As noted, the primary focus of the RIPPLES group has been on the MANIC (Multimedia Asynchronous Networked Individualized Courseware) framework and how multimedia content delivery systems suport and enhance teaching and learning at a distance and in the classroom. MANIC began as an application to "drive" research on networking protocols.

An early version of MANIC quickly became a prefered content delivery system for the University's Video Instruction Program (later to become the Professional Education for Engineering and Applied Science - PEEAS). This allowed us to experiment with user interfaces, navigation, and serach mechanisms. The availability of recorded content enabled several experiments in problem-focused learning.

In recent years, we have investigated both content capture and content delivery systems:

• the jMANIC Content Delivery System
• "constructivist" extensions to the MANIC framework
• the PAOL Content Capture System (and associated FlashMANIC)

We have also developed a number of specific MANIC Applications:

• Information Assurance
• Wireless Networks
• NSF ERC: Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere