£2.

75 Summer 1993

Help
ware
Magazine

Team machines
How networks work

Making sense
of smell
Computers with a nose
for expensive perfume

Mail for the

masses
Write one letter and
your PC writes the rest

US ate your own cartoons HelpLine Electronic maps Instant astrology

The colour printer that changes the rules of the game.
THE NEXT GENERATION IBM ® COLOUR PRINTER BY LEXMARK
Playing by the rules is fine, but at Lexmark International, we
find setting them is even better. And with the new IBM Colour
Jetprinter TM PS 4079, we've done just that.
A former division of IBM, Lexmark International is an
independent worldwide company that develops manufactures
and markets IBM personal printers, IBM typewriters, related
supplies and keyboards. And as the printer specialist, we've
turned our expertise to the new IBM 4079 so you can quietly
turn the tables in your favour.
The next generation in PostScript"-compatible colour
printing, the new IBM 4079 is faster, better, more intelligent
and smaller than anything in its price range.
Speed comparisons based on independent testing. ® IBM is a registered trademark of International
Business Machines Corporation and used under licence. PostScript is a registered trademark
Adobe systems, Inc. Apple and Unix are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Not only does it give you the most amazing colours,
sharpest contrast and the smoothest colour transition, it also
delivers the simplest networking solution. With its unique
automatic interface management, the new IBM 4079
the ideal colour printer for diverse, shared environment
including IBM, Apples and Unix° workstations.
And with a speed that's 44% faster than our leadin
competitor, the new IBM Colour Jetprinter PS 4079 is furthi
proof that when it comes to winning the game, at Lexmark
we don't play around.
So if you want to know how to set the rules for yourself ca
Clare Palmer at our UK office on 0628 481500, or fax 0628 481881
LEXMARK
Make Your Mark
of
This is a birthday issue, marking the first anniversary of both the
Helpware project and Helpware Magazine. Since summer
Help
1992, Helpware's telephone HelpLine has taken more than
100,000 calls from HelpClub members in the UK alone. In the
same period, Helpware Magazine has carried dozens of articles
which have opened up new areas of computing for readers
ware Magazine
throughout Europe. And if your letters are anything to go by,
Editor
Helpware's a service that's much appreciated. Stephen Cooke
Managing editor
Peter Connor
Whatever the model of IBM PC you work with, Helpware aims to International editors
Jean-Paul Rey (France), Michael Geffken
make it easier, more fun and more satisfying for you to use. If (Germany), Cristina Manzano (Spain),
Luca Serafini (Italy), Maria Windén
you're not yet a HelpClub member and you want to take advantage (Sweden), Arild Gilde (Norway), Line Siert
(Denmark), Marc van Impe (Belgium),
of the 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year HelpLine, as well as trade-in Terri James-Kester (Netherlands),
discounts on computers, special offers, and, of course, Helpware Sari Tiiro (Finland)
Chief sub -editor
Magazine, turn to the HelpClub section on page 85. Alison
Sub-editor
Christian Smith
Staff writer
In this issue of Helpware Magazine we explore the increasingly Ian Tresman
Art director
important role of the PC in education and find out what computers Greville Edwards
are teaching your children. We also try our hand at computer Deputy art director
Stephen Reid
animation, cast PC horoscopes and meet some Japanese robots. Designers
Sandra Cowell, Fiona Jukes
Production editor
Monica Madden
Our major Workshop in this issue is on networks, and shows how Production coordinators
his Robertson, Sara Page
connecting up your PCs can increase business efficiency. Other Picture editor
Workshops cover topics from mailmerge to macro programming, Deborah Keeping
International coordinator
where single keystrokes simplify the most complicated jobs. Patricia Cole
Advertising
Richard Ward, Salesteem,
Russell Square House, 10/12 Russell
Square, London WC1B SAE.
Tel: (44 71) 333 8901; fax: (44 71) 333 8899.
Helpware Magazine is published quarterly in 12 language Helpware® Magazine is published by
editions throughout Europe. Each article is the result of IBM Eurocoordination, Tour Pascal,
22 route de la Demi-Lune, Puteaux,
collaboration between editorial teams from many
Hams de Seine, France.
different countries. with contributions from O IBM Eurocoordination.
correspondents in the US and Japan. The following All rights reserved.
language editions are available: English, French
(France and Belgium), German, Spanish,
Produced on behalf of IBM Eurocoordination,
Italian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian
by Forward Publishing Ltd,
and Dutch (Netherlands and Belgium). 5 Great Pulteney Street, London W IR 3DF.
Workshop articles are prepared with the Tel: 071-734 2303; fax: 071-734 8935;
support of technical experts from IBM
CompuServe:76004,3454.
William Sieghart (chairman)
service and research departments around Neil Mendoza (managing director)
the world. The UK edition of Susan Swift (editorial director)
Bob Crozier (international publisher)
Helpware Magazine is this
Tina Bettison (production director)
year's holder of the Best
Contract Magazine award, Helpware® is a registered trademark of
the IBM Corporation.
and was runner-up in the
The views expressed in Helpware Magazine
Best Consumer Launch
are not necessarily those of IBM or Forward
1992 category. Publishing Ltd.

3 HELPWAR E
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hat Is Quicken?
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Postcode
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REPORT LIFE

12 What's going on?

Finnish farmers strike it lucky with
computer dating; microchips
monitor Dutch stray cats; virtual
war makes its transatlantic debut;
and Belgium foils jewel thieves
with PC software.

20 Calendar
What's happening when, and
where, this summer.

81 Think of a number
The impact of ancient Arabian
maths on modern technology.

22 Classroom revolution
Can PCs really replace traditional
teaching methods?

28 Picture this
FEEDBACK Inside IBM's POWER Visualization

8 Letters
System, a graphics computer that
can change your view of the world.
From goose quill to mouse — the
story of a septuagenarian PC user.
32 What's up, Doc?
Computerised cartooning takes
97 Next issue animation into a new dimension.
Meet a computer which has had
its paintings exhibited at the Tate
42 From A to B, by PC
Gallery to international acclaim. Taking to the road with the latest

Computer animation in
the cartoon industry on
page 32.

52 Metal miracles
Building robots in Japan can be a
spiritual experience.

62 Unreal city
The bizarre computer-generated
cityscapes of Carlos Urbina.

73 Not to be sniffed at
Do perfumers prefer the electronic
nose to the human sense of smell?
 WORKSHOP
I 38 Get it together
Mastering mailmerge.
50 Upwardly mobile
OS/2 Version 2.1 can run Windows
programs faster than Windows.
56 nstant power
Macros reduce complicated jobs to
he press of a single key.
65 Only connect
A network of PCs can be much
more than the sum of its parts.
77 Start me up
Investigating AUTOEXEC.BAT;
your guide to this versatile file.
82 Jargon buster
Computerese translated.
84 Hot tips
How to get the most from your PC.
44 Star struck
You can tell the future through
the stars using a computer.
98 The back page
A competition, a cartoon and news
of some of the strangest software
you're likely to find.
New readers start here...
In each issue of Helpware Magazine
you'll read about people and companies
who use computers creatively, to change
the way we live and work. Among these
LIFE stories are features on the arts, sport,
Turn to the REPORT pages for
revelations of the unusual, the inspired,
and the newly discovered. The section
also includes a calendar of events.
the environment, fashion and education.
If you want to be seriously amused by
your PC, join us in AFTER HOURS. You
WORKSHOPS explore hardware and might be surprised: the latest computer
software in a straightforward style. Some entertainment offers much more than the
focus on a particular program, others lead average shoot 'em up game.
you into new areas of computing, whether
you use your PC at home or at work.
Most Workshops have colour-coded ski- Finally there's FEEDBACK, where you let
runs (see below), graded according to us know what you think about it all, and
difficulty, which contain additional advice. where we tell you what's coming next.
Psssst, wanna buy a back issue?
You can order back issues of Helpware Magazine (£12.50 for the
our previous issues, or £3.50 per issue), by writing to: IBM
HelpClub, PO Box 599, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 1EZ. Make your
heque payable to HelpClub; please specify which issues you
vould like and the address they should be sent to.
Cover photograph by Leonard Whybrow.
HelpClub
You get Helpware Magazine sent to you four
times a year FREE if you join IBM's HelpClub.
As a member of the Club you also get a range
of other valuable services, many of which are
highlighted in our HelpClub pages.
86 In a regular feature starting in this issue, IBM's HelpClub manager gives
you the view from IBM, including what's new on the market and the
shape of things to come.
87 This could be your lucky day: have a stab at winning a CD-ROM drive
by entering our competition.
88 There are more offers than ever in this issue, including discounts on
computer training, modems and educational software.
91. The latest batch of problems and solutions from the HelpLine team.
95 If you are not a HelpClub member, you can join now by completing the
enrolment form or calling 0628 895222
HELPWARE
 FEEDBACK
In each issue we will
offer the writer of the
most interesting letter
a state-of-the-art
computer game...
so PCs at the ready.
Prize-winning letter
From quill to computer
I am always interested in readers'
letters and the editorial response
to them. However, your
comments after Bernd P Stadler's
letter ('Constructive criticism',
winter 1992/93) evoked more
than mere interest – I was
concerned that a senior citizen
could not be expected to know
his way around a floppy disk.
I was an established
septuagenarian when I acquired
my PS/1. The company of which I
was the chief executive was not
computerised prior to my
retirement eight years ago, and so
I had no previous experience of
this type of technology. What I
did have was a desire to find out
how computers worked, and what
could be done with them.
I have to report that I've found
the task to be absorbing and
instructive. My only other venture
into the world of electronics was
on the very early forms of
airborne ASV (air-to-surface
vessel) radar used in the Second
World War. All terribly primitive
by today's standards. I am
completely enthralled by the
magic of even relatively simple
equipment, such as my now
seemingly steam-age PS/1. So,
perhaps not all senior citizens
are in their dotage.
I wonder how many of your
readers can say that they started
Write to: with a quill pen and finished with
Letters page, a computer? As an office boy 60
Helpware Magazine, years ago with a firm of solicitors,
Forward Publishing, I used a goose-quill pen for the
5 Great Pulteney St, engrossing and texting of hand-
London W1R 3DF, written wills and conveyances.
or send us a fax on Mr W J Hope MBE, Beverley
071-734 8935. You You've caught us being
can also contact us unwittingly ageist there, Mr
on CompuServe: Hope. The anecdote we cited
76004,3454. regarding a senior citizen's
problems with diskettes was
intended to illustrate humorously
the difficulties that anyone new to
computer technology might have
– no matter what their age. We
understand that it may have
caused offence. So, please accept
our apologies – and a copy of
1992's Game of the Year, Wing
Commander II (pictured below)
from Origin Software, as your
prize for writing this month's top
letter. We'd like to hear about
the experiences of any other
readers who, like you, started out
with a quill and have ended up
using a keyboard.
Spot the difference
After reading some of the ads for
IBM, I wonder what the difference
is between a PS/1, a PS/ValuePoint
and a PS/2? By the way, thanks
for a magnificent magazine!
Jan Erik Sandbak, Norway
The difference between PCs can
seem bewildering, but in the case
of the IBM systems you mention,
I think we can make it clear. The
PS/1 is for home users and small
businesses. You get everything
you need to start work quickly –
monitor, system and keyboard,
with software preloaded – you
just plug it in and get started.
The PS/ValuePoint (PS/VP)
range is for the professional, for
use either on its own or as part of
a network of PCs. PS/VPs have
Super VGA screens, and plenty of
possibilities for expansion. As the
name indicates, a ValuePoint
gives you value for money.
The PS/2 is the most
sophisticated line. It has a SCSI
interface (allowing faster transfer
of data), the latest XG A-2
graphics and Micro Channel
Architecture, which allows much
faster expansion cards than other
PCs. PS/2s are especially designed
for use as powerful 'stand-alone'
machines, workstations in a
network or as network servers.
Just the way you are
Please do not make Workshops
more advanced, as Herr Stadler
suggested in his letter (Helpware
Magazine, winter 1992/93). I am
one of your more basic readers
and can only just manage as it is!
Can I buy the hack copies of
your publication that contain
your 'Jargon busters'? I am
missing A, B and C and would
love to have the whole alphabet.
Helpware Magazine is fascinating
reading; I particularly enjoyed the
article on the queen's moustache!
Miss M J Sloman, Woolwich
Don't panic; we fully intend to
keep Workshops going along the
same lines, although we will
occasionally include more
advanced ones. Even then,
Helpware Magazine's patented
ski-run system means that there is
something for everyone – no
matter what their level of PC
experience – in most Workshops.
Back issues of the magazine
are available from the HelpClub;
see pages 7 and 96 for details.
Game boys
Hi! We are from Forssa in
Finland. We are both nine years
old. Could you please have more
games reviews in your magazine?
Thanks for the magazine. It's a
great help in difficulties. We think
the best games are Commander
Keen 3 and Ski or Die.
V Halonen and L Sipilä, Finland
Hi there! We always cover some
area of PC entertainment in
Helpware Magazine. In this issue
we look at astrology, and in the
previous one we examined
computer chess programs. We
hope to give more coverage to
new games in future issues.
Rohrer and Binnig
We'd like to apologise to Heinrich
Rohrer and Gerd Binnig for the
inaccuracies that crept into the
article 'Mapping the minuscule',
Helpware Magazine, winter
1992/93. In particular, we should
apologise for the caption to the
photograph on pages 44 to 45;
the person shown in the
laboratory is not Gerd Binnig.
HELPWAR 8
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16 MB Upgrade Kit 395 4 MB Upgrade Kit 8 MB Module 291 2 MB Module 251
32 MB Module Call
Mac Ilfx 320N/320N+/212N/ PS/2 N33SX/L40SX 8 MB Exp. Bd. 595
486/331 Notebooks
4 MB Upgrade Kit 151 2 MB Module 112 2 MB Module 91 PowerMate SX Plus
16 MB Upgrade Kit w/soft 472 2 MB Module 2 MB Exp. Bd. 235
8 MB Module 415 4 MB Module 194
Mac LC/Classic II 4 MB Module 8 MB Exp. Bd. 452
32 MB Module Call PS/2 NOTEBOOK N51/
4 MB Upgrade Kit 120 325P/325D/333D, N51 SLC ProSpeed 286/386SX16
0 to 100 MB Exp. Bd. 362 333P/433P/320SX
8 MB Upgrade Kit 235 Contura 3/20,3/25 2 MB Module 115 2 MB Upgrade Module 175
Apple PowerBook 140/ 1 MB Module 4 MB Upgrade Module 319
2 MB Module 101 4 MB Module 197
145/170/100 4 MB Module ProSpeed SX/20
4 MB Module 195 PS/2 50Z-031/061
2 MB Upgrade Kit 105 42013E/420SE/425TE/ 1 MB Module 135
8 MB Module 323 433DE/433E/433TE/ 4 MB Upgrade Kit 82
4 MB Upgrade Kit 199 4 MB Module 359
DeskPro 286E 450SE 2-8 MB Exp. Bd. 165
6 MB Upgrade Kit 290 PowerMate 486/25e
2 MB Exp. Bd. 145 2 MB Memory Kit PS/2 55 SX 061/031/
Mac Performa 55LS 2 MB Module 214
200/400 4 MB Exp. Bd. 196 4 MB Memory Kit
4 MB Upgrade Kit
8 MB Upgrade Kit
112
237
Deskpro 386S
1 MB Module 62
8 MB Memory Kit
325N,325NC Notebook
2 MB Module
4 MB Module
83
159 OLIVETTI
Apple Quadra 4 MB Module 195 2 MB Module 2-8 MB Exp. MCA Card 165 PRODUCT E
700/900 1 MB Exp. Bd. 125 PS/2 60-071/041 PC5286/3865X
4 MB Upgrade Kit
16 MB Upgrade Kit
129
441
4 MB Exp. Bd.
Deskpro 386/20E
245 ELONEX 2-8 MB MCA Exp. Card
P5/2 65 SX
165 2 MB Upgrade
4 MB Upgrade
56
114
1 MB Module 59 PRODUCT M486
2 MB Module 83
4 MB Module 188 PC286M/P188M 2 MB Upgrade Kit 85
4 MB Module 159
1 MB Exp. Bd. 96 2 MB Upgrade Kit 56 2-8 MB Exp. Card 165 4 MB Upgrade Kit 149
PRODUCT 4 MB Exp. Bd. 205 4 MB Upgrade Kit 114
Bravo 486/25 DeskPro 386S/20N/ PC386/16
PS/2 70-061/081/
121/161 f. PHILIPS
2 MB Upgrade Kit 109 SX20/SX25 2 MB Upgrade Kit 56 2 MB Module 83
B MB Upgrade Kit 259 2 MB Module 95 PRODUCT
Premium 386/25/33
4 MB Upgrade Kit 116 4 MB Module 159
4 MB Module 151 PCD 201/203/204
1 MB Module 58 8 MB Upgrade Kit 280 4-16 MB Board 256
Deskpro 386/25M, PC386SXM/B 2 MB Upgrade Kit 71
1 to 16 MB Exp. Bd. 325 486/33M,4865/25M, PS/2 80-041/111/12%
2 MB Upgrade Kit 73 311/321 4 MB Upgrade Kit 140
Premium 386/33TE 486S/16M PCD 304/308
1 MB Upgrade Kit 58 2 MB Module 4 MB Upgrade Kit 140 2 MB Module 83
98 2 MB Upgrade Kit 69
4 MB Module 185 4 MB Module 159 8 MB Upgrade Kit 278 4 MB Module 164
PS/2 90-95
4 MB Upgrade Kit 135
1 to 16 MB Exp. Bd. 325 8 MB Module 291 PC386
8 MB Upgrade Kit 249
Premium W.S. 386SX LTE 286 2 MB Upgrade Kit 70 2 MB Module 99
PCD 214/215/314/315
512K Upgrade Kit 31 1 MB Module 65 PC486 4 MB Module 155 1 MB Module 59
2 MB Upgrade Kit 106 2 MB Module 97 8 MB Upgrade Kit 274 8 MB Module 293 4 MB Module 149
Premium 386SX/16/20 4 MB Module 169 LT386SX/P PS/2 Portable P75/568X,
56LS/565LC/57SX
8 MB Module 244
1 MB Module 58 LTE 386S/20 2 MB Upgrade Kit 76 P3348/P3361/P3371/
4 MB Upgrade Kit 184 1 MB Card 80 4 MB Upgrade Kit 145 2 MB Module 99 P3384 /P3464
8 MB Upgrade Kit 374 4 MB Card 215 4 MB Module 155 1 MB Module 63
1 to 16 MB Exp. Bd.
Premium 486T
325 LTE LITE 20/25/25C EVEREX 8 MB Module 283 4 MB Module
8 MB Module
149
253
1 MB Module 58
2 MB Card
4 MB Card
114
224 PRODUCT ICL V P3238/P3230/P3345
8 MB Upgrade Kit 272 386/486 PRODUCT 2 MB Upgrade Kit 71
8 MB Card 394
1 to 16 MB Exp. Bd. 325 4 MB Upgrade Kit DRS M40, M45 4 MB Upgrade Kit 135
SLT/286
Premium 16 MB Upgrade Kit 8 MB Upgrade Kit 249
486/25/33/E/TE 1 MB Module 76 2 MB Upgrade Kit
1 MB Module
8 Mi3 Upgrade Kit
58
272
4 MB Module
SLT/386S/20
221
HP V 4 MB Upgrade Kit
DRS M50, M55
Premium Exec.286/12 1 MB Module 75 PRODUCT 1 MB Upgrade Kit PRODUCT
1 MB Module 54 2 MB Module 115 ES-12PC 4 MB Upgrade Kit SUN 3/60, 3/80
4 MB Module 174 4 MB Module 198 2 MB Board 8 MB Upgrade Kit 4 MB Upgrade Kit 120

