes. The paper describes the characteristics of DTP: outlines the kind of hardware, software, and skills needed (and their costs): describes some new activities and products related to VIP; examines the 11x-tension functions that are likely to be impinged upon_ by DTP. and comments on whether the effects are positive or negative. Paper presented at the Conference e Canadian Assoelathn for UnNersity Continuing SI John's. Newfoundland, June 18-18. 1987 2 BEST OM AVAJ LAKE Des Ictop Publishing (1711, a relattvimly What facilities are required for new k=vbenomenon stet:raring frorn thane DTP? marriage of the technologies of priri-ting What are and--oniputin,g. Makes available to e pheno e ated univrsity extension units a powerfal. to DTP? relattyely inexpensive tool, For a tilLimber What (=tension functions are likely of real.Nons outlined in tills paper. rYIN to be effected by DTP? coula have pronounced effects on eYelten- Are the effects of DTP positive or Sion i.ctivilies; most of them will be negative? positXve, but there could be n few rieative ones.,. too. An appendix contains a list of additional readings on DTP, a list of DTP software This awaper addresses thefollowirig products wid a brief description of what questions: they do, and a list of tyTical hEadware -What is desktop pliblishing? required. Some samples of DTP materi- "What is WYSIWYG? als are also appended. Vat is Mesktop publishin DTP ithe term that has emerged ovr the column of body text. The last eigzupk of years to desalbe the use of a gyaphics may be thie draw- microcomputer and a veqhigh quaKlity thgs, graphs, or digitized (laser] printer for the production ofi-int- photographs or organiza- ed covry that is "carnera-reacly", i.e., aweady tional logos; to be ent to the print shop, where itwill be either photographed and converteamd variety of typefaces avail- intosa-intIng plates or reproduced in able, in different sizes and styles (e.g.. bold, italic. some other way. DIP is characterizeundbY: outline. u_r_di erlined WALL CAPITL.S. etc.); multiple columns of text lines, rectarkgles, ovals, or Per Page. capable ofjust- other shapes to frame or Med right margin: separate text or graphic -0 ability to produce minor elements; miage pages quickly and areas Med with patterns, easily (e.g., create outside possibly with tcct overlaid; dge margins of adherent sfte than binding oiargins ability to rotae text and and maintain the rela- trophies on a page, or to tionship across even. and rotate an entire 7,age; odrl-numbered pages); high-quality printed out- put (at nnnimum. 300 lines irderrnixed graphics and text. with grapliicsor per inch vertically and headline tekt capable of horizontally; up to 2540 spanning more Than one lines per inch with some equipment): with text or graphics. It allows the-- user to "pour" text into spaces of a variety WYSIWYG ("wba you ,t.e of sizes [on the screen] is, whaut you and shapes, just as one might pour- a get") layout: liquid into containers of a varietyof se and shapes. Thus once the overall_ on-screen pos1t1n1ng structure of the document is laid oswat, the of elements (text text can be fitted into it. blocks, graphics_ headlines, phot Similarly with graphics: Areas orm. the graphs, borders, tc.) page can be left blank to accoramomclate a particular digitized picture, line "pouring' text trici or graph: the page can be arranged into a predefined areas._ so pleasing format, then the blank ar-eas can that when the (h-t be filled in by "pasting Lir the app-mropriate designated spaceLs graphics, adjusttig their sizes and shapes completely filledwi h as necessary to achieve the desireM effect. text, the tticcess tt=x1 "spills over into a Of course, both graphics and te5c1 be second designatemcl intermixed on a given page. As adk-ust- space merits to the page layout are requi=-ed by the quantity of tort and the size an_d shape instantaneous of gaphics, they can be made dyn.rnic- sizLng and/or re- ay, on the screen. shaping of text am-eas or graphics Horizontal and vertical lines of vs_rious thicess and textures can be inse-ted for instantaneous clwang- emphasis. Tod can be enclosed in(i.e.. ing of font, and sutyle surrounded by) "boxes" of various hapes or s17-e of text. lot- part and textures (patterns, such as cros- or all of a text blc=bck. hatchLrkg, horizontal or vertical "s-iad- The graphics can take the for-rn of graphs trig", brick, v&rious "shades of grey. etc). (line, bar, pie, area. etc.); line-- drawn-1gs of The 'boxes" themselves can be outMined various types: or artwork.. phsLotographs. (either with black or one of the tex-ures), or even 'We" television irnsgs that have filled with one or more of the textures, or been converted to digital fonm. They may both. be either object-oriented or tst-mapped Digitized comp&ny or institutionalli logos grapkicsi produced with a rnowouse, a can be included as graphic elnients graphics tablet, or as alreadyrioted, a digitized television signal. Atypical DI? I These rather technical terun are exp1aii in the program allows the user to blw="ck out ATTendM and WC not gerrnane to the unler- various m-eas of an electroni= "page". and grandam of What trre to subsequently fill the blockiond-out areas DTP amd Exteimlon What Is WYSIWYG? As noted earner,wysrwyostands for the computer operator had touse his or "What You See Is What You Get". In earlier her visuW imagination in order to esti- computer-aided layout programs (and mate the final effect of the commands. indeed, in many st.ffl in use today, es resultthg in an inordthate amount of trial 0..111y on large computers). various mid error for all but tile most expertuser. commands had to be embedded tn the text For example, the sequence shown below, to produce certain effects. In addition to, which is mythical, but typical. memorl2ing the often-cryptic commands. .CE .FO=GE .FS=18 .B0 .IT A Title is Born .1.1144=20 .RM=55 .CE .FS=12 .NO In order to create a title over a paragraph, some careful attentionto detail is necessary. Ln addition, a person has to havevery good abffity to visualize the results. might produce the effect shown below, with suchan embedded-command system. A Title is Born In order to create a title overa paragraph, some careful attention to detail is necessary.In addition, a person has to have very good ability to visualize the results. The location of graphic elements might kinds of requirements, and allow you to have to be described Ln terms of coordi- see on the screen exactly what you will see nates on a page (e.g., number of inches on the pi-lilted page (for example.