in 1991 the magazine began publishing "verbum interactive", which was billed as the "first cd-rom periodical." "verbum interactive" was produced using macromind director and contained both digital audio files and cd-audio. it was hailed as a groundbreaking product, but criticized for the high cost of the equipment needed to view it, and for the slow performance of the cd-rom technology it relied upon. others commented that "the scope of vi, in terms of both its thematic and intellectual expanse and the level of technological expertise with which the final product was produced, is truly remarkable".