IMPORTANT -SEE OVERLEAF BEFORE

42
 T-5200/8500 Kyocera F12005/
JN 4/40/60/65/
'ARC I 2 MB Upgrade Module 95
PANASONIC CF170/
270/370 F22005/F3300/F5000 MATHS
MB Upgrade Kit
3 MB Upgrade Kit
120
445
8 MB Upgrade Board 295 1 MB Upgrade Kit
SANYO 17/NB 18/NB
83 1 MB Upgrade Kit 120 COPROCESSORS
2 MB Upgrade Kit 155
1N SPARC SLC 18/NB6 If you are running
Mannesman Tally MT904
MB Upgrade Kit 135 2 MB Upgrade Kit 101 database, spreadsheets,
1 MB Upgrade Kit 95
JN 4/110/75, SPARC II PRODUCT SHARP 6220/TI-2000 CAD or graphics you
1 MB Upgrade Kit Mannesman Tally MT905
3 MB Upgrade Kit 476 GENIE 286, 386SX 101 need a coprocessor.
2 MB Upgrade Kit 129
2 MB Upgrade Kit 68 SHARP 8501
Chips amd Techmologies
NEC Silentwriter 2
TANDON 4 MB Upgrade Kit
VIGII ELITE/SX/SL
121 2 MB Upgrade Kit
TANDON NB386SX
174
2 MB Upgrade Kit 195 is the leading supplier of
RODUCT £ 2 MB Upgrade Kit 87 2 MB Upgrade Kit 110 NEC 60P/290 chipsets to the PC
CA/12 2 MB Upgrade Kit 135 industry. They now
4 MB Upgrade Kit 121 8 MB Upgrade Kit 445
MB Upgrade Kit 65 Okilaser 400 offer coprocessors with
VIGIIILS TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
MB Upgrade Kit 114 TI3000 1 MB Upgrade Kit 89 umbeatable performance
2 MB Upgrade Kit 64
CA SL 286/S1386 SX/ 4 MB Upgrade Kit 2 MB Upgrade Kit 95 Okilaser 800/820/840 at umbeatable prices amd
134
L486/512 8 MB Upgrade Kit 2 MB Upgrade Kit 135 100% compatibility.
259
63 Packard Bell PB-9500
MB Upgrade Kit
MB Upgrade Kit 114
VIGIII/25/33
4 MB Upgrade Kit 135
LASER 2 MB Upgrade Kit 140 PRODUCT E
AC 386 SX/
OIRGET 386SX
VIG IV PRINTER 4 MB Upgrade Kit 227 SUPER
MATH
INTEL
PT. NO.
MB Upgrade Kit 116
2 MB Upgrade Kit
4 MB Upgrade Kit
65
136
MEMORY Panasonic 4420/44501
1 MB Upgrade Kit 88 DX16 80387-16 49
MB Upgrade Kit
%C II
226 8 MB Upgrade Kit 261 UPGRADES 2 MB Upgrade Kit 119 DX20 80387-20 49
Panasonic 4450 DX25 80387-25 49
MB Upgrade Kit 69 WORK- PRODUCT 1 MB Upgrade Kit 115 DX33 80387-33 49
119
STATIONS
MB Upgrade Kit Apple Laserwriter II/NTX Panasonic 4455
MB Upgrade Kit 221 I MB Upgrade Kit 95 2 MB Upgrade Kit 185 SX16 80387SX-16 43
6 MB Upgrade Kit 415 HP-Apollo -Dato General- 4 MB Upgrade Kit 196 OMS - PS815 SX20 80387SX-20 43
86/N/386/N DEC-Silicon Graphics- Brother HL4/HL4V 1 MB Upgrade Kit 135 SX25 80387SX-25 49
MB Upgrade Kit 65 Risc based systems. 1 MB Upgrade Kit 95 2 MB Upgrade Kit 179
MB Upgrade Kit 116 Upgrade kits available for 2 MB Upgrade Kit 123 OMS P5410/P5410PS (FREE INSERTION TOOL)
86/16/20/25/33 most models-please call 4 MB Upgrade Kit 225 1 MB Upgrade Kit 119
MB Upgrade Kit 69 for more information. Brother HL8E/O/V 2 MB Upgrade Kit 159
MB Upgrade Kit 119 I MB Upgrade Kit 98 Sharp 9500 PS
86/33S1486/33 EISA 2 MB Upgrade Kit 129 I MB Upgrade Kit 96
MB Upgrade Kit 65 PRODUCT Canom LBP811/R/T ' Siemens PT10
MB Upgrade Kit 118 Z386/20/25/33/33E I MB Upgrade Kit 1 MB Upgrade Kit 76
76
MB Upgrade Kit 219 1 MB 32-bit Module 62 2 MB Upgrade Kit 113
2 MB Upgrade Kit 113
1LS/MLS PRO 2 MB 32-bit Module 87 4 MB Upgrade Kit 176
4 MB Upgrade Kit 175
MB Upgrade Kit 69 4 MB 32-bit Module 178 Star Laser Printer - 4
Data Products LZR 650
MB Upgrade Kit 121 2386SX I MB Upgrade Kit 124
2 MB Upgrade Kit 95 1 MB Upgrade Kit 135
MB Upgrade Kit 229 Star Laser Printer • 4/8
SuperSport 286/286E 2.5 MB Upgrade Kit 215
TOSHIBA
T OSHIBA v 1MB Upgrade 110 Epson EPL4100/8100
1 MB Upgrade Kit 99
1 MB Upgrade Kit
2 MB Upgrade Kit
109
164
2MB Upgrade 179
3 MB Upgrade Kit 169 Texas Instruments •
Master Sport 386SX/SL TI Microlaser
1000LE
2 MB Module 155 Epson EPL6000 I MB Upgrade Kit 96
MB Upgrade Board 89 Turbo SuperSport 286/E 2 MB Upgrade Kit 123 Memory Solutions
MB Upgrade Board 138 Toshiba Pagelaser 6
1 MB Module 110 4 MB Upgrade Kit 190 2 MB Upgrade Kit 113 31-32 Stephenson Road
MB Upgrade Board 165 2 MB Module 182 Epson 7500 4 MB Upgrade Kit 176 St. Ives
MB Upgrade Board 305 Turbo SuperSport 386/E 2 MB Upgrade Kit 235
1000SE/XE 1 MB Module
Cambs. PE17 4WJ
182 4 MB Upgrade Kit 319
MB Upgrade Module 89 HP Laserjet111/1110/11P/IIIP
LASER FONT
MB Upgrade Module 138 MEMORY 1 MB Upgrade Kit 69 CARTRIDGES
1200XE EXPANSION 2 MB Upgrade Kit 105 E
MB Upgrade Module
1600
89
BOARDS 4 MB Upgrade Kit 152
PRODUCT
NUVOPAGE III TELEPHONE
0480-496467
HP Laserjet II/IID 47Font Postscript cartridge
MB Upgrade Module 103 If you don't have room 2 MB Upgrade Kit 112 for HP110/11P/111/1110/11IP 182
2000SX to upgrade on your 4 MB Upgrade Kit 169 NUVO COLLECTION
MB Upgrade Module 79 motherboard you need HP Laserjet 111/SI 600 + Genuine Font PT
115 am expansion card.
FACSIMILE
MB Upgrade Module 1 MB Upgrade Kit 75 sizes 4-48. Includes drives
MB Upgrade Board 165 • ALL BOARDS 2 MB Upgrade Kit 115 for Words Windows,
MB Upgrade Board
2000SXE/T-2200
305

165
SUPPORT LIM 4.0
• EASY TO FIT AND
CONFIGURE
4 MB Upgrade Kit
HP Laserjet IV
174 Word Perfect, Ventura
NUVO LEGACY
172 Fonts equivalent
182
0480-496621
MB Module 1 MB Upgrade Kit 56
3100E • USER UPGRADEABLE 2 MB Upgrade Kit 83 to Pacific Data 25-1 109
103 BITMAP APPLICATION
MB Upgrade Module AT (286) MACHINES 4 MB Upgrade Kit 154
3100SX DFI MEGALITH CARD HP Deskjet 500 CARTRIDGES All Prices Exclude
Choose from Word Perfect,
MB Upgrade Module 89 2 MB Exp. Bd. 256K Cartridge 80 VAT And Carriage
Microsoft, Worksheets,
MB Upgrade Module 167 4 MB Exp. Bd. IBM 4019, 4019E
Presentations, Forms,
3200 8 MB Exp. Bd. 2 MB Upgrade Kit 105 Barcodes, Text Equations,
MB Upgrade Module 174 3.5 MB Upgrade Kit 166 Carriage Charges:
3200SX PORTABLES IBM 4029, 4029E
Global Text, HP
Procollection 75 3-day service £4.95
MB Upgrade Module 89 PRODUCT 2 MB Upgrade Kit 106 NUVO DESK 25 Overnight service £6.95
MB Upgrade Module 179 AST PREM. EXEC 4 MB Upgrade Kit 172 68 Font Solution for Deskjet 85 Orders over £200,
3200SXC NOTEBOOK Kyocera F800/T NUVO HEADLINE 3-day service free.
MB Upgrade Module 89 4 MB Upgrade Kit 176 1 MB Upgrade Kit 129 28 Fonts for Deskjet 85
MB Upgrade Module 179 COMMODORE C286-LT, 2 MB Upgrade Kit 184 NUVO TRUE WIN
4400/SXC/6400 DX C386 Kyocera F820/850 Bitmap Font Solution
MB Module 222 2 MB Upgrade Kit 110 1 MB Upgrade Kit 167 compatible with Windows 3.1
MB Module 344 HP95LX/POQUES PC 2 MB Upgrade Kit 273 using True Type Fonts 195
•100 512 Upgrade Kit 169 Kyocera F1000 NUVO SCALE 51+
I MB Upgrade Kit 195 1 MB Upgrade Kit 129 Scalable Cartridge 265
MB Upgrade Module 95

NOOSING ANY MEMORY UPGRADE

 ' REPORT

nshine at midnight? Van Gogh at the Digital drugs

touch of a button? Gold prospecting from The search for new drugs
involves screening thousands

space? Confessions by fax? of substances in the hunt for

one with healing potential. In

What's
an ideal world you would
decide what you need the
drug to do, then go ahead
and design a molecule to
do it. 1BM and BioNumerik

going on? on?

Pharmaceuticals have
recently started to develop
just such a system. It will use
20 IBM RISC System/6000
machines which will design
and test possible drugs to
treat cancer.

Handy egg And pigs might diet

Greedy pigs are having to mend their ways calculate how much the pig has already
thanks to a new breed of miniature computer. consumed. It then decides whether or not to
The Eureka tagging system uses a computer release more food.
memory chip so small that it can be attached to In the Hague, where stray cats are regularly
a pig's ear. The tag is then read by automatic rounded up and neutered, the same technology
feeding machines. The size of a match, the chip is being used by vets. A tiny chip, the size of a
holds a code number and a radio transponder grain of rice, is injected under the cat's skin
which remains dormant until activated by radio after it has been neutered. If the cat gets
Do your best ideas come to signals sent from the feeding machine. Sensors rounded up again, a sensor detects the tag,
you in the car on the way to then read the identification code contained in which alerts the vet to avoid putting the cat
work? Or during a free-fall the tag and check with a computerised record to through the indignity a second time.
from 10,000 feet? If so. the
Data Egg may be the device
for you. Invented by Gary
Friedman of NASA, the palm-
sized data recorder allows you
to take notes with one hand
using a special seven-button
alphabet that, according to
Friedman, can be learnt in an
hour. The text can later be
downloaded to a PC.
Besides accommodating
restless overachievers, the
Data Egg may be useful for
those unable to use an
ordinary keyboard — people
with sclerosis, for instance.
Friedman has designed a
workstation for such people
that consists of the Data Egg
and a head-mounted display
that projects a virtual PC
screen in front of the user.
Neither the Egg nor the
workstation is on the market
at present, but Friedman
thinks the Egg could sell for
as little as $20 once in
commercial production.

