Micro link on show
PRACTICAL demonstrations of an inexpensive way to link up two
BBC Micros will be one of the features of the BBC Micro User Show,
to be held at the Westminster Exhibition Centre from December
8 to 11.
Experts on the Micro User's technical advice stand will be explaining
the procedure, which was described in detail in the October issue.
The method outlined in the article has aroused a flood of interest
and many users are now working on ways of incorporating it into
games and other programs.
The show will include a number of specialist stands designed
to give the BBC Micro user the most up-to-date information about
his computer.
The government-backed Micro Electronics Project will be displaying
all the latest in the world of educational computing.
The BBC themselves will be demonstrating their recently-launched
telesoftware service, and our highly popular walk-in forums will
include talks by some of the country's leading experts on the
BBC Micro.
Scores of firms will be displaying their new products for the
BBC Micro and Electron, many for the first time in public.
Latest to announce a launch at the show is R.H. Electronics.
They will be releasing a range of software and hardware products,
including a video digitiser.
ROBOTICS ARE ON THE MOVE
THE manufacturers of the Zeaker, Colne Robotics, have had a
boost to their expansion plans with a £200,000 capital investment
from the Prudential. This is in addition to an earlier £150,000
injection. The Zeaker, a low cost robot for the BBC Micro, is
aimed at the educational market.
New products from the firm will include a solid state computer
vision system and a computer controlled lathe suitable for colleges
of Further Education.
Software floods in for Christmas
Accent is on education
CHRISTMAS is coming, and so is a flood of new software for the
BBC Micro.
Encouraged by the huge sales of BBC Micros to the schools, new
software companies have been proliferating — mostly set up by
publishing houses.
One of the most prestigious companies to enter the field is
Cambridge University Press. They have joined ranks with Netherall
School, the latest of our educational institutions to succumb
to the lure of the software market.
Not to be outdone, Longman, another of the establishment publishers,
have joined with Lough-borough Primary Micro Project to produce
a range of educational titles aimed specifically at the home market.
Shiva Publishing has also chosen the Christmas season to launch
a suite of four educational programs. Designed for five to eight-year-olds,
the programs teach basic mathematical concepts.
Even the publishers of Cosmopolitan, the National Magazine Company,
have entered the market. Their company,
Ebury Software, has launched a series of six titles aimed at
the preschool and infants market.
Reversing the trend somewhat, H & H, specialists in educational
software, has announced the launch of its first arcade game —
Looney Lift.
Presumably, after all that worthy educational work, they were
glad to let their hair down.
Choice is Xenix
THE long awaited 32 bit second processor from Acorn will have
Xenix as its operating system. Xenix is a version of Unix, an
operating system that has gained wide acceptance in the world
of mainframe and mini computers.
Logica UK will be adapting the system for Acorn.
Now-a 3D game
WHAT is claimed to be the first truly three dimensional computer
game has just been released by Postern.
"3-Deep Space" requires the use of special 3-D glasses
which come with the package. When wearing them the games graphics
characters seem to pass in front of and behind each other, appearing
to move in and out of the screen.
Postern claims that this opens up a new dimension in computer
software.
Radio boost for new technology
NEW YEAR will see BBC School Radio entering the field of the
new technology with two series of educational broadcasts aiming
to introduce youngsters to the basics of electronics.
This has been done in cooperation with the Microelectronics
Education Program (MEP) and the Department of Industry.
Software to accompany one of the series is currently under development
by King Alfred's College, Winchester, and the MEP.
It is intended that at least a part of this software will be
available over the BBC's Telesoftware service in the New Year.
This can then be downloaded via the BBC Micro's Teletext Adapter,
saved, and used in lessons.
Horizons
Speaking at a preview of the programmes, Claire Chovil, Head
of School Broadcasting, Radio, said: "The age of technology
opens up new horizons for our children. The education we give
them must prepare them for the opportunities which it will offer".
Despite this growing realisation that children have to experience
the new technology in order to prepare them for the future, there
is a shortage of suitably trained teachers.
Expand
To aid this situation both series are designed for teachers
with little or no electronics knowledge. The more experienced
will be able to expand on the programs, including them in their
own lessons.
The first series, "Junior Electronics", is aimed at
introducing the 9 to 12 year old age group to the elementary concepts
of electronics.
