Another interesting piece of CD-i history from the archive of The Swiss Parliament. The Swiss authorities subsidized a plan to create the Swiss Click Encyclopedia on CD-i and CD-ROM in 1994, full of pictures, videos and information about Switzerland, intended to be a tourism disc for foreigners interested in the country. However, what we understand from this claim, the Swiss authorities found too many errors and wrong information in the content. They decided to stop distribution after the initial release, which means this has become a very rare CD-i disc. Read on for more details:
"The Coordination Commission for Switzerland's Presence Abroad has produced a CD-i Swiss Encyclopedia "Swiss click", intended in particular for foreigners interested in our country. However, the information contained in this CD-i is either insignificant or grotesque, if not even false. Obviously, an attempt has been made since then to stop delivery. The interactive electronic media "Swiss Click" was produced in two stages: first a CD-i (compatible TV) for exhibitions, fairs, Swiss weeks, etc. (1994), then a CD-ROM (PC compatible) for a wider audience (1995), with the same texts and the same animation modules. The production contract dated May 28, 1993 was signed with Mediarama SA, a subsidiary responsible for the execution of concrete projects of the said foundation. The technical realization was entrusted by Mediarama SA to Victory Interactive Media SA (Victory), a Ticino-based company which had notably produced the first Swiss CD-I (dedicated to the architect Mario Botta). The total expenditure for the production of CD-I amounted to 995,000 francs. of which 550,000 fr. payable by COCO and 392,000 fr. assumed by the SSR, which essentially provided services in kind, in particular making available throughout the production period (18 months) the journalist responsible for writing the original version of the texts; the balance was paid by other partners.
The judgment on "Swiss Click" must be qualified and take into account the entire volume of information provided (approximately 9 hours of program reproduced in 5 languages, ie a total of nearly 45 hours), as well as the fact that it is not a reference documentation, but a product of an entertaining nature. Following the criticisms published in some press organs, the members of the COCO were invited to answer a precise questionnaire; the majority of members considered problematic, in the original French version, only 4 files out of 530 and no animation module out of 60. A very clear majority, they felt that the desired changes could await the updating of "Swiss Click "anyway planned for Expo '98 Lisbon. On the other hand, the German translation, criticized in its time in the media, contains many errors, more or less important. The COCO has decided not to distribute it as is and the interested partners have found a consensual solution to correct it, the SSR covering the editorial costs of correction, Victory certain costs."
[Thanks, Alan and the archive of The Swiss Parliament]