HELPWAR 12
Clean machine
Do you ever get nostalgic
about your first model racing-
car kit? Remember the decals,
the ace paint job, and not a
smear of glue in sight?
Now remember how you
stuck the bodyshell together
before putting the wheels on,
so they had to be glued to the
wheel arches. And the
instructions clearly indicated
that the cludging pin should
be inserted into the gobblit
assembly, but there wasn't a
single part on the plastic
frame (called a sprue by kit
techies) that looked anything
like a cludging pin. And
besides, the hole in the gobblit
assembly into which you were
meant to insert the darned
pin was completely blocked
with glue anyway.
All this may now change.
Revell has put instructions for
four of its car kits (the Bugatti
EB100, Porsche 911 Slant
Nose, BMW Nazca M12 and
Lamborghini LP500S) on to a
Craftsman's little helper
A master craftsman who
makes harpsichords, spinets
and clavichords has trained
a computer to be his
apprentice. John Storrs
spent ten years developing
precision engineering
techniques for wooden
components. He now
'teaches' his silent assistant
by writing the software
needed to control the
computerised drills – no
small task when each
keyboard has around 400
holes. Each hole has to
be precisely placed, and
a harpsichord can have two
or more different keyboards
ranged one above the other.
He uses the PC to design
more than 100 different parts,
ensuring that each one fits
perfectly. The computer then
gets on with the job of
cutting, not just the parts,
but also the jigs used to hold
PC CD-ROM. Using a
database of three-dimensional
animated kit parts, you can
watch the car being assembled
step-by-step, choose from a
range of paint options and
get information about the
performance of the real
vehicle. What's more, once
you've put the model car
together, you can race against
five other vehicles on the PC
in a five-lap simulation.
Fans of aircraft and
dinosaur kits will be able to
them during shaping and
gluing. So precise is the fit of
the components that the
instruments can be sold in
You can build a car on-screen
and then hit the race-track
with a car-kit CD-ROM.
buy similar disks later in the
year. You can choose one kit
free when you buy the disk
(which costs £49.95); the
others are available separately
for around £12. For more
information, contact Revell
on 081-207 1552.
kit form for amateurs to
assemble at home like a big,
very intricate Airfix model.
Storrs oversees his pupil
and checks its work before
assembling and adding the
finishing touches. This,
reassuringly, is still best left
to the eye and judgment of
a human craftsman.
HELPWARE
• •••••••••
• Kick the computer
Software, according to
computer wags, is what goes
wrong, and hardware is what
you kick when the software
goes wrong. 1f it all gets too
much, but you shrink from the
idea of smashing up your
computer, Computer Fun is
selling punch-ball effigies
of PCs, called Smack Its,
for you to abuse instead.
Computer Fun is based in
California; phone 010 1 619
279 1919 for more details.
Smack Its are available from
HP Source on 0642 750225
for £6.95, plus VAT.
• On the right track
Visiting Aunt Maud this
weekend? British Rail's
Journey Planner asks you
where you're travelling from,
your destination, and the
time you want to leave. After
running through the six
million or so possible train
services, it comes up with
the quickest route – although
it can't yet warn you about
leaves on the track or the
wrong kind of snow. Journey
Planner runs on your PC and
costs £19.99 from British
Rail (tel: 0800 5263060).
• Eyerobics
Headaches? Eye strain?
EyerCise could be the answer
to your problem. This
American program costs
$69.95, and uses on-screen
exercises to help you stretch
tight muscles and relieve
tired eyes. Every so often
(you define the interval
yourself) the system beeps to
recommend that you relax
your eyes and shoulders,
while animated stretching
exercises show you how.
Contact RAN Enterprises,
1 Woodland Park Drive,
Haverhill, Massachusetts
01830, USA.
 REPORT

More Perfect
WordPerfect for DOS is one of publishing. WordPerfect 6.0
the most widely used word for Windows and OS/2 should
processor programs on the be introduced at the end of
PC. It's very fast and has lots this year. For further details
of useful functions. At the contact WordPerfect (UK)
Artificial moons time of going to press, the on 0932 850505.
The Russians have successfully tested a solar mirror in space WordPerfect company was
that could light up the far-flung corners of Siberia during the planning to release its
long dark winters. Launched from the Mir space-station, a biggest set of improvements
satellite takes up position in orbit 350 kilometres above the to the program since 1988 in
earth, where it begins to spin on its axis. Centrifugal force the form of WordPerfect 6.0
then unfolds a fan of eight aluminised Kevlar sails, forming a for DOS. This version includes
circular mirror in space. Although the an optional graphical
mirror is only 20 metres across, it Windows-like system to help
reflects enough of the sun's rays you use the program more
back to earth to light up an area four easily, and improved page WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS with
kilometres in diameter with the layout features for desktop its Windows-like display.
brightness of three full moons.
Having proved that it works, the Robotic Rodin
Russians now plan to construct
around 100 solar mirrors that will be French sculptor Francois Desjours has abandoned his hammers
used to light up a much larger area and chisels for a robot laser. Described as looking like a cross
of Siberia. However, some experts between a huge hair-dryer and a time machine, the automated
consider the test to be a trial run for artist revolves around the subject's face and examines it by
a far more ambitious project. They passing a fine laser over his or her features. The machine then
believe that the same principle could sculpts the bust in plaster, wood or even solid gold (marble is too
be used to increase the amount of fragile) with a computer-controlled chisel. The initial scanning
sunshine on Mars, to prepare it for process takes only a minute and the completed masterpiece
eventual colonisation by humans. (ready after a few days, since the final polishing work is still done
by hand) is precise down to the last detail, warts and all.
A basic bust starts at £100. If you're vain enough to want
Pebble calling base, come in please yourself immortalised in gold, the price has to he negotiated with
Britain has more than 9,000 kilometres of coastline. With the artist. So far Monsieur Desjours' three-dimensional photo-me
global warming threatening to melt ice-caps, raise sea levels machine has sculpted more than 1,000 subjects.
and inundate coastal areas, it has never been more important
to protect it. Seventy per cent of beaches on the east coast
are being eroded and scientists are studying the effects of
tides and currents in order to combat the encroaching sea.
Initially researchers tried using shiny aluminium markers
scattered on the beaches, to see where wind and waves
would take them. There were two flaws to this method,
however. First, all wet pebbles are shiny, so the aluminium
ones scarcely stood out, and second, any markers which got
buried under other pebbles were lost for good.
The solution is the electronic pebble. Unlike its dumb
aluminium predecessors, the pebble contains a small radio
transmitter which emits a periodic signal. Like a rolling stone
it roams freely with the elements, but when it comes to rest
on some lonely, windswept shore it bleeps its little heart out
to let its inventors know exactly where it is. Surely the first
stone to call home.
 SPEND
SAVE, mks
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Our technology has the computer
OCTOBER 1.0 JULY 1991 world talking. More than ever.

© Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc., Millennium House, Fleetwood Park, Barley Way, Hants GU13 8UT. Tel. 0252 775500 Fax 0252 775511 On-line with Hayes BBS 0252 775599.
All trade names refered are the trademarks or registered trademarks of thier respective manufacturers.
 REPORT

Going for gold... in space
Gold fever isn't what it used to be. Donning a checked shirt
and sifting gravel in a perforated frying pan may have a
certain backwoods charm, but today's prospectors are
turning to computers and space satellites. A new satellite,
called AVIRIS, is due to be launched in
1997. It won't see gold directly, but it
should be able to detect some of the rocks
usually associated with the precious metal
by looking for the characteristic way that
they reflect specific wavelengths of light.
A prototype of the AVIRIS sensor was
tested recently from a high-flying U2 spy
plane. It worked well, but the real secret of
space-based prospecting is the computer
software which will analyse the AVIRIS
data and automatically map the deposits. Several rival
teams around the world are now racing to perfect their own
prospecting program. The most successful could, quite
literally, turn out to be a gold-mine.
Frisky Finns
Family farming was in danger relationships. In the largest
of dying out in Finland at the single run there were 5,000
beginning of the 1980s. participants, an astonishing
Farmers, it seems, were statistic considering that the
having difficulty finding country only has five million
someone to love. Then along inhabitants. The success of
came the matchmaking the matchmaking program,
computer program IEVA, which however, suggests there
was introduced at the Oulu may soon be a lot more.
Farming Fair in 1991. Around
2,700 visitors to the fair filled
out a questionnaire, which
was used in a computer-
assisted search to select
suitable partners.
IEVA is now the best-known
piece of software in Finland.
So far, some 42,000 people
have given their details, and
the computer has cast an eye
over 25 million possible
Catwalk stalker

Sex talk
What does a computer know about relationships? Quite a
lot, it would appear. At a competition in New York, a
program called Men vs. Women spoke on the subject so
convincingly that it fooled two out of eight interrogators
into thinking it was a real person.
The real challenge, though, is to produce a program that
can fool the whole panel of judges when talking about any
subject. This is the so-called Turing Test, devised by the
computer pioneer Alan Turing as the definitive test of
artificial intelligence. Whoever cracks it will collect
$100,000 from the Loebner Prize fund, which organised the
competition. Another round is scheduled for 21 September
1993. For more details, contact Dr Robert Epstein on 010 1
617 876 2716.

Fashion designers beware. A group called the Computer Art

Foundation turned up at a computer show in London recently
with a computerised couturier. It can cut the whole design
process down to a few hours, from a gleam in the designer's eye,
to an outfit on the model. The designer draws up styles on
screen, colouring and patterning them with a paint package.
Those patterns are then transferred to the material by a painting
machine, nicknamed Michelangelo.
Michelangelo uses three nozzles to spray primary colours
on to any surface up to 1.6 metres square. Combining the
colours on the material, it can paint near-photographic quality
reproductions, opening up almost limitless design possibilities. A
team of seamstresses then gets to work with scissors and sewing
machines to tailor the outfit for the waiting model. The result, an
unusual example of computer chic, is ready in less than three
hours. So if it fails to storm the catwalks, it may at least get a
place in the Guinness Book of Records.

16 HELPWARE
Sounding out noise
Noise has long been identified as a major
cause of stress at home and at work, and
companies are continually coming up with
new ways for us to enjoy peace and quiet.
Here are two of our current favourites...
Sound is a pressure wave with crests
and troughs, and noise is a lot of
different sound waves jumbled
together. You can block out noise by
broadcasting sound waves whose
crests and troughs fall at exactly those
points in space and time where your
bothersome noise has corresponding troughs
and crests. Bose, the American loudspeaker
maker, has used this principle to develop a set
of antisound headphones to make life easier for
all sorts of people, from pilots to factory
workers, whose jobs expose them to loud
background noise.
The headphones are equipped with a
microphone that picks up all outside sounds.
An electronic circuit then
determines which sounds are
noise (as opposed, say, to the boss
shouting in your ear), and
immediately generates an antisound
signal that is fed into the speakers along
with the signal from the microphone.
The noise, or at least 20 decibels of it, is
cancelled before it reaches your ears. This
particular form of peace and quiet will cost
you $995 and can be ordered from Bose
(tel: 010 1 508 879 7330, ext 2006).
If the only noise that really bothers you,
Hear yourself think with a set of antisound
headphones (above), and cycle in peace with
a pair of wind Silencers (below and left).
however, is the whoosh of the wind as you
speed along on your bicycle, you need not invest
in antisound headphones. For a
mere $11.95, you can obtain a
pair of bicycle Silencers -
aerodynamic sections of hard
plastic designed to deflect
onrushing wind, while
channelling directly to your
ears the sound of juggernauts
bearing down on you. Silencers
are available in a variety of tasteful
colours, including Metallic Aqua and
Violet, from the New York Design Studio
(tel: 010 1 718 868 2312).
Snippets
••••••••••
• History repeats itself
The twentieth century is now
available on a CD-ROM. The
Time Almanac contains
15,000 articles, a million
photos and digitised video
clips complete with sound, so
you can relive the speeches
of Martin Luther King, the
rise of Hitler, or even the LA
riots. It costs £99 from
Optech (tel: 0252 714340).
• Hotline to heaven
Hard-pressed sinners can now
confess direct by fax. The
Catholic church unveiled its
latest service, called
Confaxion, at a church fair
in Vicenza, Italy. And
Christianity is not alone in
bringing technology to the aid
of busy penitents. If taking a
trip to Jerusalem to worship
at the Wailing Wall is too
expensive or time-consuming
for you, then you can send
your prayers direct over a
new telephone hotline.
Alternatively, you can fax
your prayer, which will then
be inserted into a crack in

Designs on Quark the wall on your behalf.

sibling. If you're looking for • Six-week wonder

The Apple Macintosh is
popular among people who
design full-colour magazines
and other printed documents
largely because of one
program - QuarkXPress. Now
there's a version for IBM
personal computers using
Windows or OS/2: it's almost
functionally identical to the
Macintosh version, and can
read files created by its
a flexible, professional
desktop publishing (DTP)
program, you should certainly
consider it. QuarkXPress for
Windows costs £795 and is
available from many dealers,
or contact Ingram Micro on
0908 260160.
Alternatively, you could
try Aldus PageMaker 5.0
(pictured left). This is the
latest version of one of the
best-known DTP programs for
the PC. You can edit multiple
documents, rotate text, and it
has more colour capabilities
than any of its predecessors.
Aldus PageMaker 5.0 costs
£695 and is available from
most dealers, or contact
Aldus on 031-220 4747.
The Californian company
BayWare claims its Power
Japanese program will have
you speaking Japanese in six
weeks - or you get your
money back. The program
uses animation to show
how to write the Japanese
hiragana and katagana
alphabets and you get around
2,000 useful words and
phrases recorded as digital
sound files. An audio adaptor
(which will work with
portables as well as with
desktop machines) is
supplied so that you can hear
the correct pronunciation.
Power Japanese costs £275,
plus VAT, from The Software
Source, tel: 0297 24088.

HELPW ARE
 REPORT
Rattle off a Van Gogh
Now a child can paint like a pro. Painter for
Windows will transform your daubs into the
style of various famous masters. Just click on a
button and your doodle is repainted in the
technique of Van Gogh, for example.
The program lets you sketch in charcoal,
crayon or chalk, lighten the colours to give a
watercolour effect and gives you a choice of
acrylic or oil paints. It can also simulate the
grain of different papers.
Painter for Windows provides a host of
more conventional graphics facilities as well,
and is available from Letraset (tel: 071-928
3411) for £325.
•
• Slanging match
Thirty-three American pilots
recently took on seven
limeys in a game of Air
Warrior. This air combat
simulation is played over the
telephone line using a PC and
a modem connected to a
service called Online. Linked
by satellite, the Brits scraped
a victory, partly by superior
strategy, but mainly by
confusing their attackers with
incomprehensible expressions
such as 'tally-ho',
and 'cabbage crates over the
briny'. Call 081-558 6114 for
more information about the
Online service.

Keeping time with history
John Redfern pieces together
the intricate mechanisms of
long lost historical clocks, not
with the traditional jewellers'
tools of screwdrivers and a
magnifying glass, but with
three-dimensional design
software and a PC. An
authority in clockmaking,
Redfern uses his knowledge to
ensure that the on-screen
replicas are precise to the very
last cog. Then he puts the
swing back into pendulums
and sets the wheels in motion
with computer animation.
Ticks and chimes can be
added to taste.
His latest project, for
the National Maritime
Museum in Greenwich, is
the recreation of the first
chronometer accurate enough
to calculate longitude at sea,
invented more than 200 years
ago. 'I can draw two wheels
that would normally fit
comfortably on a thumbnail,
and blow them up to full
screen to watch them work,'
explains Redfern (left).
Another great benefit of
computerised chronometers is
that, once started, they need
never be rewound again.
• A diamond is
forever... on disk
French and Belgian jewellers
have created a fingerprinting
system for valuable jewels.
Each item is identified using a
scanner and a video camera,
and its details are logged in a
software catalogue called
Image Pals. Now customers
can choose the jewellery of
their dreams from a screen,
while the stones themselves
remain safely locked away.
• Where's the Kilrathi?
Ultima VII is a colossal game,
taking up 21MB of hard disk
space. In return, you get a
cinematic sound-track,
digitised speech, swords
and sorcery, murders and
mayhem. To gain the edge
over fellow players, start by
typing ULTIMA7 ABCD,
holding down the Alt key and
typing 255 on the numeric
keypad. Once the game has
started, press F2 for the
cheat menu and F3 for the
teleport map. For more of
the same, turn to our brand
new 'Hot tips' section on
page 84. Ultima VII costs
£39.99 from Electronic Arts
(tel: 0753 549442).

18 HELPWARE
 1000 Solutions to your
Training Problems
By adding a DVA-4000 for just £995*, you
can turn your PS/2 into a multimedia workstation
and benefit from the vast array of off the shelf
training courseware available today.
The award winning DVA-4000 is supported
by well over 1000 applications, all listed in the
new VideoLogic Multimedia Solutions Guide and
all available to meet your training needs, what-
ever they may be...
To access over 1,000 applications and
benefit from the increased productivity and cost
savings afforded by VideoLogic multimedia
products, take the first step now by calling us for
your copy of The Multimedia Solutions Guide
and further information on DVA-4000.
For details of your nearest reseller or a
Corporate Information pack, fill in the coupon or
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Telephone
 REPORT
July
Networks '93
Last day of an exhibition and a variety of
conferences focusing on networks for
businesses in the 1990s.
NEC, Birmingham.
Contact Blenheim Exhibitions:
081-742 2828.
Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg's latest blockbuster
rumbles onto the screen, a thriller about
genetically-engineered dinosaurs running
amok in a theme park. Despite an
impressive cast, the real stars of Jurassic
Park are the dinosaurs. Full-size
velociraptors — perhaps the most vicious
prehistoric killers of all — were built for
the film and brought to life on screen by
breathtaking special effects.
All Formats Computer Fairs
These highly successful shows pile 'em
high and sell 'em cheap, with a range of
computer products at bargain prices.
The Birmingham National
Motorcycle Museum.
Contact Bruce Everiss: 0608 662212.
Calendar
Augst
Locusts (above) rub wings with stick
insects and dragonflies at Megabugs.
Megabugs
Following the success of the robotic
dinosaurs gallery, the Megabugs
exhibition of robotic insects goes on
show from the end of July. Huge moving
praying mantis and mosquito heads will
be among the displays. Entomophobes
and the faint-hearted beware.
The Geological Museum, London.
Telephone: 071-938 8765.
Nanotechnology Exhibition
Atomic or molecular technology,
otherwise known as nanotechnology, is
the theme of a new exhibition at the
Science Museum from mid-June until the
end of September. As part of the Science
Box series of exhibitions, which explore
contemporary science, medicine and
technology, it traces the development of
nanotechnology and its application in
the world today.
The Science Museum, London.
Telephone: 071-938 8000.
Get ready for an epidemic
of dinosaur fever as Jurassic
Park hits the big screen.
All dates and names correct at time of going to press.
HELPWARE
September
The European Computer
Trade Show
The premier showcase for the best in
leisure PC software. It's a trade show, so
not really open to the public, but if you
take a business card you should get in.
Business Design Centre,
Islington, London.
Contact Blenheim Exhibitions:
081-742 2828.
Third International Virus
Bulletin Conference
A two-day intensive programme of
presentations covering the prevention and
cure of computer viruses, divided into
two streams: corporate and technical. The
conference language will be English.
Krasnapolsky Hotel, Amsterdam.
Contact Petra Duffield: 0235 531889 (UK).
Live '93
All aspects of consumer electronics, from
car radios to CD-ROM drives, will
feature in this huge show. One of the
most interesting displays should be British
Telecom's Time Tunnel, which takes you
through a short history
of communications.
Olympia 2,
Kensington, London.
Telephone: 071-603 3344.
Business Computing
An opportunity for the professional user
to see the very latest business software
and hardware, with plenty of leading
companies in attendance. Although it is
specifically intended to attract big buyers
with big money, the show is open to
everyone. It will incorporate network
systems and services and there will be a
specific area set aside for Windows
applications as well.
Earls Court, London.
Contact Montbuild: 071-486 1951.
 onward
1: (0234) 327177.
MID istribution Fax: (0234) 216627.

