The main menu consists of six categories: About the UN, Main Organs, Headquarters, Guided Tours, Professions and Gifts and Artwork. A simple installation of QuickTime 7.0.4, included on the CD, is all that is necessary to run the program.

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The CD-ROM is very comprehensive, covering the obligatory History of the UN, Charter and member states; yet it also piques the viewer’s interest with its 40+ video interviews of staff members and their various roles within the organization, a virtual tour of the UN Headquarters (with multilingual guides!), archive photos and coverage of UN artworks and gifts.

One example of the attention to detail found in this production is under the category Guided Tours, where a surprisingly interesting section on the history of the UN uniforms covers the various style highlights from prestigious designers such as Christian Dior and Benneton, to less fortunate choices in the 1970s. This section also contains a History of the Tours, and Tour Guides, with a video interview of a woman who gives her account of a day-in-the-life of a UN Tour Guide.

My favorite section was the 40 (first-time) interviews with UN staff and delegates, where every possible profession and job seems to be covered, from the higher profile protocol officers, delegates, interpreters and peacekeepers, to more mundane roles, such as the gardener and sign maker. What a great resource for schools where kids often ponder their future professions without having much knowledge of what the day-to-day role entails.

“A Virtual Tour of the United Nations” is a must-have schools and anyone interested in the UN. Downloads are available online for $27.90 (~ 600 MB) or you can buy the CD-ROM for $29.90.