Abstract:

The French VIDEOTEX system TELETEL started operation in France some five years ago. There will soon be almost 3 million Minitel terminals in service. From its inception it was the intention to use this communication facility to conduct surveys. Various experiments were carried out and at least 2 permanent systems have been in existence for the last two years. This paper concerns a new system called VISAGE which went into operation in September 1987. Once the main characteristics of a survey system by VIDEOTEX have been discussed, the VISAGE system, its innovative features and the resulting advantages will be described. The last section of the paper covers some of the applications made possible by using VISAGE.