10 Bure Close, Brickhill, Bedford. MK41 7TX.

n- high quality Graphics, Desktop Publishing, Utilities & Integrated Software.

The Image-In product range offer reliable, proven software for the Windows market
place. The scanning, painting, image enhancing and photo retouching software offers
the user a wide range of tools, filters, file types and support for over 50 scanners and
input devices from leading computer manufactures. Complemented by OCR,
vectorisation, and an image organiser, Image-In becomes the complete tool for image,
photo and document manipulation.

ageQ is a powerful Windows presentation tool for true colour image presentation and
:display of photographic quality images. ImageQ can replace the use of 35mm slides
th the use of your computer, and a 256 colour or higher monitor. It also has the ability
)roduce portable presentations without the need for ImageQ itself. The only thing the
rtable show requires to run is Windows. Slide show presentations are easy to setup,
I
offer a range of transitional effects. With the ability to import numerous file types,
supporting the Windows Clipboard, getting images into the presentation is simple.
ageQ allows you to effectively create interactive, multi-media supported presenta-
ns with your 24, 16 or 8-bit colour and photographic quality images.

SuperWorks is a complete Integrated Software Package for the IBM PC and compatibles.
SuperWorks combines Word Processor, Database, Spreadsheet, Communications and
Macros. With the SuperWorks program file being around 220K, and all of its work
performed in memory, SuperWorks becomes the ideal partner for Laptop and Notebook
computers. With the ability to read files prepared using AppleWorks, SuperWorks
becomes the ideal stepping stone for Apple uses migrating to the PC.

cognita Plus is Optical Character Recognition Software for Desktop Publishing,

)rd processing and archiving systems, both pre-trained and trainable. Recognita Plus
)rks in both the Windows and DOS environments. It supports all popular brands of
nners - far more than any other comparable OCR product. The same goes for output
-mats, both text and spreadsheet. It can analyse complex page layouts, automatically
)crate text from graphics, decolumnise and recognise a wide range of fonts, sizes and
'les. Dot-matrix recognition is now offered, based on a separate purpose designed RE CoGNPOA
ognition algorithm. Fax files can also be recognised. Recognita Plus stores the full
ge image during reading and gains valuable information by analysing it as a whole
fore proceeding to two-step reading. This yields a worthwhile gain in accuracy,
tting Recognita Plus right up in the top league of software only OCR.

Corel Draw version 3 is a suite of Windows applications that include, Drawing,

oR ELOAW/ Charting, Painting and Presentation. These are complemented by a visual file manage
and a bit-map trace utility. This special Education version comes at a discounted price
)UCATION VERSION and with even greater savings with a special educational ten pack.

le TGL+TM Windows & DOS Graphics Toolkits provide the essential graphics
ocessing utilities required by virtually all PC's that are used for desktop publishing,
esentation graphics, paint, illustration or multi-media. Main features include: Graph-
; file conversion, Graphics file compression, Graphics Screen Capture, Text Screen
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th Reduction, Dithering, Colour Separations, and more..
All trademarks are hereby acknowledged.
 LIFE
Crad
Children have fun repelling
invasions from distant
galaxies on the computer, but
do they really learn anything?
Rebecca Cripps and
Xavier Thibert report on
computers in the classroom.
2HELPWAR
A NEW CULTURE is being born, populated by
computer-literate kids, enthusiastic teachers
and bemused parents. Technophobes may curse
computers, but children love them, and schools
are starting to use them across the curriculum. So why the
fear? And what really happens when you sit a child in front
of a computer screen?
Many adults mistrust the technology that is transforming
their children's education because they themselves have
never used it. This ignorance is compounded by scare stories
about computer games encouraging aggressive behaviour – a
sort of virtual violence. As the French sociologist, Pierre Lévi,
says: 'These days, with video games in most homes, where
zapping rules OK, computers are often seen as devils. Chil-
dren have become the new savages, while we adults think we
are the civilised ones, the upholders of true culture.'
`I'd like to use a computer in
2
 However, educationalists believe that
computers and information technology
(IT) can make learning more exciting and
provide greater stimulation for children
than orthodox teaching methods. The
experience of Di Pescod and her class of
juniors at St Mary's school in Bodmin,
Cornwall, bears this out. In the course of
saving the world from an orbit-displacing
attack by a computer, the class discussed
the ozone layer, the greenhouse effect, the
press, dinosaurs, the ice age, the Black
Death, Hiroshima, Chernobyl and vol-
canic eruptions in the Philippines.
They designed and constructed their
own model rocket-launchers and plan-
etary landing crafts, experimented with
magnetism, made musical instruments and
created visions of an ideal space colony.
All this activity was generated by Zillion
(see 'Educational software', page 26), a
Stephen Steadman, aged 11
Pictured below, left 'When we were
learning about the Saxons our teacher
showed us a game where the Saxons
fought the Normans. It was a very hard
game, but exciting.
'We've used computers in English, to
help us with writing and copying things
out, and drawing. It's much more fun than
doing it without a computer. There's also
a really good snooker game which we play
in maths - we have to work out angles
and how to get the ball into the pocket,
which is great.
'very lesson — it's more fun than watching the teacher'
Orbits combines an interactive
atlas of our solar system
(Mars is pictured above) with
informative adventure games.
'I'd like to have a computer to use in
every lesson; it's much more fun than
watching the teacher. It would be good to
have more games at school - it probably
wouldn't help me learn more, but I'd enjoy
playing them. I'd like to use computers in
my work when I grow up. I'm going into
the army, though, so I probably won't
need to know how to use them. But it's
good that I do know how to, in case I ever
have to use one in an emergency.'
Daniel Gibbs, aged 11
Below, right 'We first started to use
computers when we were seven. It was
difficult at first, but now it's
quite easy. Today I've been
playing Dev Tray (Developing
Tray), where you have to fill in
missing words. If you get the
words right, you score. If you get
them wrong, you lose. You can
press F10 for help and you can
buy words and letters, although
then you lose all your points. It
helps you remember how to spell
words. There are nine levels, and
you can go at your own speed.'
Hearnville Primary school,
London SW12
computer adventure by
Marshal Anderson.
Pescod explains:
The project proved to be totally cross-
curricular. The idea of the earth being
knocked out of its orbit presented all sorts
of possibilities for looking at our own
planet and various global issues, besides
the obvious science attainment targets —
earth and the atmosphere, and the earth in
space. The possibilities for creative work
were boundless. Aliens leered from the
wall, stars and planets shone down from
the ceiling, dinosaurs roamed from the
past and rockets zoomed to the future...
while the children's imaginations drifted
into far distant places.'
Steve Davis, schools' IT inspector and
careers adviser in Camden, London, at-
taches importance not just to the added
stimulation provided by computers, but
also to the way that children learn: 'You
can provide children with more challeng-
ing situations using computers, and
encourage more active and independent
learning.' He also thinks that computers
help children learn to work collaborative-
ly: 'As an aid to creative writing, for
instance, I believe that IT is second to
none. You can have two or three children
working together on a piece of writing,
drafting and redrafting on screen. They
can share their work more easily, and all
contribute to the work at the same time.'
Group effort
One of the advantages of classroom tech-
nology is that while working on a project
together, children are still able to study at
their own pace. With careful apportioning
of tasks, a teacher can draw contributions
from individuals at a variety of different
levels, ultimately producing a collab-
orative final result. 'A multi-level project
can be very good for the esteem of the
class as a whole, and also individually,'
says Robert Hunt, a primary school
teacher in the West Midlands. 'In an
orthodox teaching environment, the learn-
ing needs of certain individuals have to be
tailored to a class average. When the class
is divided into working groups, all aiming
towards a common goal, the children are
more able to work to their own levels ►
23HELPWAR
 LIFE
The thinking
child's games
Criticism of the intrinsic violence and
addictive nature of certain commercial
computer games is widespread, and
various studies have worked hard to
prove that children hooked on cult
games like Sonic the Hedgehog and
Streetfighter 11 show aggressive and
anti-social tendencies to a far greater
degree than children who aren't.
However, teachers are finding that
certain games can be useful
educational tools in the classroom by
making learning fun. Maggie Driscol,
information technology (IT) adviser for
primary schools in Islington, London,
reckons that games developed
specifically for educational purposes
can encourage children to
build models and investigate
and solve problems, while
boosting their confidence in
their ability to tackle IT.
The French sociologist
Pierre Levi also feels that the
right games used in the right
context are valuable to
children. He believes that
children benefit from actively
participating in the on-screen
action. 'This virtual reality world
in which children advance with
pleasure and ease does not,
fortunately, limit itself to "Mario
Land". It can be a landscape as
complex and loaded with ideas as
you like,' he adds.
Certain games are worth
getting for the home, especially if they
equip children with the basic skills
required for more erudite computer
use. Some games can also raise
awareness; for instance, by having
environmental themes. As an
alternative to blasting bandits,
children can play games such as
EcoQuest (see 'Educational software',
page 26). in which they save dolphins
from tuna nets, sort out the ozone
layer and rescue the world. If only it
were really that easy...
`Interestingly, as the quality of presentation rises
of ability. And they help one another.'
Children with special needs can reap
benefits from new technology, too. Those
who find it difficult or painful to write
manually can use a word processing
package to produce legible, well-presented
work. Software has been developed to
help dyslexic children overcome their
spelling difficulties, and there are special
laptops and paint programs for children
with motor impairment. Touch-screen
technology, where you interact with the
computer by touching designated areas of
the screen, allows deaf children to
monitor their own speech. (See 'Comput-
ers for all abilities', Helpware Magazine,
autumn 1992.)
Peter Whittaker, the head teacher at
Hall Green secondary school in Birming-
ham, agrees that computers allow teachers
Paul May, aged 16
Pictured above, centre: 'Computers help
with making work neater and sorting out
spelling problems. It's easier to correct
things on a computer than by hand, and
when you print your work out it looks
better. Now we've got computers in most
of the maths and English rooms -
wherever they are needed, basically.
'They make work easier to do. but they
don't necessarily make it easier to learn.
However, a computer can provide a lot of
visuals, whereas a teacher would have to
get in a video and television, or just
to cater for individual pupils' needs more
efficiently and he believes they increase
children's self-esteem. He also feels they
put children on a far more equal footing
when it comes to presentation of their
work. 'Interestingly,' he says, 'as the quali-
ty of presentation rises, so does the quality
of the thinking.'
Learning without limits
Whittaker believes it's important for every
pupil to have access to a PC: `If computers
are to benefit children, then each indi-
vidual child must have access.' With this
in mind he approached IBM for help in
setting up a network, and 74 systems,
mainly PS/2 Model 30s, were installed.
Teachers and children can use a whole
range of programs with this system. 'Our
computers are helping to remove limits to
write something on the blackboard.
'Some people might find it easier to
pick things up if they're watching them on
screen, but others find it easier to learn
by rote from a teacher. You can get bored
either way - with a teacher or with a
program that you're using over and over
again. With a teacher, you can't predict
so much what they're going to do - you
don't always know how they're going to
approach a subject, which could make
things more interesting. Computers could
never replace teachers.
'A lot of the software could be improved
upon - especially in the science subjects.
Much of it is too basic. The programs
could be brought up to date.
'I don't think we need a computer each
because we like working together as a
group, where we can all help each other.
When you're on a computer you work at
your own pace, and there's nothing to
stop you going on ahead and leaving the
others behind, which is not necessarily a
good thing. It can make you a bit selfish.
'Some of the kids buy magazines that
give a free demo game away with every
issue. Then they put them on a school
computer, someone else copies them and
they end up all around the school on the
computers which have hard drives.'
Islington Green school, London N17
4HELPWAR 2
learning,' says Whittaker, adding, 'We across the principles of calculus; foreign- Julie Muguruza,
would rather use sophisticated software language teachers use a satellite dish to aged 16
on a basic level than simple, childlike download current affairs programmes Pictured below, left:
programs with built-in limits.' Hall from around the world; and English teach- `Computers make it easier to
Green's pupils have taken to computers ers use word processors to encourage writ- work quickly. And if you're not
enthusiastically, and many have begun to ing and revision. Older children can study particularly good at drawing, there are
spend more time at school than they did computer programming. packages that can help. You can create
before IT was introduced. all sorts of things on the screen.
Computers are having the same effect Lessons for life Everything's getting more competitive,
on the other side of the Atlantic, too. Peeling walls and cracked ceilings demon- so it's important to know how to work a
Brooklyn's High School of Telecommuni- strate the budget constraints TAT faces. new program, because that's bound to
cation Arts and Technology (TAT) in New The school's official annual software bud- be useful when you get a job. My parents
York ranks among the top five in the get is about £1 per student, and the com- don't know how to use computers, which
entire city for pupil attendance and the puter network includes 21 IBM PCs using is a bit of a problem, because they don't
drop-out rate is virtually zero. Children an XT as a server – not exactly the kind of have a lot of options for jobs.
and teachers go in early and stay late – a installation you would find in a top corpo- 'We all have access to a computer
phenomenon almost unheard of in Ameri- rate office. The 150 computers in the here, if we want it, which is good. Games
can inner-city schools – and enthusiasm building are mostly IBM PCs and compat- could be a good educational tool if they
for learning is apparent throughout TAT's ibles. The assistant principal of maths Bob were properly worked out. If the game
run-down buildings. Graham says that it makes sense for the involves problem-solving, it could be very
Although it is not classed as a vocat- kids to learn on the computers they are useful. They should link programs up so
ional school, TAT uses computers right most likely to encounter in the real world. that kids will be able to understand and
across the curriculum. Social science And, unusually, not one of the school's learn from them. I think they should have
teachers use simulation programs that machines has ever 'disappeared'. packages for music and art – not just to
show what it's like to grow up in Japan; Computer experience helps school- replace the manual work, but involving
maths teachers use spreadsheets to put leavers find work in a contracting job ► animation which helps you work with the
computer. It would be good to learn how
to animate and draw with a computer.
'We use the mailmerge quite a lot. You
Facts and figures can write to everybody on the computer,
In 1981, the Government launched a funding programme which provided a because everyone in the school has a file
microcomputer for every maintained secondary school and, in 1982, for every name, and you can leave a message for
primary school. According to the Department For Education (DFE), a typical them on their file. So we write letters to
secondary school now spends an average of £12,350 per year on information each other, and put things on the school
technology (IT) and provides one micro for every 13 pupils; in primary schools the bulletin board, which is brilliant.'
comparable figures are £2,250 and a ratio of one micro to 27 pupils. Teachers Islington Green school, London N17
generally receive a one-day course on how to use the new technology, which
most agree is not nearly enough for them to explore fully the teaching potential
of IT. Many say they are almost entirely self-taught as a result.
Maggie Driscol, primary school IT adviser for the London Borough of Islington,
and the only IT specialist for 58 schools in the borough, believes that the
biggest problem with the teaching of IT is the teachers themselves. 'If you
can't read yourself, how can you be expected to teach reading to others?' she
asks. 'There's money available for equipment, but funding for training is on the
wane. The situation won't really get better until the children currently being
taught become the teachers.'
As part of the Technology Curriculum, introduced within the National
Curriculum in 1989, children are first assessed in IT at the age of seven. They
are tested on communicating and handling information, measurement and
control, modelling (simulations), and the applications and effects of 1T.
Assessments take place throughout primary and secondary schools, and are
graded in ten levels. Graphics, word processing, database work, games and
programming are all covered in IT lessons. IT is also incorporated into other
subjects, such as history, English, maths and foreign languages.

so does the quality of the thinking behind it'

