The Print Media Academy of Heidelberg is publishing a new learning software package entitled “World of Print Media”. This is the first standard multimedia reference work to offer comprehensive, manufacturer-independent expertise from the graphic arts industry. As an interactive learning software that also doubles up as a source of reference, it is intended primarily for students, trainees and newcomers to the industry who want to extend and test their knowledge. It is also invaluable for anyone working with print media who wants to understand the various processes involved. “World of Print Media” comes as a DVD-ROM or a set of 5 CD-ROMs. It is available in English and German and costs around € 160 (DM 315.36). Anyone wishing to place an order or obtain further information can find out more at www.heidelberg.com. "You can never know enough" “World of Print Media” consists of several sections. The “Statistics & Trends” section provides up-to-date statistical data of how the various print media compare with other media. A further section explains how printing has developed over the years and is continuing to develop. The principles of printing are explained using historical shots of old “presses” and today’s industrial printshop solutions. The individual stages and aspects involved in producing print media prepress, press, postpress, inks, vanishes and printing stock are dealt with on a neutral basis and are not specific to any given manufacturer. The trends for the future are dealt with across a broad sweep. The program explains how print and IT are merging to create successful, Internet-based business models. The explanations are underpinned by facts and figures. For example, over 350 million users worldwide used the Internet in the year 2000. This figure is expected to rise to 765 million by the year 2005. A look at tomorrow’s print and media businesses examines customers’ future needs and how technology will answer these. Process optimization through networking and greater integration will be at the forefront in this development. Finally, the various Heidelberg products are covered briefly in a product-specific part which explains the individual components. E-learning brings benefits “We regard e-learning instruments such as CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs and the Inter-net as a medium for augmenting conventional training units”, explains Wolfgang Eisele, Head of the Print Media Academy. “Electronic media can be used to pre-pare students, thereby reducing the length of conventional seminars,” adds Eisele. The benefits for students are obvious – they not only save time and costs and increase efficiency, but also allow students to learn whenever and wherever they want. The virtual classroom is global and knows no national frontiers or linguistic barriers.