Authoring systems and assumptions about them

More authoring systems are beginning to appear and there is greater consumer interest as microcomputers have become more widely used by less sophisticated users. Better methods are needed for evaluating systems and investigating assumptions regarding their development and use. Suggestion for selecting systems include assessing local needs, establishing familiarity through literature reviews, demonstrations, and hands on experience, applying criteria, and addressing the assumptions which motivate authoring system use. The marketplace and the technology are rapidly changing. For example, system vendors are beginning to adopt marketing efforts which are targeted toward either hardware sales, publishing, or instructional development services, instead of general audiences. Existing systems use traditional programming techniques to create conventional "frame-based" instruction, but more intelligent authoring aids are in the offing Even though the technology is advancing rapidly many of the evaluation methods and measurement problems discussed here can still be presumed to apply. They are probably more stable than the technology.