HELPWARE
 Educational software • market, which partly explains TAT's
success. The same is true in Britain, as
• Allwrite 2 is word processing Camden's IT inspector Steve Davis says:
software which can handle more than 'On leaving school, knowledge of IT
20 languages, including several (eg makes children more marketable in terms
Arabic, Bengali and Russian) with of employment. It also helps to increase
different scripts. The instruction their self-confidence, which is vital if they
manual only uses a small amount of are going to try and compete for work.'
written English, and instead contains a
lot of illustrations. Allwrite 2 is used in Starting early
primary schools for its multi-lingual Primary and secondary school teachers
facilities and as an English word appear united in their belief that comput-
processor. It is also used in secondary ers are a highly productive teaching aid.
schools, special schools, colleges and But would pre-school children benefit
community centres. Allwrite 2 costs from an introduction to IT? Up until the
from £40 (additional fonts are mid-1980s, educationalists felt that com-
available for £10 each), from ILECC, puters would detract from real-life experi-
tel: 071-735 9123. ence, isolate young children and hamper
• Bodyworks: An Adventure in their social and emotional development.
Anatomy turns the human body into a However, more recent studies reveal
biological map. You can highlight any that computers can enhance learning in
part of the body, or select internal the early years and facilitate cooperative
systems, such as the skeletal or behaviour such as turn-taking and group
N nervous system. Bodyworks also play. Helen Carmichael, who works at the
includes short animated clips, such as Westminster Education Psychology Ser-
the circulation of a pumping heart, and vice, believes that computers can help
has a health section with information young children develop basic learning con-
on first aid, general fitness and cepts, such as counting, reading and writ-
common illness. The software is for ing. A computer, she feels, can be the next
secondary education onwards. tool after fingers and bricks in the process
Bodyworks is just one of a variety of of learning to count, and the colour and
programs available from Children's variety it provides enhance a child's enjoy-
Computing Ltd (tel: 0869 322007) at ment of such lessons.
a discount to HelpClub members. It The French sociologist Pierre Levi
costs £44.90 plus £2 post and agrees, and points to psychological studies
packing (RRP: £59.95). See also which indicate that children are predis-
'Offers', pages 88 to 90. posed towards picking up computer lan-
• Paint and Create is designed to guage (as they are any language),
complement children's school-work particularly if introduced to the computer
and encourage their creativity. It through games. Whereas adults will try to
includes: an Activity Menu – a understand before having a go, children
landscape which comes to life when are not afraid to experiment.
you click on various items; a drawing Levi can even imagine the development
program; and programs which help you of an Esperanto-style visual language.
create greeting cards, jigsaws, 'With its icon images and interactive simu-
monsters, and pop-groups. Paint and lations, the computer is creating a new
Create costs £25.99, from Europress, visual language for thought,' he says. 'This
tel: 0625 859333. new culture has immense potential. It
• The Miracle Piano Teaching System could be a new kind of Esperanto based on
includes a 49-key keyboard alongside images, rather than words. For the child it
music software. There are 250 lessons covering a range of musical skills, from could he an additional instrument of
keyboard fundamentals to classical or jazz music. The system also teaches rhythm, thought. And the more we multiply our
timing and note reading, and contains prerecorded songs, achievement certificates, instruments of thought, the better we find
an adjustable metronome and full-orchestral accompaniment. It has a built-in MIDI our way in this complex world.' ■
(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) which means it can be used with any other
MIDI-compatible instrument. For age six onwards, the Miracle Piano Teaching
System costs £299, from Mindscape, tel: 0444 246333.
• EcoQuest costs £34.99, from Sierra On-Line, tel: 0734 303171.
• Zillion costs £23, from Sherston Software, tel: 0666 840433.
• Orbits costs £58.75, from Wirral Metropolitan College, tel: 051-653 5285.
• For all kinds of educational software, call Kosmos Software, tel: 0525 873942.

Byte Direct, Birmingham,
021 766 5559
Computers by Post, Surrey,
081 760 0014
Icon Computer Superstore,
Dudley, 0384 75555
Inmac, Runcorn,
0928 579345
Kaytech, Bromley,
081 313 0990
All PC World Superstores,
0480 496666
Software Warehouse,
Birmingham, 0675 466467
Technomatic Ltd, London,
081 205 9558
Time Computers,
Blackburn, 0282 777111
Watford Electronics, Luton,
0582 487777
GST 1st Design is easily the best GST 1st Press is DTP as it should be - a really
drawing package in its class. Developed simple yet flexible tool allowing 1st-time users
with beginners in mind, you'll quickly be to produce impressive-looking pages.
creating stunning image
BLEND - shapes, text, - GRAPHICS - import files
colours - anything! from all popular packages
BEZIERS - draw or modify and scanners.
lines and curves with TEMPLATES - blueprints
for often used page
precision.
DRAWING - comprehensive designs.
range of tools. PARAGRAPH STYLES
TRANSFORM - rotate, scale, -gaincotrlandspe
mirror, stretch. with paragraph tagging.
COLOUR - everything POWERTEXT - add impact
with an (almost) infinite with special effects.
variety of colours. TEXT - type in or import
AUTOTRACE - convert from your word processor.
scanned images to line art 1ST DESIGN - bring
to include in your drawing. 1st Design files across on
UNDO - No mistakes with the clipboard.
powerful undo and redo./ TYPOGRAPHY - fine
control over text.
FONTS - both packages
are supplied with a wide
Please send me derails of
range of TrueType outlines 1st Press & 1st Design.
(and work with Adobe Type
Manager- fonts too). Please send me details of 1 st Press for DOS.
CLIPART - Combined you'll get 600 ClipArt files I have Timeworks Publisher Lite, please send
me upgrade information.
that'll give you ideas and get you started.
• All manufacturers trademarks acknowledged.
To: GST Reply Service, Victoria House, 25 High Street, Over,
Cambs.,CB4 5NB.
All other enquiries to Electric Distribution, Meadow Lane, St. Ives,
Cambs., PEI 7 4LG Tel. 0480 496666 Fax. 0480 496189
Electric Distribution is the UK Sales Division of GST Software plc.
It can see the invisible. It can recreate
the past. It can even make thunderstorms
move. Ian Tresman meets the IBM
POWER Visualization System.

IT'S FRIDAY MORNING. The postman arrives and

drops 50 million sacks of mail on your doorstep. It will
almost certainly all be junk mail; but how can you tell?
What if one of the letters is to let you know that you've
won a million pounds? You sort through them, just to be sure. It
takes 136 years, but you were right. It was all junk mail.
Every day, the equivalent of 50 million sacks of mail will be col-
lected by NASA's Earth Observation System (EOS), a handful of
satellites which are due to monitor the earth for environmental
changes from 1998. The information will he beamed to earth,
where the problem of sorting through it all will fall to a special
computer, the IBM POWER Visualization System (PVS). The PVS
is a supercomputer, so named because it is one of the fastest and
most powerful of all computers. It processes the apparently unre-
lated jumble of characters into spectacular images which let you
see things that have never been seen before.
The representation of numbers as pictures is familiar to anyone
who has looked at computer-generated drawings. Whereas the
sequence of numbers 157 102 99 40 37 might represent a decrease
in the height of land as it slopes down a hill, a computer-generated
image lets you see at a glance whether you are looking at a gentle
gradient or a precipitous cliff-face.
The PVS goes two stages further. First it will display things that
are usually hidden from view. For example, when it is given mea-
surements of the different levels of ozone above Antarctica, it will
artificially colour the quantities, allowing you to see the 'invisible'
hole. Second, it can animate sequences of images. For example, The POWER Visualization System in action. Information
meteorologists receiving a stream of information while tracking a from four types of earth science is correlated with a
thunderstorm use the PVS to display images from right inside the visualisation map of the southern hemisphere (main
storm, showing previously unseen air-flows and interactions. picture). which shows, from lower left: a three-
It's not just scientists who use the PVS. Boss Studios, the dimensional representation of earth topography from the
creator of special effects in the film Batman, uses it too. In France, ocean floor to the mountain tops; air temperatures:
IBM has produced a PVS-generated video recreating the tenth- horizontal winds: and stratospheric ozone. Scientists at
century Benedictine abbey at Cluny, France (see 'What's Going the IBM UK Scientific Centre (inset) use PVS-generated
On?', Helpware Magazine, spring 1993). images like these in many areas of research, from
The PVS is blindingly fast. In one second, it could display every medicine, where the visualisation of a human head can
letter inside 2,500 of your 50 million sacks full of mail. It could be used to plan surgery, to environmental science, where
display the lot in a shade over five-and-a-half hours — quick seasonal levels of sea water salinity can be shown (right
enough to be home early for the weekend. ■ and far right). The red areas indicate greater salinity.
Hardware comparison
Typical PC POWER Visualization System
Microprocessor 1 (80386) 4-32 (1860)
Memory 1MB - 64MB 515MB - 2,500MB
Hard disk 40MB - 1,000MB 21,000MB - 170,000MB
Display 640 x 480 pixels 1,920 x 1,035 pixels
Colours 256 16.7 million

29 HELPWARE
TO BE THIS GOO
TAKES EUROPRESS EDUCATIONAL SOFTWAR
 These days, more and more mums and dads are questioning the

standard of education in schools.

And more and more kids are getting to grips with computers at home.

So we at Europress put two and two together and came up with a

stroke of genius: an exciting range of educational software so fantastic,

you'll have to tear your tearaways away from their homework!

As you'd expect from Europress. it's strictly in line with National

Curriculum guidelines, but great fun to use.

Our Fun School range covers general topics galore, while the Fun

School Specials give children the low-down on high-brow subjects like

Maths and Spelling.

For older children, our ADI range is every bit as entertaining but has

a more academic approach.

Helping to prepare kids for the dreaded GCSE's. ADI covers crucial

English, Maths and - oui - French, while our new ADI Junior packs help

nippers as young as four learn enough about reading and counting to

ask for a 10% rise in spends.

Not all children will grow up to be brilliant and balding, but if yours

happens to mutter E=MC' over the rice crispies, you'll know who to

thank. To learn more, and about formats available, please contact us at

the address below.

 A computer can churn out 200
cartoon images a day, rush audiences
through labyrinthine street scenes, and
make cartoon characters move like real
people. Rebecca Cripps and Lode
Goukens explain why animation studios
don't make 'em like they used to.
 THE CARTOON is having
a renaissance. Beauty and
the Beast, released in the UK
last year, has won two
Oscars. Aladdin, due for UK release in
November, is one of the highest grossing
films in the US this year. Why the sudden
interest? Or, as the bunny says, what's up
Doc? Computers, Mr Wabbit, computers.
It's 65 years since Walt Disney put on a
high, squeaky voice and Mickey Mouse
first jumped on to the screen in Steamboat
Willie. Mickey was the product of a
process called eel animation, a technique
whereby images are drawn and coloured
on celluloid canvases and then exposed on
to film frame by frame. The eels represent
fractions of movement, each occupying
1/24 of a second, and are shot one by one
to give the illusion of smooth, continuous
action. That's 24 minutely different,
minutely detailed, coloured drawings a
second; 1,440 a minute.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the
first full-length animated feature, made in
1937, was 83 minutes long. It took three
years to make and employed 750 artists
who made two million sketches. It was a
revolution in animation; cartoons would
never be the same again.
In the beginning
In the early days, cartoon morality was
skin-deep: good guys were good-looking,
bad guys were ugly. But, as animation
techniques were explored more fully, Dis-
ney's artists found themselves able to
express character traits more naturally
through movement and expression.
Thus, with Three Little Pigs (1933), the
pigs were drawn in much the same way,
but the sensible one moved differently and
had a more serious expression than his
Two stills from Videosystem's award-
winning Don Quixote (above and left),
which lasts nearly three hours and was
generated entirely by computer graphics.
vacuous-looking colleagues (he also had a
pair of dungarees and workman's cap,
rather than a sailor-suit and bow). Later,
distinctive emotions began to be portrayed
with increasing depth and pathos.
But eventually, classical animation tech-
niques gave way to the 'semi-animation' of
such mass-producers of television car-
toons as William Hanna and Joe Barbera,
at the expense of movement fluidity, real-
ism and frame variety. Caricature began to
replace the characterisation that had pre-
viously been built up through detailed
frames. There was no attempt to synchro-
nise Yogi Bear's lips with what he was say-
ing, unlike Snow White, whose lips would
capture every vowel perfectly.
Repeated frames, shots and sequences
saved time and money, but proved
extremely limiting to the visual develop-
ment of characters and scenes. Lengthy
conversation scenes, where a couple of
characters' mouths move within a com-
pletely static set, became the norm in
mass-produced series like Scooby Doo,
and audiences became accustomed to
formula plots and denouements.
Now, however, after a prolonged hiatus
of public interest and artistic development
in the 1970s and 1980s, animation is
entering a new phase. With the aid of com-
puter technology, high-quality cartoons
can be made more quickly and more
cheaply than by using classical techniques
alone. As a result, animation is again being
recognised as a major art form.
Some cartoons are still created by the
24-frame (25-frame for television) hand-
drawn method, such as The Animals of
Farthing Wood, an Anglo-French collabo-
ration between Telemagination in London
and La Fabrique in Montpellier (see page
35). However, more and more are being
produced with the help of the computer.
Vincent Laporte, of the Paris-based ani-
mation company Pixibox, enthusiastically
explains: 'We are at a turning point. An
ever-increasing number of producers are ■
Know your onions • becoming aware of the advantages of
If you want to grapple with Goofy, or wrestle with Roger Rabbit, there are several computer-assisted production. Someone,
software packages to give you a hand. The IBM Power Visualization System (see somewhere, is experimenting with a new
'Earthly mysteries', page 28) is out of reach of most individuals, but there is less technique every day.'
expensive animation software to run on your own PC. Pixibox has developed the Pixiscan sys-
Autodesk Animator Pro is a two-dimensional animation and painting package tem, which enables the studio to produce
that lets you create real-time sequences. It features built-in drawing and painting 40 hours of cartoon films a year: the
tools, and professional animation effects such as stretching and squashing, which equivalent of some 3.5 million drawings.
give animated characters a less mechanical, more natural way of moving. It The new process uses computers to scan
includes the time-saving function of in-betweening, which enables you to generate hand-drawn images and then colour them
automatically the frames that move a shape from one position to another. automatically, after which the sets (back-
Autodesk 3D Studio (an image from which is pictured below) is a more advanced grounds and scenery) are added. The
version of Animator. It includes rendering (a process whereby each visible object scanned images are digitised and can be
in a scene is lit and shaded) and can produce photograph-quality images. easily modified to ensure on-screen conti-
nuity — saving the artist many tedious
hours of copying and colouring virtually
identical sketches. 'It's a great time-saver,
particularly for colouring,' says Laporte.
`In the old days, our studio managed to
turn out about 30 coloured images a day;
now we can do between 120 and 200.
`Pixiscan also helps a lot with the sets. It
was developed with a network in mind, so
that several contributors could call upon
its many resources. Pixiscan contains a
data bank of sets and characters which are
available to each and every operator.'

Old dogs, new tricks

Computers are also putting more power
behind conventional techniques. Row-
scopy is an old process which enhances the
lifelike movement of animated characters
by basing them on real movements. It
involves filming an actor or animal in the
required moves, reducing their on-screen
presence to a skeletal form and then trans-
At the budget end of the scale, Disney's Animation Studio sells for less than posing the animated character on to the
£100. This animation program, which includes sample animations of popular human shadow. Computer manipulation
Disney characters such as Donald Duck, also comes free with IBM's PS/1 Disney of rotoscoped images increases the quality
Pack, available from Dixons. The drawing tools allow you to sketch your of animation and speeds up the process.
characters, the painting tools add colour, and a sound library completes the The creation of backgrounds can benefit
picture with the usual selection of BGUNNK! THONK! and PWAAPHT! (although from computer technology, too. If, for
you'll need a sound card to use these). An additional feature, known as the onion- example, you needed to move a character
skin effect, lets you view a range of frames on the screen at the same time. through a crowded street, the draughts-
Will Vinton's Playmation is designed by the man whose company brought you men would have to refer constantly to a
singing raisins from California and Michael Jackson's bunny in Moonwalker. conceptual (or even actual) model, calcu-
Playmation creates three-dimensional animation from smooth curves, instead of lating fields of view for each shot. Now,
the straight lines offered by some packages, and lets you render them as full- artists can model a three-dimensional set
colour shaded images. Although this allows you to produce high-quality on the computer and leave it to work out
sequences, a 75-frame, three-second, rendered, full-screen animation sequence the angles, enabling the filming of vast and
may take up to six days of computer time (on a 25MHz 80486 machine). complex sequences. Watch out for the
The cheapest way to view examples of three-dimensional animation sequences scene in Aladdin where the audience is
is through shareware. There are thousands of examples of Autodesk animation taken pell-mell through the complicated,
files available, identifiable by the suffix FLI (short for flick). They can be viewed convoluted streets of Baghdad.
using the Autodesk Animator Player program (AAPLAY) that is available in the Little Big One (LBO), a Brussels-based
public domain (without copyright and free of charge). AAPLA Y and 140MB of animation company, sets two-dimensional
animation files are included on the CD-ROM Hot Stuff 11 (for examples of Hot Stuff characters within three-dimensional sets in
screen images, see 'Media meltdown', Helpware Magazine, spring 1993), and a its most recent cartoon productions, such
selection is available to download from CompuServe in the Autodesk forum (simply as its modern Betty Boop series. 'After
hook up to CompuServe and enter GO AUTODESK). plotting the backdrops, the cartoonist

