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Target Readership	Sen. Secondary					For help with criteria, click here
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Contents:

Keizer GJ. 2002. Interactive Guide to Mushrooms and other Fungi. ISBN 90-75000-53-7
van Halder I, Wynhoff I and van Swaay C. 2002. The Interactive Guide to Butterflies of Europe. ISBN 90-7500-41-3
Oud O and Rickards G. 2003. Mutations. ISBN 90-75000-67-7
Stace CA, van der Meijden R and de Kort I. 2004. Interactive Flora of the British Isles. ISBN 9-07-500069-5

Review:

These interactive guides were brought to my attention recently so although the usual remit of 'year-of -publication' still holds there was sufficient interest to look at a wider range of product. The common theme of all of these multimedia products is that they are produced under the aegis of ETI - the Expert Centre for Taxonomic Identification. The ETI is an NGO working with UNESCO to spread the word about identification (their site contains links to taxonomy experts, software and global databases (in addition to other products for sale). Identification is the key element in ecology - if you don't know what it is you can't really start work on it! Regular followers of this online review section will know the author's lack of expertise in this area so anything that makes the process easier/accurate is going to be useful.

The first stage is to install the media. This was all painless with no problems (but do remember to select either Mac or PC - the media have both installed). Accepting the options given created no difficulty and within a few minutes one is able to start using the systems. From this stage the review divides into two - for guides and for mutations for these are essentially different areas of work.

Mutations is part of a series called 'beating the biology book'. The aim is to present information in a simple format to aid self-learning in this area i.e. genetic change. The interface is extremely clear. On the left-hand side there are the section headings with the remainder of the screen given over to the learning material. All the major topics are there from significance of mutations through to mutations and evolution. The reader is taken slowly through the topic. Apart from the main text there are several useful features. Most screens have two options: basic and extra. The basic is aimed at secondary school and the extra at university. The advantage is obvious: more able school students get more information and those uncertain at higher levels can switch back to the basic program until they feel confident. Some topics have even more information and one can click on the buttons to find it. At the end there is a test (also basic and advanced) to see how well one has learnt the work. This is a great package focussed on a single idea with extremely clear design and enough detail to make sure that even undergraduates have the right start to this topic.

The other three multimedia, Butterflies,Mushrooms and Flora are part of another series aimed at spreading the word for taxonomy. In many ways they are similar using the same ideas and interfaces but with some changes between packages which appear to be a function of date of production: the most modern is the most advanced in this respect. The aim of these media is to have information available quickly and accurately but from a number of perspectives. A small opening window gives the options. The Introduction is an overview of the media concerned. A list of literature is given whereby those interested can see all the key authors and their work. Although this might have been a list it comes up like a card file so it appears, at first, that there's only about 25 authors. However, clicking on content brings up all the books. Higher taxa provide descriptions at the order level and down to genus - a useful feature if you are looking for broad patterns. An Index provides a list of all the species mentioned (a simple find facility gets the species you want easily). Alternatively, a species icon allows you into the database itself. From there a series of tabs give data on descriptions, synonyms and multimedia content. A glossary gives rapid, hyper-linked access to all terms used. This is the basic set for Mushrooms. Butterflies and Flora add two very useful additions. 'MapIt' is a program that will give the basic distribution data (using 50x50km squares) for Europe. Not only does one get this feature but also the broad pattern of biodiversity but also the chance to compare overlap (or otherwise) of two species. Another function is the ability to select a square and get the species/taxa present. The 'IdentifyIt' module aims to allow the user to identify a specimen given a range of characteristics. Although this seems like a boon to those who find problems with dichotomous keys the system does not appear, as yet, to be functioning in that sense. There are some set examples that one can navigate but there was not the total system that one might want. However, this is a smaller problem and one that seems to be under review as the products mature. The key product in this set is the DVD Flora. Here the 'MapIt' function can be enlarged to cover 10x10km grids and more data on each species is added. The basic species page contains far more taxonomic data. Although it aims to be an interactive version of the standard UK Flora texts it is clear that it is a much more sophisticated product.

Overall, these 4 CD/DVDs are a delight. They are all clearly designed with a wealth of detail easily obtained. The Mutations CD is an excellent example of its kind - simple yet accurate with a light enough touch on a complex subject to get the more reluctant reader to join in. The identification discs are similarly excellent although for sheer versatility the Flora disc stands out. Given the current student interest in, and facility with, interactive media these should be standard on every library shelf (whether institutional or personal). They are outstanding products that deserve the widest readership.

Publisher's website: ETI