The World-Wide Web: an interface between research and teaching in bioinformatics.

The rapid expansion occurring in World-Wide Web activity is beginning to make the concepts of 'global hypermedia' and 'universal document readership realistic objectives of the new revolution in information technology. One consequence of this increase in usage is that educators and students are becoming more aware of the diversity of the knowledge base which can be accessed via the Internet. Although computerised databases and information services have long played a key role in bioinformatics these same resources can also be used to provide core materials for teaching and learning. The large datasets and archives that have been compiled for biomedical research can be enhanced with the addition of a variety of multimedia elements (images, digital videos, animation etc.). The use of this digitally stored information in structured and self-directed learning environments is likely to increase as activity across World-Wide Web increases.