Animated two-dimensional drawings of
Betty Boop are grafted on to a human
shadow to make her movements lifelike.
The backdrops are three-dimensional.
places the characters on the set image by
image,' explains Toon Roebben, an LBO
cartoonist. Then, with every set dimension
and angle calculated, a character can tra-
vel through any part of a backdrop and be
displayed in exact proportion to their
position and surroundings.
`Equally, the three-dimensional images
can be pictured in rotation and viewed
from a myriad of vantage points. Repre-
senting people in three dimensions is still a
headache,' admits Toon Roebben, 'but the
rotoscope makes it possible for characters
to move in every way imaginable.'
Thus a singing Betty Boop walks natu-
rally and elegantly down a staircase, her
human base invisible beneath her grafted
exterior. Also imperceptible is the divide
between her two, and the backdrop's
three, dimensions. LBO hopes that such a
formula will make it easier to produce
interactive versions of cartoons for PCs
with CD-ROM drives.
Other techniques are still under devel-
opment. Researchers at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology's Media Lab are
working on software designed to repro-
duce human movement more realistically,
speeding up the process of character ani-
mation. They have even come up with
what they call an interactive graphical
robot. In Dexter Shakes Hands, Dexter is
an animated robot, viewed on a high-
definition TV screen, with whom you can
shake hands using a virtual reality data-
glove. Put on the glove and stick out your
hand and Dexter puts out his. The hands
`virtually' meet on screen and shake. Dex-
ter's movements have to be worked out by
the computer in real time because Dexter
has to be able to react to the movements
of whoever is shaking his hand. Other
movie makers, like Robert E Zemeckis
and Richard Williams with Who Framed
Roger Rabbit?, have combined animation
with live actors to great effect.
Cartoon money
The computerised automation of anima-
tion is an expensive business, which partly
explains why so many companies look for
sponsors. It could therefore be some time
before it replaces the traditional methods,
except at major studios such as Disney.
As Jean-Luc Sterckx, the producer of
the popular Tintin series, explains, 'When
the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
contacts a number of cartoon studios to
launch a European project, these studios
will obviously be inclined to make full use
of existing investments rather than devel-
op a brand new system. Although the
Two characters from The Animals of Farthing
Wood, one of the few recent cartoon projects not
to use computers in production. Each half-hour
series is made up of 33,000 frames, many of which
have been individually drawn by hand.
technology required to produce computer-
aided cartoons exists, who on earth is
going to invest in a new studio at the
moment? So the potential is limited as far
as cartoon producers are concerned.'
Computerisation is, however, financial-
ly viable if a series commissioned will run
to a substantial number of instalments,
like the latest Smurf series produced by
Hanna-Barbera. Whereas the Tintin series
was relatively short, with only 39 half-
hour episodes, and proved to be profitable
as a traditionally-produced cartoon, the
Smurf series ran to hundreds of instal-
ments, and therefore justified major in-
vestment in a new system of animation.
Finance, investment and sponsorship.
It's all a long way from elephants that fly
and wooden boys who become real. But
then, that's show business. ■
Contacts
• Autodesk Animator Pro, £495, and
Autodesk 3D Studio, less than
from Autodesk, tel: 0483 30
• Animation Studio, less than
from Infogrames, tel: 071-738
• Hot Stuff II, £15, from Scree
n 081-642 1370.
• Will Vinton's Playmation, £350, from
US Gold, tel: 021-625 3366.
• ompuServe tel . 0800 289458
C
 IBM Personal Systems.
Tickled pink to be supporting the

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 Most businesses have standard
letters they need to send to all their
customers. At the same time they
want to make people feel that they
are being treated like individuals.
Barry Smith explains how
mailmerge brings a personal touch
to business correspondence.
 THERE IS something sinister
yet seductive about person-
alised junk mail. Things like
`Dear MR JONES, our com-
puter scoured the whole of BRIGHTON
and came up with BRADDON STREET.
Then it selected NUMBER 34. It was you,
MR JONES, that it singled out to receive
news of our special offer! And so, JAMES
(you don't mind if we call you JAMES, do
you?), we would like to...' etc etc. All this,
and a lot more, is done using mailmerge.
It's a simple technique, available using
almost any word processor program. It
is certainly not limited to generating sacks
of junk mail. It can make producing small
runs, or even single copies of any standard
format document, much easier. Almost all
businesses that use word processing — and
many individuals as well — could save a lot
of time and effort by mastering mailmerge.
At root, mailmerge is just the capability
of a word processing program to combine
a single formatted document — called the
main or primary document — with
variable information from elsewhere, to
produce one or more merged final
copies. It's a useful way to create
contracts, invoices, standard letters,
memos, faxes or telephone lists.
The primary document in
a mailmerge always con-
tains three types of infor-
mation. First, it will include
the standard body text that is
to be common to all the docu-
ments you want to produce:
the date, perhaps, or your sign-off. Sec-
ond, it contains embedded instructions to
control the way in which the merge opera-
tion is carried out, identifying files where
additional information, which you may want included in some letters, can be In the case of a customer address list,
found. These instructions can carry out the data file would have a consistent struc-
quite complicated operations, such as halt- ture made up of identically arranged
A data file is made up of identically ing the process and asking you whether entries called records, each containing
arranged records, in which separate fields you want to insert a special price for a name and address information about a
each contain a single item of information. particular customer. particular individual or organisation. The
Finally, the primary document includes items of information in each record are
what are called merge field codes. These called fields, and each field is known by a
act as placeholders for pieces of informa- field name. For example, records in a
tion which will replace them at print time simple address list could contain fields
(customers' addresses, for example). The for surname and first names, title, address
bits of information can come from a vari- and postcode. The whole thing can be
ety of different sources: they can be thought of as a table.
prompted for and entered by the user at Let us suppose that the diagram (left)
merge time; they can be calculated or sup- represents part of our customer list, and
plied by the word processing program that we want to put together a letter to
itself; but by far the most important source advertise our latest, greatest widget. To
of merge data is another disk file, usually test the market, we are going to write to
called a data file or secondary document. our customers in Brighton. Since we are ►
• in the habit of promoting sales by mail-
shot, we already have a library of standard
paragraphs stored as separate documents,
each one containing a short description of
one of our products. The other considera-
tion is price. This is unpredictable: it
depends on the prices charged by our sup-
pliers, on the prices charged by our com-
petitors and on how desperate we are for
business. We therefore decide to set up the
mailmerge so that it asks us for the price at
merge time. We'll also need the date, but
the word processor supplies that directly.
The fixed part of the primary document
is easy: we can type and format it in the
normal way, as if we were writing a single
letter to one customer. Having first creat-
ed the text and the basic layout, we then
need to add the merge codes.
The format of the embedded codes used
in mailmerge documents varies widely,
but essentially the same ideas are at work
in all the main word processing programs.
In our example, we'll use representative
codes derived from no particular word
processor. To reproduce the same effect,
substitute the equivalent codes for your
word processor. In WordPerfect for
DOS, for example, you use the (FIELD)
merge code to include information
taken from the data file; we've used
(MERGE). Remember, in modern
word processing software you can't
usually type the codes in literally;
instead you enter them using menus. In
WordPerfect, you insert embedded codes
using the Merge Codes command; in
Microsoft Word, you use Insert-Field.
The first code, (DATA custlist.dat) in
our example (see opposite), indicates the
Look before you print
Getting a mailmerge to work exactly
as you planned is sometimes tricky.
Most word processors let you merge a
specified number of documents to
produce a new merged document that
can be viewed on screen before
printing. Usually, all the copies to be
printed are collected in a single
`output' document, with (depending on
how you set the merge up) hard page
break codes at the end of each copy.
You can check the results of merging
a few copies on screen, and if your
word processor has a graphical
preview screen, you can then verify the
layout and formatting visually.
If the mailmerge is a short one - say
30 or 40 pages at the most - it is a
good idea to run the complete merge
to an output document, check the
whole document quickly and then print
it. Don't fall into the trap of correcting
the merged copy repeatedly; go back
to your original primary document,
make the necessary corrections and
repeat the merge process.
name of the data file or secondary file
which supplies the variable information
for each customer. This file begins with an
entry (the 'header') telling us the names of
the fields in each record, for example: title,
first names, surname, addrl, and so on.
Consult your word processor's manual for
the exact structure required for data files.
We use the field names in the data file
header to identify the information we need
in our merged document, for example,
Dear (MERGE title) (MERGE surname).
We need to skip data records unless the
town is "Brighton", so we use the code
(SKIP IF NOT addr2="Brighton"). The
date of the letter is inserted automatically
at print time using a (DATE) code. Anoth-
er code, (ASK ONCE "Price?"), prompts
us for the price at the start of the merge,
and then uses the same price for each cus-
tomer. (We might have a code like (ASK
EACH "Price?") to prompt us for a differ-
ent price for each customer, but think how
tedious that would get on a long merge.)
The product description for this
promotion is a paragraph stored as
WIDGET.PRD, so we merge this into each
letter using (INSERT widget.prd). Finally,
at the end of the page, we need to indicate
that the merge should move on to the next
record in the data file, force a page break,
print the whole letter out again, and so on
for each customer. For this we use
(NEXT) and (PAGE BREAK)
codes. Note that (NEXT} belongs
at the end of the letter only in this
example; in a telephone list, we
would probably have a {NEXT)
code at the end of each line, so that
each customer's name and telephone
number would appear on a single line,
and the next line in the document would
be based on the next record in the data file.
To avoid the intricacies of laying out a
laser-label merge, we'll use window en-
velopes and merge the name and address
information into the top left-hand corner
of the letter. The prepared document
can he seen in the illustration above right.
If your PC has a built-in fax modem. you
can use a program such as WinFax
PRO for Windows to fax your mailmerge
documents. The WinFax PRO for
Windows control panel (far left)
includes a schedule button which
allows you to program the PC to send
faxes at cheap-rate times. Left: one of
the 101 predesigned fax cover sheets
that come with WinFax PRO.

Before you begin your mailmerge, the
document should contain instructions
indicating where each bit of customer
information is to appear (above).
This type of merge is perfect for produc-
ing long runs of almost identical letters
based on a single file of names and address-
es. But don't overlook other possible appli-
cations of this technique. Suppose you
need to print out a few contracts each day
for new clients. You could prepare a stan-
dard outline contract as the primary file.
Clauses that might vary from contract
to contract could be stored as separate
paragraph documents ready for inclusion
using an {INSERT} merge code. Your
word processor should also have a merge
command which will let you select differ-
ent combinations of paragraphs for indi-
vidual letters.
Modern word processors can easily be
programmed to make mailmerging simple.
For instance, you can set up an easy-to-
follow merge automatically by program-
ming the word processor to keep prompt-
ing you with step-by-step instructions.
Besides taking all the slog out of your
business correspondence, mastering a few
merge codes has another benefit: once you
know how it's been produced, person-
alised junk mail loses its mystique. ■
It is obvious that word processors are
highly suitable for creating and storing
formatted primary documents, but data
files (or secondary files) are another
matter. WordPerfect has its own
secondary file format which you can
create easily: each record occupies
several lines terminated by an (END
RECORD) code and a new page
command. Within each record, the
fields are separated by {END FIELD}
codes. In Word for Windows, you use
the built-in Table command to create a
table layout, and you store data in a file
that contains nothing apart from a
single table with one row for each
record and one column for each field.
You may already have the information
for a planned mailmerge stored in
spreadsheet or database form. In this
case, you need to master the
Designing the structure of data files
can be tiresome. Take names, for
instance. You might use John Smith's
record in an address list to generate:
'Mr J Smith' on the outside of an
envelope or on a mailing label; 'John
Smith' within a contract; 'Smith, John'
in a telephone list; and either 'Dear
John' or 'Dear Mr Smith' at the
beginning of a letter. (Which format
you use could vary from one record in
the data file to another.)
It is obvious that you cannot achieve
all these results without breaking down
the name into several different fields. In
this admittedly extreme example you
could need as many as five fields: first
name 'John' (for the contract and
telephone list); surname 'Smith' (for
labels, contracts and telephone lists);
title 'Mr' for labels; initial 'J' for labels;
and either 'John' or `Mr Smith' for the
greeting in letters.
The trick here is to include a field to
procedures for exporting or converting
your data into a data file format that
your word processor can use for
mailmerging. If your spreadsheet or
database can export comma-delimited
ASCII files (in which each data entry is
separated by a comma), you're in luck.
WordPerfect (and many other word
processors) can use a delimited file
directly for merging, and Word for
Windows has a Convert Text To Table
command that will process a delimited
file into tabular format.
As an alternative, you could consider
using an integrated package such as
IBM's Legato that contains both word
processing and database modules, and
which can use its own database files
directly for mailmerging. Some
databases, including Filemaker, offer
many of the facilities of a word
processing mailmerge module directly
within the database package.
control processing to cut down on
duplicated information. For example,
you could have a field called FAMILIAR
which causes the mailmerge to use the
first name as the greeting if it is set to
'Y' (for yes), or the title plus the
surname otherwise. You could leave the
field blank in most cases, and set it to
Y only where you need the familiar
greeting. In the primary document, a d
conditional merge code can then be
used to create the greeting text
automatically from the title, first name
and surname fields. Depending on
which word processing package you -4
use, the merge instruction to produce
such an effect could look something
like this: {IF FAMILIAR = "Y", "Dear" +
Firstname, "Dear" + Title + Surname}.
In some word processing packages,
you can extract an initial from the first
name field without having to enter it
separately in a field of its own. In
WordPerfect for Windows you would use
{MID}-IFIELDIFirstname-0-1 to
extract the first letter of the first name.

Your PC may not be able to keep you entertained on a
boring drive, but it will select the most scenic route, via your
favourite roadside cafe, without ever yelling that you should
have turned left three traffic-lights ago. Steve Cooke reports.
IN THE OLD DAYS all roads
led to Rome, so no one got lost.
Nowadays, all roads are either
one-way (the wrong way, of course),
blocked by road works, or signposted to
somewhere you've never heard of. That,
at least, is how it seems when you're late
for an important meeting in Stickney
Marshes, which just happens to be off the
boundary of your local map.
The fax has been one of the biggest
boons to business travellers. When you
make an appointment with someone
who's driving down (or up) from Rugby,
you can fax them a map pinpointing the
position of your home or office. Very use-
ful. The only problem is that they have to
work out the best way of getting to the
area shown on your scribbled sheet.
Not any more. Now, your PC can flash
up a map of any European location, take
two points on it, and print out a selection
of optimum routes between them. The
print-outs include detailed travelling in-
structions (`At Saarmund turn left on the
E51 for ten miles towards Michendorf'),
estimated travelling times and a host of
other information. Instead of poring over
a map at the traffic-lights, you can get
everything on paper before you leave,
using AutoRoute Express from NextBase.
AutoRoute is just one of several recent
products that combine cartographic infor-
mation with the computer's power to
manipulate it and use it in different ways.
It comes in a number of different versions
covering the UK and Europe. (See also
`Offers', pages 88 to 90). Other programs
(Mapinfo 2.0 from the Mapinfo Corpora-
tion, for example) will gobble up your cus-
tomer name and address file, then spit it
out in the form of a map, complete with
information tailored to your needs of the
moment: how many of my customers are
there within a 20-mile radius of Manches-
ter, for instance? Or where can I find deal-
ers in East Anglia who are selling more
than 40 of my widgets every month?
If you want to travel outside Europe,
you could try World Atlas, which does its
best to cram the whole planet on to a
diskette. As you can imagine, there are
some omissions, but you can spin the
world on your monitor and plonk your
Biro down on Guam (population 130,400,
capital Agafla). Then you could dial up
CompuServe with your modem and find
out how much it costs to fly there.
The computer hasn't got everything
worked out, however. There's one prob-
lem which it still can't solve easily: the
`travelling sales rep' puzzle. Apparently
very simple, this conundrum can tie the
biggest computers up in knots.
Suppose you want to visit people in
Hull, Sudbury, Penzance, and Reading.
What's the shortest, most efficient route to
take? Simple, you reply. After all, there are
only 24 possible permutations (you arrive
at this figure by multiplying 4 x 3 x 2 x 1;
for five destinations, you would multiply
5x4 x3x2 x 1, and so on). So you get
out your map and combine your acute
visual sense with a spot of trial and error