The second, "Micro-technology", is designed for 14
to 16 year olds and should be relevant to the current O-level
sylabuses. A basic knowledge of electricity is assumed.
Guiding
The emphasis is very much on learning by doing, the radio programmes
guiding the children through practical experiments which can become
the basis of a week's work.
The intention is that the programmes will be taped and used
as needed in the classroom, each group of children learning at
its own pace.
Both series have a special kit of components available for the
children to use although the BBC are quick to point out that there
is nothing to stop teachers making up their own packs.
For the microtech-nology course there is also a breadboard and
a bench power supply available.
There is a DoI subsidy on the first kit ordered for each school,
showing the importance placed on this education for the electronic
society of the nineties.
Junior Electronics
Five weekly broadcasts. Tuesday 2.20-2.40 Radio 4 VHF. First
broadcast February 28, 1984.
Kit of parts and filmstrip available.
Microtechnology
Ten weekly broadcasts. Friday 10.45-11.05 Radio 4 VHF. First
broadcast January 20, 1984.
Kit of parts, filmstrip, and breadboard available.
Slimline disc drive is on way
FOLLOWING the successful sales of BBC Micros in High Street
shops,Cumana, one of the UK's leading floppy disc drive distributors,
has decided to enter the same market with a slimline disc drive.
The 5 1/4 inch disc drive comes complete with user manual, 2-drive
connecting cable and a formatting disc.
Available in single sided 40 and 80 track, and double-sided
80 track formats, each drive comes with mains power supply lead
and plug.
This will be the first time that a computer peripheral has been
sold in this way.
The emphasis is on providing both retailer and consumer with
an attractive, easy-to-understand package. So the next time you
buy The Micro User you might be able to get a disc drive off the
same shelf.
More titles adapted for BBC
THE ever-increasing sales of BBC Micros have caused major suppliers
of software for other machines to adapt their programs for the
BBC Micro.
Microdeal, one of the foremost software producers for the Dragon
has converted its best-selling Shuttle program for the BBC Model
B. Also released at the same time is their Air Traffic Controller.
Four titles for the BBC Micro aimed at the Christmas market
have been launched by leading Spectrum software house, DK Tronics.
Their Slicker
Puzzle, considered to be as compulsive and infuriating as the
Rubik Cube, is tipped to be a best seller.
Also translated from the Spectrum is The Hobbit, Melbourne House's
adventure based on Tolkien's novel, a copy of which is included
with the game.
Extremely successful in its Spectrum version, the BBC Model
B reincarnation has been eagerly awaited.
Taking the brunt
A HARD cover to protect your BBC Micro from the depradations
of children, spouses and twentieth century life in general has
just been released by Tekform Products.
Made in high impact ABS, the cover's cream textured finish matches
that of the BBC Micro. With anti-slip foam pads on the underside
to further protect the micro, the cover is expected to sell well
to educational and domestic users.
Micro plays lead
A BBC Micro is the star of a science fiction play being performed
by pupils of Moorside High School, Manchester.
The play, "The Adventures of Harry Wil-letts, Cargo Pilot"
is set on a spaceship in the near future. This has its own computer,
Doris, played by one of the pupils sitting in a metal tank with
only her head protruding. Doris is considered one of the crew
and can answer any questions put to her.
The BBC Micro works closely with Doris. It is linked to a specially
hired 45 inch TV and provides text and graphics displays to coincide
with Doris' speech.
The idea of using the micro came from the play's producer, English
teacher Alan Liptrot. He enlisted the aid of fifth year pupil
David Pearson whom he describes as a "computer whizz-kid"
to write the software.
"It started off as a small part of the production but now
the BBC Micro has become the star", he said.
Teachers launch software house
THREE North West teachers have turned their backs on classrooms
to have more impact on the educational front.
They have pulled out of their schools in order to help launch
a new software house - Optima - based in Stockport, Cheshire,
which they are convinced will enable them to communicate far more
effectively with schoolchildren than traditional teaching methods.
All three teachers — Peter Davidson, 32, Chris Price, 33 and
Trevor Roberts 33 - are graduates and between them have teaching
experience which ranges from primary schools through to sixth
form colleges.
