Educational Media Reviews Online

Ambient Orchids is a new entry in The Ambient Series, a set of DVDs which create different atmospheres from your television (i.e. Ambient Fire is another in the series). This interactive DVD-ROM contains a slideshow display of orchids with 380 photographs of 240 varieties, accompanied by Chopin’s piano music. The viewer is able to select from six different playlists of flowers divided by genera, create a custom playlist, or watch all 380 pictures in random order. Preferences allow the display of Latin names to be turned on or off. Chopin’s music is also optional, allowing just the sounds of nature as accompaniment. The remote control can be used to stop on a particular orchid, zoom in and out, and display its Latin name. Other features include a history of orchids and 375 wallpapers on the DVD-ROM.

The photographs in Ambient Orchids are high resolution and optimized for 16 x 9 screens as well as standard televisions. The DVD menu is easy to navigate, and the help section clearly explains how to take advantage of the many features. This DVD-ROM is recommended for orchid enthusiasts, botany students, or anyone seeking to create a relaxed atmosphere, and is suitable for any age.