AutoRoute Express (above and below
right) plots the quickest and the
shortest routes between given places.
It allows you to plan a journey via up to
four different stop-off points and
supplies information on local features
of historic interest, national parks and
football grounds. A more expensive
version, AutoRoute Plus, also includes
details on AA-listed restaurants.
to find the answer. When you get more
places to visit, however, this minor niggle
mutates into a monstrous challenge. With
50 destinations to visit, for instance, the
number of possible routes is a staggering
10" (one followed by 64 noughts).
To give you an idea of the sort of num-
bers we're dealing with, suppose you were
able to build an incredibly hunky comput-
er capable of doing in one millionth of a
second what the most powerful supercom-
puter could do in a million years. Now
imagine it had started trying to find the
optimum route between 50 destinations at
the same time as the Big Bang at the begin-
ning of the universe (a mere ten to 20
billion years ago). Your computer would
still be chuntering away happily at the
problem today, and would be kept busy
for several billion years to come. Clearly
this is not a commercial proposition.
Mathematicians have been searching
for a possible short cut to a solution to this
problem for decades. There have been
some conspicuous successes (the most
recent involved calculating routes with
more than 3,000 stop-off points using 30
massive computers), but even today's most
efficient travelling sales rep algorithms
can't come up with the best route for more
than a few destinations.
In the time-honoured tradition of ama-
teur mathematicians, there's always a
chance that you might hit on a more ele-
gant solution while soaking in the bath-
tub. Answers on a postcard to the new
`Hot tips' section on page 84, please... In
the meantime, we suggest you decide on
the appropriate route yourself, basing it
on the restaurants you would like to eat at
along the way. In this case, AutoRoute
Plus can give you an answer on the spot. ■
• AutoRoute Express, £99.95 for
the DOS version and £149.95, for the
Windows version, and AutoRoute Plus,
£395, DOS version only, from NextBase,
tel: 0784 421422.
• MapInfo 2.0, £750 each for the DOS
and Windows versions, from the Mapinfo
Corporation, tel: 0753 552530.
• World Atlas, from £59.95 to £89.95,
depending on the version, from
Mindscape, tel: 0444 246333.
The Romans used gods as
well as zodiacal signs in
their astrological system
(main picture). Zodiacal
signs remained virtually
unchanged in medieval
Germany (left). The
relationship between days
of the week and their
corresponding planets
(right) was celebrated in
sixteenth-century England.
 IN 1950, the French scientist Michel Gauquelin found
that doctors were more likely to be born when Mars and
Saturn had just risen or reached their highest point in the
sky than at any other time. Further investigation seemed
to indicate that soldiers and politicians were frequently born under the
influence of Jupiter rising, but that scientists tended not to be. Painstak-
ingly, he trawled through the birth records of Europeans and began to
calculate an extensive correlation between planetary position at the time
of a person's birth and their likely career. His conclusion, that there was
a clear relationship between the behaviour of heavenly and not-so-
heavenly bodies, added fuel to an age-old debate.
Before you die laughing, check who you're sitting next to, for other Helpware Magazine gave Dublin-based
twentieth-century cultures are far less dismissive of this sort of thing than astrologer John Little the date, time and
we are. Divining the future by astrological and other means is perfectly place of birth of a famous person and
acceptable in India, for example, where politicians educated at Oxford or asked him to read his or her stars. He
Jaipur may seek guidance from the stars about the state of the nation. had no idea who his subject was, but
University students readily consult high-street diviners regarding their produced a startlingly accurate profile.
examination results. The whole affair is more business-like than esoteric; The subject's natal chart suggested
if the diviner gets it right, a long-term professional relationship can devel- 'a fascinating person with the power to
op. If the diviner gets it wrong, it's time to ask for a rebate. In China, the influence the masses', with a 'naive,
influence of the divinatory system presented in the I Ching (the Book of childlike personality'. Little saw
Changes, one of the world's oldest extant works of literature) still 'disappointment in love and a chronic
appears in current affairs, although it's probably true that the book's inability to successfully bring together
influence is as much one of philosophy as of far-sight. the emotional and physical needs of
Even here in the West there have been serious attempts to link stock- the personality'.
market activity with planetary cycles. 'The most remarkable change tak- The horoscope also mentioned
ing place in astrology,' says Nick Campion, astrologer for the Daily Mail, `nervous exhaustion, hypersensitivity,
`is its growing use in business and finance.' Astrologers can buy databases chaotic emotions and nervous
of stock-market prices and use computers to compare them with astro- weakness', with possible 'drug
logical charts, looking for any correspondence between the movement of dependency, insanity, alcoholism, or
prices and the movement of sun, moon and planets against the sky. The total moral/financial collapse'. All this
number of variables involved is so immense that such analysis would be in a person seeming 'outwardly
out of the question without computers. gregarious, happy and popular'.
Today's growing popular interest in astrology has its roots in a Little thought it might be Walt Disney
continued on page 47► or Al Capone, although to be fair, he
hadn't been told the gender of the
mystery person. Once he found out
Like flared trousers, astrology has been that the subject was a woman, he
guessed who it was immediately -
alternately revered and reviled depending Marilyn Monroe.
Loaded with the same information

on the trends of the day. You don't have to that was given to Little, the program
Visions - The Complete Astrology

believe in it to draw your birth chart on a System (see overleaf), made somewhat
less salient points. It described a

PC, say Luca Serafini and Rebecca Cripps. person 'marked by mental agility and
activity who likes to think and act
quickly and decisively'. (Mental agility
and decisiveness are not the most
obvious traits of Monroe.)
In matters of the heart, Visions
remained ambiguous. 'Venus in Aries
denotes those who are passionate in
love,' followed by, 'natives may gain
emotionally or financially through
partnerships and marriage.'
However, Visions does have the
advantage of being able to produce an
accurate birth chart within seconds; the
same process would take a human
astrologer several hours.
Star-gazing by PC
In order to read the skies with any
degree of accuracy, you need to find out
the precise positions of the sun, the
moon, the constellations of the zodiac
and each of the planets as seen at the
time and place of birth. Regardless of
any mystic connotations, the
construction of an astrological chart is
a purely mathematical exercise.
The starting point is the exact time
and place of birth. This needs to be
converted from the normal time
system (Greenwich Mean Time, or
whatever) into the slightly different
system employed by astrologers
(sidereal time - see the glossary on
page 47 for a definition of this and other
specialist terms used in this article).
Once the time has been converted you
can construct the basic chart and begin
to search for the significant
relationships between the various
planets. The good news is that there's
a wide selection of astrological
software programs which can do
these calculations for you.
• Visions - The Complete Astrology
System from Mindscape International,
tel: 0444 246333. It costs £34.99 for
the DOS version and £39.99 for the
Windows version.
The Windows package (shown
above) is easy to use and colourful,
allowing you to enter latitude and
longitude by clicking on a map of
the world, and printing out flowery
predictions complete with pictures
depicting each aspect of life.
• Astral Windows by Mike Magee from
the Public Domain and Shareware
Library, tel: 0892 663298. A registered
copy of Astral Windows costs £24.99
(including VAT). Trial versions can be
found in many shareware libraries.
This program for the more
sophisticated star-gazer caters for
several methods of interpretation (house
systems) and will display or print charts
according to both conventional 'tropical'
astrology and sidereal astrology, where
the 12 signs of the zodiac are realigned
to correspond with the current positions
of the constellations. Other technical
titbits include transits, solar returns and
progressions. Astral Windows is
currently available in both DOS and
Windows versions.
Looking to the heavens
• Personal Computer Astrology from The natal chart is a map of the heavens
Electric Ephemeris, tel: 071-700 0666. as seen at the time and place of birth.
It costs from £125 to £500 (excluding The important thing to remember is that
VAT), depending on which add-on extras it is drawn as though the earth is the
are included. centre of the universe around which
This more expensive program can everything else rotates clockwise.
display and print very detailed charts. The starting point is the ascendant,
As well as showing the relationships which is the point on the eastern horizon
between planets (aspects), Personal from which the stars appear to rise.
Computer Astrology lists planetary Everything in the top half of the chart
positions and produces useful colourful would have been in the sky at the time,
bargraphs showing transits and in this case we can see from the
throughout the year. It sun's position that this chart relates to
supports six house systems the early afternoon.
as well as a range of The sky is divided into 12 houses,
progressions and solar and starting from the ascendant and working
lunar returns. It is not a round. The position of each planet is
Windows program, but it entered here. Computers often vary the
does have a reputation for distance between each planetary symbol
being fairly easy to use and and the centre of the chart (see left),
works with a range of because of the difficulty in displaying two
printers, including laser or more symbols close together. Human
and colour models. astrologers tend to line up the planets on
Personal Computer an invisible circle, making it easier to see
Astrology takes a number of the angles they make to each other.
add-on modules, such as The outer band represents the stars
the Attractometer for themselves which are divided into the 12
analysing compatibility between two zodiacal signs. These roughly correspond
charts, or the Interpretation Toolkit, to 12 constellations in the night sky.
which lets you build interpretation texts
using your own set of astrological rules.
For general astrological advice,
contact the Urania Trust on 071-700
0639 which operates from the same
address as Electric Ephemeris.
There are also two areas on the
international conference system
CompuServe which cover astrology.
One is a forum for the exchange of
information, the other provides an on-line
program, Astrology Calculator, which
helps you to draw up a pretty accurate
birth chart. Telephone CompuServe on
0800 289378 for more details.
grand tradition. Originally astrology was
indistinguishable from the science of
astronomy (determining the physical prop-
erties and positions of celestial bodies).
Awareness of the movements of the plan-
ets can be traced back to the building of
the first pyramid, 4,500 years ago, meticu-
lously aligned with the constellations in a
calculated union of earth and stars.
The ancient Babylonians were the first
to give names to the splashes of stars
which make up constellations, but a pre-
occupation with the heavens goes even
further back. In the 1970s, a 30,000-year-
old bone was unearthed which appears
to be marked with a record of the
moon's cycles, raising the possibility that
humankind noticed the stirrings of stars
and planets as far back as the last ice age.
Since then, every civilisation has revealed a
preoccupation with the cosmos and its
influence on our lives.
This is not to say that attitudes towards
astrology have remained constant. Like
most things, star-gazing is a toy of fashion,
and it has fallen into decline as often as it
has been celebrated. In the second century
AD, Claudius Ptolemy wrote a spirited
and influential defence of the art, but after
the fall of the Roman Empire it virtually
disappeared from the Latin west, only to
flourish in the Eastern Empire.
It hit another high in twelfth-century
western Europe, but by the end of the sev-
enteenth century it was considered a
pseudo-science by everyone except those
who dared contradict the Christian doc-
trines of divine intervention and human
free will. The idea that anything or anyone
other than God had influence on human
destiny was a dangerous blasphemy.
These days mystics abound, most taken
with a pinch of salt, although a handful of
astrologers throughout history have been
The 12 images of
the Arabic zodiac
(above); the Chinese
zodiacal circle, with
the 12 animals of the
Chinese astrological
system (right); a
seventeenth-century
zodiacal belt in
the schema of the
heavens devised by
Copernicus (below);
the zodiac as it was
depicted in medieval
France (below,
opposite page).
able to convince various world leaders
(Ronald Reagan, Tsar Nicholas II) and
celebrities (Prince, Kim Basinger) that they
hold the key to the future.
The best test, of course, is to judge for
yourself. The task of constructing a natal
chart (which shows the position of the
Aspect: the angle between one planet and
another as measured from the centre of
the chart. Angles of zero degrees (a
conjunction) or 120 degrees are regarded
as particularly harmonious, while 90
degrees or 180 degrees (opposition)
create tension.
Birth chart: see Natal chart.
Ephemeris: a booklet published annually
showing the positions of the sun, moon
and planets at noon Greenwich Mean Time
for every day of the year.
Greenwich Mean Time: the time as
measured from Greenwich in London; a
world standard measure still widely used,
even though it was superseded in 1986 by
Coordinated Universal Time.
Houses: a way of dividing the sky into 12
sections (houses), each supposed to
relate to a particular sphere of life.
Natal chart: a chart showing the position
planets at the time of birth, and is the
basis for all astrological interpretation)
used to require several painstaking hours
of calculation and draughtsmanship. Your
PC can now do it in the blink of a
Romany's eye, and can give you a fascin-
ating glimpse into an ancient art. ■
of the planets and the sun at the time and
place of birth.
Progression: in a progression planetary
movements are traced from their starting
point on a natal chart and used to make
predictions about the future.
Sidereal time: we normally measure a day
as the time it takes the sun to rotate
around the earth. A sidereal day is the
time it takes the stars to rotate around
the earth, and is not quite the same
thing. It is used to place the signs of the
zodiac on an astrological chart.
Solar return: a calculation of the planetary
positions when the sun returns to the
precise position it appeared in at an
individual's birth.
Transit: in constructing a progression (see
above), a transit occurs when the predicted
trajectory of a planet passes its original
position on the natal chart.
MEMORY DIREC
 MEMORY
SELECTOR
GUIDE

You spend a lot of time with your
operating system, so it's worth using one
that treats you well. Toni Antoniadis
introduces OS/2 Version 2.1.
OS/2 Version 2.1 in operation. The new multimedia
support is shown top right and middle left. DOS
appears in its own window, bottom left, as does the
Windows control panel, bottom right. OS/2 Chess is
pictured top left and WordPerfect 5.2, using TrueType
fonts, is shown centre.
YOU MAY SPEND most of your time
tapping away with your word processing
or spreadsheet package, but every second
that you spend with your PC is also a
second spent with its operating system —
the program that looks after your file
storage system, disk drives, monitor, key-
board, mouse and so on.
While you're using your word proces-
sor, the operating system hides away in the
background. But every so often it rears its
head: for example, if you want to print the
file you're working on, or copy files from
one disk to another, or if you want to find
out where a lost file has got to. The sim-
pler the operating system is to use, the
more time you save.
For this reason, most people nowadays
use graphical operating systems. With
these, you use a mouse to select graphic
symbols (icons on the screen) which then
trigger other actions (running a program,
copying files and so on), so you don't have
to type in obscure commands. The two
most common graphical environments (or
operating systems) are OS/2 and Win-
dows. If you're still using DOS and typing
things like DIR *.*, you'd probably be
better off with one of the new systems.
OS/2 has the ability to run Windows
built in, so you can have the advantages of
both environments by just buying one of
them. The latest version, OS/2 Version
2.1, allows you to run the latest version of
Windows (3.1) and will also run DOS
software. More importantly for the future,
OS/2 has other advantages: it's a full 32-
bit system, which means it can process
information in bigger chunks than the
older 16-bit technology (for example,
Windows 3.1), making it quicker. This
makes it particularly suited to networking,
where computers frequently exchange
large quantities of information (see 'All
together now', pages 65 to 71).
For users of older versions of OS/2, the
new 2.1 release has other advantages as
well. Amongst other things, you'll get
faster graphical performance, multimedia
audio support, better power management
for portables (so your batteries last
longer), and support for PCMCIA cards (a
new standard for credit-card sized add-
ons, which can range from modems to net-
work interfaces).
But of course there's always a bug in the
lettuce. In this case, it's the installation
procedure. Installing a new version of
DOS (or even installing it from scratch)
has always been a very straightforward
affair: you just shove the disk in the drive,
Neat 'n tidy
It's difficult to find things in folders that have lots of objects in them. Here's the
cure. Open Settings for the folder:
• Click the right-hand mouse button on the folder icon.
• On the arrow to the right of Open click the left-hand mouse button. OS/2 Version 2.1 supports PCMCIA, a
• Click the left-hand mouse button on the Settings option. new standard in credit-card sized add-ons
The Settings window will open. Select the View page (if it's not already selected). such as the fax modem card above,
Choose the Flowed option under Format and Small for the icon sizes (or Invisible, if which slot into your computer.
you prefer). Close the Settings window by double-clicking with the left-hand mouse
button on the top left-hand corner of the window.
When you next open the folder, the contents will no longer appear as a random restart the computer and answer a few
scattering of icons, but as a neat, vertical list. questions. OS/2, however, requires rather
more attention.
Because OS/2 offers more features, you
have to take a lot more things into consid-
eration before you can start using it. For
example, ask yourself:
• Are you installing it on a new machine,
or on a PC which already has files that you
Change window, change directory... want to keep (because, for example,
If you're an old DOS user and still like to use the DOS command line for some you've been using the machine with DOS
operations, OS/2 will let you create graphical windows for working on DOS or Windows)?
directories. (For example, you might want one window for working on documents in • Do you want to take advantage of
C:\LETTERS and another for working on files in C: \ BACKUPS.) Here's how: OS/2's speeded-up file storage system
In the Command Prompts folder, click the right-hand mouse button on DOS Folder. (HPFS)? This also lets you use nice long
Select Copy with Command Prompts as the destination. You'll be asked for a new names for files, instead of the sometimes
name; best use one that is linked to the directory you want the window to give irritating eight-letter abbreviations used by
access to (for example, DOS Letters). Click on Create. Open Settings for the new DOS and Windows.
icon. On the Program page, specify a working directory. Now, whenever you use the • Do you want to set up your disk with
new command prompt, you'll find yourself in the directory you specified. more than one partition (in other words,
You can get even more clever here. When you've got Settings open, go to the divide the disk into two or more sections,
Session page. Here you can specify the name of a batch file which will run each time each of which will be treated by the system
you use the new command prompt. You could, for example, get a list of all .DOC files as different drives)? This lets you load
whenever you enter a TEXT directory (ignoring, say, ASCII files with the suffix .TXT). OS/2 into one partition and your pro-
grams and data into another, which,
amongst other things, will protect your
operating system should you do some-
thing silly with your program partition.
• How much space have you got on your
hard disk and how much will you need for
different installations?
We'll be running a short workshop
series on OS/2, paying particular attention
to the way you install it. For everyone who
has outgrown DOS or Windows, it'll be
invaluable. For those of you who are
already using the system, it will provide
some useful tips on getting more out of it –
as do our ski-runs in this issue.
We also want to address particular
problems or advantages that you may
have uncovered when using OS/2. If you
have some examples, please write to t -
OS/2 Series Editor at Helpware M. .P.
5 Great Pulteney Street, Lo , •A %.1' t4
3DF, or fax him on 071-734 8' Ar pi
 LIFE

Steel
sou I S
Japan's fascination with humanoid robots stems
from the eighteenth-century automated dolls which
ran on sand or mercury and performed at Shinto
festivals. Nicholas Bornoff reports on a craft which
blends tackiness with artistic genius.

