[originaltext] When a person needs information on almost any topic, where do

When a person needs information on almost any topic, where does he or she look for it? The most likely place is an encyclopedia. Today an encyclopedia is a set of books with articles and pictures. Encyclopedias may soon be available in full color and sound. Instead of going to the bookshelf for an answer to a question, a person may switch on the television set and key into a computer network. The information will then be instantly printed across the screen with music and sound effects, if appropriate. If the researcher is looking for information about baroque music, he or she will not only read information about the music, but will also hear an example of the music at the same time. Information about the canary bird will include the sound of its song. Sound is not the only advantage of storing encyclopedia information on computer tape. Information can be immediately updated. As events occur and information changes, the "computer encyclopedia" can add and change information.
    "Our concept of the encyclopedia will change," said Kenneth Kister, author of the Encyclopedia Buying Guide."Encyclopedias will be released from the imprisonment of the printed word."