This Issue The Evolution of Educational Technology Want to Be an ET Partner? Mediaworks Web site

Over the past two years, the media specialists at Mediaworks have experienced a sea of change in their fields with the widespread growth of digital video, audio and photography. The exploding popularity of the DVD format has Video group leader Paul VerWey thrilled: "Before, we were limited to video, slides, an overhead projector, maybe an audio cassette or a CD, all operating on different machines," says VerWey. "Now we can take all of these assets and put them in one format, making it much easier for the instructor to access the material when needed."

James Fong, site manager of the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts building project, overlooks a stairwell to be placed in the Main Theatre of the new performance hall. Mediaworks Photographer Caroline Cardwell captured this photo as part of an archival project documenting the complex process of building the state-of-the-art performance center. By the time the center opens its doors to the performance season (October 2002) Cardwell will have taken over 2,000 photos to be used for instructional and historical purposes. The Art and Photography group in Mediaworks is "exploring all the possibilities for digital archiving and storage of photos," Cardwell explains. For more information about the upcoming season of events at the Mondavi Center, visit http://cfa.ucdavis.edu/, or call 1-866-UCD-ARTS.

The Art and Photography group in Mediaworks is also taking advantage of new digital technologies. According to Charlie McDonald, who heads the group, the staff has readily embraced the three newly purchased digital cameras, and is already taking on digital assignments. "The photographers here at Mediaworks were the real force for going digital," he states. "They understood that digital technology could now deliver the image quality demanded by our UC Davis Medical Center and campus clients." With the use of digital photography, clients will receive their high quality images shortly after the studio session or location assignment. Without the development time needed for regular 35mm film, "we can provide the digital images much faster," says McDonald.

The Art and Photography group will still be providing traditional photography services to customers. "As good as digital is, there will be assignments that will require the unique characteristics and qualities of 35mm film."

While the digital photography services are brand new, Mediaworks expects a huge demand for the convenient and speedy new service. "We expect to be doing from 75-90% of all studio and location assignments using the digital cameras," states McDonald.

To contact Mediaworks, go to their facility at Surge II (off Hutchison Drive, near the Silo), call them at (530) 752-2133, or visit their Web site.