Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!boulder!tcr
From: tcr@tcr.UUCP (John B. Sobernheim)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: What the heck IS "Interactive TV"?
Summary: CDTV does have _some_ sort of writeable, backed up RAM standard.
Message-ID: <398@tcr.UUCP>
Date: 18 Apr 91 18:13:24 GMT
References: <1991Apr11.143222.13728@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> <1991Apr17.135214.12413@ncsu.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Computer Room
Lines: 34

In article <1991Apr17.135214.12413@ncsu.edu>, kdarling@hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) writes:
> cimshop!davidm@uunet.UU.NET (David S. Masterson) writes:
> 
> > Wouldn't CDTV be even more attractive to the education market if it could
> > learn from its environment and adjust itself to the quirks of its user over
> > time?  (As a for instance, as a history quiz system that keeps track of how
> > the particular user does over time.)  This, though, requires some amount of
> > floppy/hard disk space for memory.  I know CDTV allows such things to be
> > hooked in, but are software developers going to make use of them to provide
> > a more personalized environment for the customer?
> 
> Sounds like a good idea; we'll have to wait and see if someone does this.
> And as you suggested, a floppy disk is a good idea for storing the info,
> as a personal RAM card for each student probably would be cost prohibitive.
> I'd probably also suggest a hardwired joystick, to save on batteries and
> to keep remotes from "disappearing" ;-).  No, actually, a keyboard would be
> even better, as then more than just multiple choice tests could be given.

It looks to me like CDTV does have some built-in battery backed RAM that
developers can write to and read from.  What I don't know is if this is
a _legal_, Commodore supported thing or just a _feature_.  (Actually, I'm
not even sure if it's battery backed up,... I haven't tried the below test
after pulling the plug on the unit). 

The disk "Classic Board Games" allows you to change the language in which
its prompts appear and the digitized voice uses.  I can change the language
to Japanese, Spanish, etc., turn off CDTV, wait a few minutes, boot it back
up, and walla, it's still Japanese, or Spanish.  This without a Personal 
Memory Card or Disk Drive attached, Ie. a stock CDTV.

---
John Sobernheim		tcr@tcr.UUCP | ...boulder!tcr!{tcr!root!news}
The Computer Room	CIS 76625,1210 | 76625.1210@compuserve.com
Denver, Colorado 	"But Moma, that's where the fun is!" (Manfred Man, BS)