"We have not abandoned the kids but are simply adopting
a new approach", said Peter Davidson, Optima's software development
manager.
"What we are doing now will be far more meaningful than
what we were able to achieve in the limitations of the class-room
system".
Optima Software's first wave of products include two programs
tailor-made for schools across the country.
Datext, an easy to use teletext editing and library program,
provides multi coloured worksheets suitable for anything from
sixth form science experiments to nursery rhyme books for infants.
Monitor
The newly-formed software company is also offering Optimon,
a full machine code monitor which can be utilised as a learning
tool for more advanced students.
It eliminates time consuming and unnecessary tasks and instructs
the youthful programmer on machine capabilities.
Although the main thrust of Optima's activities will be on the
educational front, games will also figure prominently on its product
list.
It has already received welcoming reviews for Asteroid Miner,
Sea Wolf and Atomic Protector which it recently unveiled for the
Christmas market. Other titles are scheduled to appear shortly.
"We aim to be a complete software house", says Peter
David-son. "But we obviously feel that we have that little
something extra to offer in the educational field because of our
teaching backgrounds".
BRT picks BBC
BRT, the Belgian Dutch-language television service, is halfway
to completing an educational series scheduled to begin in January.
There will be 12 half hour programmes, using the BBC computer,
and these will be linked to a study course of textbooks and cassettes.
Acorn sponsors world chess championship semi-finals
ACORN has pulled off Britain's largest chess sponsorship deal
by sponsoring the semi-finals of the world chess championships
to the tune of £100,000.
The deal, which allows the British Chess Federation to stage
the matches in London, was made in the face of rival bids from
Holland and Austria.
"It's all come as a bit of a rush", said a spokesman
for the BCF.
"As yet we haven't arranged a venue for the games though
they should start at the end of November and last for a month".
Acorn's sponsorship of the two matches is a coup for Britain
after earlier arrangements had fallen through.
The game between the Russian Gary Kasparov and Russian defector
Victor Korchnoi was to have been held in California until Kasparov,
complaining of security problems, refused to travel there.
Similarly, the game between the veteran Russian Smyslov and
Ribli, the Hungarian, which was to have been held in Abu Dhabi,
was cancelled because of the heat.
The offer from Acorn solves all these problems, allowing the
series to go ahead.
RECOMMENDED..
The two teach-yourself computing books recommended by the BBC
in the weekly TV series "The Computer Programme" can
now be obtained from The Micro User.
They are "The Computer Book", by Robin Bradbeer and
"The Friendly Computer Book", by Jonathan Inglis.
They can be ordered using the coupon on Page 122.
Keeping tabs on Ferraris
A BBC Micro along with a Z80 second processor (on field trials)
is being used to keep records of buyers and sellers for a Ferrari
brokerage.
The firm, Compute-a-Ferrari, was founded in January by David
Hunt, younger brother of the former world champion driver.
Software for the system was made by Acorn who also sponsor David
Hunt in Formula 3 motor racing.
Detailed descriptions of Ferraris for sale are entered into
the micro, covering 28 categories from the condition of the tyres
and bodywork to interior marks - even cigarette burns.
Prospective buyers give details of the car they are looking
for and the micro does the matchmaking.
The system has been so successful that there are plans to extend
it to cover Porsche, Lotus and Aston Martin too.
The BBC Micro stars in Belgium
THE popularity of the BBC computer is not limited to the United
Kingdom.
The BBC users group in Brussels is already 135 members strong
and growing daily.
The club meets once a fortnight, is extremely active, and has
its own monthly newsletter.
The distributor for Belgium and Luxembourg, Societe Luxembourgeoise
d'Informatique, is providing strong support for the club.
Expertise
A BBC Micro complete with discs and colour monitor has been
placed on permanent loan with the group. A high level of expertise
is available to beginners in both hardware and software.
One member is responsible for a 40/80 track disc switch which
can be easily added to the BBC Micro and is featured in the new
catalogue of Control Universal of Cambridge.
Micros in the cottages..
BRITAIN will return to a society based on cottage industries,
says Richard Fothergill, Director of the Microelectronics Education
Programme.
This, he says, will be as a result of the new technology.
He cited BBC School Radio's microelectronic education series,
which he called "one of the more imaginative and innoven-tive
activities the MEP has been associated with", as an example
of this tendency.
