A quarter-century after the first diagnosed cases surfaced, HIV/AIDS continues to spread rapidly throughout the world. To help shed more light on the history of this pandemic and educate people about what can be done to stop it, Microsoft Corp. principal researcher Curtis Wong has teamed up with producers of the PBS television series “FRONTLINE�? to develop an enhanced broadband television Web site for a new documentary titled “The Age of AIDS,�? premiering tonight and Wednesday.

Wong, who manages the Next Media Research group within Microsoft Research, worked closely with WGBH Interactive and the producers of “FRONTLINE�? to design the technology for the Web site. Beginning on June 2, the companion Web site at http://www.pbs.org/frontline/aids will allow visitors to view “The Age of AIDS�? video on demand, in its entirety or chapter by chapter, along with related, interactive online content that is tightly integrated with the video footage.

“What’s unique about this approach is that it seamlessly combines a compelling television program with rich Web resources to significantly enhance people’s understanding of a complex topic like AIDS,�? Wong said. “It highlights the tremendous potential of Internet television with rich interactivity to deliver in-depth content to a global audience.�?

As people watch “The Age of AIDS�? documentary online, contextual links appear beside the video to inform viewers about topics directly related to that portion of the program. Clicking on any link automatically pauses the video, allowing viewers to explore related resources at their leisure and then return to the documentary without missing a moment.