Databases & Desktop Publishing · Reviewed
Microsoft Encarta
A multimedia encyclopedia for personal computers that combined searchable reference articles with pictures, audio, maps and interactive material, especially associated with CD-ROM publishing.
Overview
Encarta provided a reference collection that could be searched and explored on a home computer. Articles linked to related material, while images, sound and video added forms of explanation unavailable in a printed encyclopedia. Some editions also included maps, timelines and educational activities.
Its packaged distribution made a substantial body of reference material available without a continuous internet connection. Content and features differed by language, year and edition. The software interface and the licensed editorial collection were separate parts of the product, both relevant to preserving or interpreting a historical copy.
Key features
- Searchable encyclopedia articles
- Linked reference navigation
- Pictures, audio and video
- Maps and interactive material by edition
- Offline disc-based reference access
Historical significance
Encarta demonstrated a persuasive everyday use for multimedia personal computers. It changed reference work from consulting separate printed volumes to searching and following links through several media types. Its history also highlights the different economics and update cycles of packaged editorial products and web-based reference services.
History and development
Microsoft introduced Encarta in 1993, using licensed encyclopedia material as a basis for a multimedia reference product. It became closely associated with the CD-ROM era, when increased storage made images, audio and interactive content practical on consumer PCs.
Later editions expanded content and added online services and updates. Microsoft discontinued the product in 2009 as reference use shifted toward the web. The product's lifespan therefore captures a period between the printed encyclopedia and the expectation of continually accessible online information.