The series and their supporting hardware had been the result
of cooperation between people and agencies spread across the country.
Two Newcastle housewives had designed the screen layout, while
the MEP had provided the software.
Components
A "garden shed"-based supplier in Liverpool was providing
kits of components, with another small manufacturer in Essex developing
a power supply unit for the project.
This cooperation between small groups at a distance was, he
felt, the blueprint of our future society. It would also become
a major source of jobs for the young people who will make up that
society.
More hardware from Acorn
TWO new pieces of hardware have been unveiled by Acorn.
The first is the Acorn Bit Stik graphics system, a development
of the well-known Apple Bit Stik. This is an extremely sophisticated
computer aided design package consisting of the Bit Stik itself
(a type of super joystick) together with dedicated software.
The system allows the user to define, with the minimum of keyboard
input, a whole library of designs which may be then combined in
a variety of methods.
Particularly interesting is the zoom feature, which allows you
to magnify a fraction of the screen. You can add details to that
part of the design in high definition, then return to the standard
magnification.
The system also permits images to be stored in a library and
recalled at will. Said to be faster and to use less memory than
the Apple version, the Acorn Bit Stik is one of the results of
the company's new policy of buying-in products for the BBC Micro.
The second development promised is an IEEE interface for the
BBC Micro.
This makes the machine the first computer of its type to have
available all of the standard I/O ports -RS423, Centronics and
IEEE.
Aimed mainly at the laboratory market in schools and industry,
Acorn claim that this is the first full specification IEEE interface
available for a micro.
Also supplied with it will be an IEEE language system which
can be used to control the attached equipment. Said to be simple
to use, the IEEE language can be accessed from Basic and used
by most schoolchildren.
Light on data capture
A LIGHT pen claimed to be far easier to operate than others
on the market has been launched by Datapen Microtechnology.
Said sales director Pam Rayner: "Most light pens on the
market are difficult to use because the operator has little or
no control over the pen's data capture as it approaches the screen.
"Our model has a LED readout showing that data is available.
A switch built into the casing allows the operator to signal when
the position is right".
The light pen, which comes with a range of software, retails
at £25.
BARRY WOOD'S TAILPIECE
THE other day I caught our beloved editor reading a copy of
a rival magazine - you know, the one for squirrels.
He grinned at me sheepishly and said: "I can't resist the
delicious feeling of deja-vu it gives me".
* * *
I HAD a terrifying conversation with a software house this week.
Their bright young chap said: "Our program's been tested
on the 2.1 OS".
"Don't you mean 1.2", I glibly corrected him.
"Oh no", he replied, "our boss has got a friend
at Acorn, and the one he got from him is higher than that".
* * *
WELL Mr Pike, we know your name, and we know you're a deputy
headmaster.
What we don't know is your school, but we're quite confident
that your pupils, who've been scrawling electronic graffitti over
Prestel while you've popped out of the room, will inform us soon
enough.
* * *
LAMEST excuse of the year award must go to our associate editor
who was stopped by our gallant constabulary for speeding.
"Oh", said he, "I thought the 30 was in hexadecimal".
They let him off. Pity.
* * *
IT'S lovely to see that the teletext adapter is such a nice
creamy beige. It will go so well with my collection of second
processors and Electrons.
* * *
ACTUALLY we're all a bit miffed here because Acorn have poached
our gorgeous marketing manager.
Come to think of it, I've heard that Acorn are after me ...
* * *
"WHO told Barry Wood about our new DFS?" demanded
a gentleman from Acorn of our less-than-gentlemanly editor.
"What new DFS is this?" enquired my unworthy superior.
Exit Acorn man stage left.
So here's my project for this month. You've got to find the
first Acorn spokesman to deny they're working on a new DFS.
* * *
THOSE electronic vandals probably got the idea from the hackers
on Making the Most of the Micro Live.
I certainly can't see anyone getting anything else from it.
* * *
SO, we're going to have Xenix for the 16032. I just can't wait
to get it up and running on mine. Question is, is it Xenix 0.1
or Xenix 1.2?
* * *
SO Acorn are "computer modelling" race tracks so their
car can go faster, are they?
Isn't it a pity that they haven't applied the same techniques
to the Electron production lines?