USING A FAMILY portrait to plastic robots lurk inside boxes of sweets,

advertise life insurance is banal
enough, but in a poster in the
Tokyo subway, the protagonists
are made of gleaming steel. Not that this sur-
prises anyone in Japan, which is home to 70
per cent of the world's robot population.
Ever since 1924 and the triumph of a Japan-
ese version of Karel Capek's RUR (Rossum's
Universal Robots), the play coining the term,
the robotto took root in Japan as a perma-
nent fixture in the popular imagination.
Robotics exhibitions regularly draw enormous
crowds; cybernetic fantasies thrive in Japanese
comic books, animated cartoons and films;
washing-powder and noodles.
Japanese robots travel well. During the
1980s, Takara's Transformers conquered the
world as one of the great successes of toy-
making history. The cheap tin toys Japan made
for the US market during the 1950s were most-
ly robots too. Since this was a leading industry
when the country had few others, toys and
technology have curiously evolved in synergy.
Working around the clock in the real Japan,
omnipresent robots now weld, put together,
package and stack products including elec-
tronic and audio-visual equipment, industrial
machinery and cars. They maintain nuclear ►

Shobe Tamaya the Eighth, opposite, whose family has made automated dolls for 250 years.
Two of Tamaya's clockwork tea-carrying dolls, below, which are based on a 1796 design.
 LIFE
reactors, level the seabed for off-shore
construction and reproduce themselves.
But although technology has overtaken
the tin toy, the Japanese passion for whim-
sical robots still outshines the industrial
clank and file.
Japan is very partial to humanising its
machines, as instruction manuals com-
monly presenting domestic appliances
with cutesy faces imply. Cartoons of
female bank clerks prompt transactions
with a graceful bow and thank you on the
screens of automatic teller machines;
vending machines chirp tinny gratitude on
city streets. Midway between toyland and
high tech is a zone in which Japan excels.
`In other advanced nations,' writer
Frederik Schodt observed in Inside the
Robotic Kingdom, a book about Japanese
robotics, 'serious attempts to build
humanoids are rare and regarded as highly
eccentric.' Eccentric or not, Japanese
roboticists frequently mimic human or
animal shapes. Walking and/or grasping
machines have been devised for a variety
of applications both serious and other-
wise. Meitec, a prominent Nagoya firm
specialising in computer-assisted industri-
al design, recently developed a 'riding sim-
ulator' — a robot horse. Information
compiled from the minute study of real-
life equine movement gives this mechani-
cal dobbin a digital memory of horsy
manoeuvres and it is now employed in
some Japanese riding schools.
Masahiro Mori favours modelling his
machines after life-forms. He is not only
Shunichi Mizuno, top, whose Tybots' go
against the stylised grain of Japanese
robotics by looking very real indeed. One
of his latest can smile and wink, above,
and can mime to 500 tunes on the piano.
Craft from the past
Following a 250-year-old ancestral
tradition in his workshop in Nagoya,
43-year-old Shobe Tamaya the Eighth
still makes automated dolls. In fact,
although they have been karakuri
craftsmen since the early eighteenth
century, the Tamayas latterly came to
carve only Noh masks and fine wooden
dolls, occasionally repairing karakuri
from Shinto shrines. In 1970, however,
Tamaya's late father became the first
to make them in more than 100 years.
Using the Karakurizui, a manual
printed in 1796, Tamaya the Seventh
built a doll which, after bringing a cup
of tea to its recipient, nods, turns round
when the cup is replaced and goes
back to its starting place. The science
professor Shoji Tatsukawa of Tokyo's
Waseda University used the same
manual to make a tea-carrier in 1967
and was awed by it: 'Since karakuri
represented the pinnacle of precision
mechanisms in Japan at the time, it is
only a slight exaggeration to say that
today's equivalent to the manual
would be a blueprint for a computer.'
M HELPWARE
renowned as the country's leading special-
ist in biomechanisms, but also as a devout
Buddhist, who insists that robots and each
of their components are, like us, one with
the cosmic whole. The pre-eminent roboti-
cist Ichiro Kato, known for his servo-
mechanisms based on human hands and
for advanced medical robotics, seems
equally proud of his wire-tangled, box-
headed Wasubot, which is programmed to
play Bach on an electronic organ. Kato's
concepts, like Mori's, veer towards the
metaphysical; he believes in a connection
between Japan's ancient animistic Shinto
religion and robotics. He is probably right.
Robots in nirvana
The profound national infatuation with
robots has precedents centuries older than
Karel Capek's RUR. Most technological-
ly-oriented Japanese assert that it all goes
back to the karakuri ningyo, the automat-
ed dolls performing during some Shinto
festivals. Although more primitive than
their western counterparts, these eigh-
teenth-century Japanese automata were
works of genius considering their limita-
tions. As in the West, they tended to be
made by clock makers, but their only
metal parts were governors. Wheels, gears
and ratchets were made of wood. Since
screws did not exist, the dolls were assem-
bled with wooden pegs. Delicate balance
was achieved using mercury or trickling
sand; winding springs were made of
baleen (whalebone) not steel. Karakuri
remain the star attraction at Shinto festi-
vals in Nagoya and Takayama, perform-
ing atop towering floats, turning
somersaults, climbing ladders and writing
characters with deft brush strokes.
The karakuri tradition exerts an influ-
ence that goes far beyond the world of arts
and crafts. Their importance as the fore-
runners of Japanese robotics and comput-
er technology is well established enough
for IBM Japan to have featured karakuri
maker Tamaya the Eighth (see box, left,
and pictures, previous page) in a video
documentary last year. The company has
also put together a prototype robot,
resembling R2D2 in the film Star Wars,
which can move autonomously.
The notion of robotics and technology
running hand in hand is epitomised by
Hisashige Tanaka, a nineteenth-century
maker of clocks and karakuri who, turn-
ing to modern industrial machinery,
founded Toshiba. Tamaya the Eighth, for
his part, is typical of a generation who
remain staunchly true to their craft,
though he has replaced the baleen springs
in his karakuri with steel ones. Some mod-
els are used in electronic displays and are
operated by hydraulics and computers.
Similar technology drives the very dif-
ferent dolls of Shunichi Mizuno, a self-
professed renegade on the Japanese
android scene and the roboticist's answer
to hyper realism. 'Japanese taste is tradi-
tionally towards stylisation,' he laments.
`Being simply too realistic, my robots are
more popular abroad.' Mizuno's life-size
Cybots, emerging steadily from his sub-
urban Tokyo workshop and used in
acclaimed commercial displays, have nev-
ertheless caused a national sensation. Ten
years ago, his amazing Marilyn Monroe
put him in the media spotlight as a cyber-
netic Dr Frankenstein. She stood strum-
ming a guitar, pouted, blinked, winked,
tilted her head and mouthed the words to
the song, I Wanna be Loved by You.
Marilyn has been superseded by more
recent Cybots driven by oil instead of
compressed air. The extensive data that
mobilised her had to be stored on tape;
current models store their data on cards
and hard disks. One of Mizuno's latest
creations is a beautiful pianist which can
mime to 500 pieces of music on the key-
boards of Yamaha player pianos.
Mizuno is proud of being 'the world's
only specialist in female robots', maintain-
ing that the future is towards 'soft' robots
like his, which have a super-real vinyl skin.
Striving to make his world of make-believe
come alive, he hopes soon to combine his
computer technology with virtual reality.
'My dream,' he says, toying with the head
of Yomiuri Giants' baseball team pitcher
Suguru Egawa, 'is to stage shows combin-
ing robots with humans in such a way that
you can't tell them apart.' ■
A trainee at a Japanese riding-school
trots her robot horse down a video road.
ij
Muttoni's magical worlds of automata
At the Tin Toy Museum in Yokohama, Japan, nostalgia reigns over a
century of metal playthings. Among the thousands seeking a shot of déjà
vu, some dazzled recent western visitors were singers Graham Nash (of
Crosby, Stills and Nash) and Peter, Paul and Mary, and British pop art
pioneer Peter Blake.
What enchanted them most was a creation by Muttoni, which is kept
in museum owner Teruhisa Kitahara's private collection and is only rarely
displayed. Revealing unrivalled genius for creating fantasy worlds with
automated models, Muttoni's Planet Theatre also bewitched the visitors
at an exhibition in Tokyo last year.
Presenting the works himself, Muttoni is masked
in dark glasses, a pale, gaunt young man in
designer-black from his fedora downwards.
Italianising his name for a hint of mystery after
a trip to Rome, he is 34-year-old Masahiko
Mutoh, an elusive artist who shyly
dismisses effusive praise with a modest
smile — and vanishes.
Mutoh's works deploy moving
figurines in cabinets about four feet
high, like the penny-in-the-slot
working models popular in bygone
fairgrounds. Lit by optical fibres,
they enter and exit through opening
and closing doors or. ingeniously
reflected in mirrors, loom as
apparitions. In what is a tribute to
Billie Holiday, an aging black
sweeper sits alone in a crumbling
theatre watching his young self
playing in a ghostly jazz combo with
Billie on-stage. Another cameo
finds the lonely in rented rooms —
the melancholy caretaker, lovelorn
woman and secret drinker —
transfigured by angelic
visitations. Unfolding to a musical backing, each tale is spellbinding.
Here, recalling both Frankenstein and Fritz Lang's Metropolis, is a lab
in which a weird scientist and his assistant command radiating consoles
to give a robot life. There, a wax museum shows a tourist uneasily
turning his head, wondering whether he really saw Dracula and Napoleon
move and flash tiny eyes as we did, before he is eerily transformed into a
figure of wax. Another cabinet (one of many spinning tales of the future)
finds a scientist presenting his son with a metal dome glowing with
diodes. As it opens, a miniature rocket ship soars slowly up to the
ceiling, and the back wall parts to reveal a glittering futuristic city
beneath a canopy of twinkling stars.
From the detailed doll's house decors to the figurines of painted balsa
wood, Mutoh makes everything himself, including the metal gadgets and
computers depicting yesterday's dreams of tomorrow. In the workshop-
home where he lives with his wife in a quiet Tokyo suburb, the reclusive
Mutoh frequently works a 16-hour day. His fantastic preparatory
sketches and paintings are executed with the precision of a Dutch
primitive. Since each cabinet tells a story, the phasing is intricate — the
digital technology involved must be highly sophisticated. How, I asked
the museum owner Kitahara, were the computers programmed to
sequence the action? He seems surprised. 'His gadgetry often reflects
them, but Muttoni never uses computers. The Planet Theatre is only
electric motors and gears — in short, clockwork.'
En HELPWARE
 WORKSHOP
111 7\j! It
ft]
. .by
learning to speak the same language as
your computer. Steve Cooke talks macros.
SCIENTISTS DELIGHT in
telling us that we only use ten
per cent of our brains. The
same is probably true of our
word processors. Modern word process-
ing programs come with an awesome
range of features. WordPerfect, for exam-
ple, will not only generate automatic
indexes, footnotes, headers and so on, but
will even take two versions of the same
document, compare them and tell you
where and how they differ. Most of us will
only ever use a fraction of such features,
but it's nice to know that they're there
should we need them.
Despite this, there always seems to be
some niggling omission. Maybe you can't
print page numbers exactly where you
want them. Or perhaps the program won't
allow you to search for and replace font
codes. The good news is that there could
well be something you can do about it.
Most top-of-the-range word processors,
such as Word or WordPerfect, have their
own programming language which allows
you to teach the program new tricks. In
this article we concentrate on WordPerfect
5.1 for DOS, but the same principles
apply to a great extent to WordPerfect 5.2
for Windows (both these programs can be
run with OS/2 Version 2 and 2.1). If you
use different software, you could still get
an insight into how to use your own word
processor's programming facility (if it has
one: see 'Clever word processors', page 59).
Some of the concepts introduced in this
article may be difficult for absolute begin-
ners to grasp at first sight. If you're a
novice user, persevere and be prepared to
go back over parts of the text if you lose
EIHELPWARE
your bearings. It'll be worth the effort:
mastering the basics of macro program-
ming is the key to getting the best out of
almost all today's most popular word
processors, spreadsheets and databases.
Back to the task in hand. One thing
your word processor program won't do is
automatically generate a fax cover panel
for a document. This article tells you how
you can program WordPerfect to create a
fax cover panel at the start of a document,
identifying the recipient and supplying
other cover information. By combining the
cover details with the document, and not
sending them on a separate sheet, you save
on transmission costs and make it less like-
ly that the information gets separated
from the rest of the fax after receipt. The
program will also set up a new header for
each subsequent page, allowing you to
enter a fax reference number, a filename,
or other message.
The key to programming this feature
lies in WordPerfect's macro-programming
language (if you're unfamiliar with macros
or programming, read the 'What is a
macro?' panel on the opposite page).
First things first
Macro program listings are written using
the Macro Editor. They consist of a series
of keystroke codes (which will cause the
keystrokes to be entered into a document
when the macro is run) and commands
(that determine how the program works).
You'll find the commands listed in your
WordPerfect Reference Manual (Appen-
dix K), or, if you are using WordPerfect
5.2 for Windows, in the on-line help.

However, you shouldn't need to refer
to these during the following exercise.
Call up the Editor by pressing Home,
then Ctrl-F10. You will be asked to enter a
name for your macro. Type FAX (the
.WPM extension will be added automati-
cally when the macro is saved) and press
Enter. Now type in a description of the
macro, for example, 'Fax Panel'. Press
Enter again and the main macro editing
screen appears.
When you start programming a macro,
the command {DISPLAY OFF} is automat-
ically inserted in the first line. This com-
mand freezes your screen display during
the execution of the macro and flashes up
a Please Wait message, making the macro
run faster. There may be times where you
want to see the display changing as the
macro executes. For example, if something
goes wrong, it's easier to trace the error if
you can see what your macro is up to.
For the moment, however, you can stick
with the (DISPLAY OFF} command. Press
End to move the cursor to the end of the
line and Enter to move down one line. You
can use the normal editing keys (cursor
movements, backspace/delete, Enter and
Shift keys) to move around your program
document and edit it where necessary.
Hitting the right key
The first thing we will want our fax macro
program to do when we run it is position
the cursor at the head of the document we
wish to fax, ready to add the relevant
information. To insert the appropriate
keystroke codes, hit the Home key twice
followed by the up arrow key.
Oops, there's a problem here. Instead of
inserting a series of codes, you've moved
your cursor to the head of the macro file
you're currently creating. You need a way
of distinguishing between using the editing
keys to move around within the macro,
and using them to enter codes that will be
carried out when you run the program.
Commands under control
Reposition the cursor underneath (DIS-
PLAY OFF) and press Ctrl-V. This tells
WordPerfect that you're about to press an
editing key which should be inserted as a
code in the macro program. Press the
Home key, then Ctrl-V again, followed by
Home, and then Ctrl-V and the up arrow.
You've now entered the codes to move the
cursor to the start of the document to be
faxed. Press Enter (without pressing Ctrl-V
first) to move on to the next line.
You'll notice that the codes you have
inserted are enclosed in curly brackets.
Also, they are, apart from the first letter, in
lower case. Upper-case commands (such
as {DISPLAY OFF)) are inserted in a dif-
ferent way, as you'll see shortly.
The next commands you insert will
make the macro prompt you to enter some
information: who the fax is for, their fax
number, and so on. Then it will store that
information to be inserted later in the
appropriate part of the fax cover.
When a macro program stores informa-
tion, it does so in what is called a variable.
A variable is, effectively, an area of memo-
ry which you can name. You can then use
its name to refer to whatever is contained
in that area of memory. Filling the area ►
/31HELPWARE
What is a macro?
Instead of repeatedly typing your name
and address at the top of your letters,
most word processors allow you to
`record' the keystrokes and store them in
a file called a macro. Next time you write
a letter you can call up the macro and it
will 'replay' your keystrokes, entering the
codes for a bold font, say, followed by
your name and address (or whatever other
keystrokes you have stored) at the
current cursor position. This is called a
'keystroke' macro; it's ideal for
automating common tasks, such as letter
headings.
Keystroke macros are simple to create
in WordPerfect. Turn on the Record mode
by pressing Ctrl-F10 and WordPerfect will
record the keystrokes as you type them.
To terminate the recording, press Ctrl-F10
again. When you first create a macro,
you're asked to give it a name. You could
call it ADDRESS, for example, in which
case you would 'replay' it by typing Alt-
F10 followed by that name. Alternatively,
you could specify an Alt-key combination
and replay the macro simply by pressing
that combination.
Keystroke macros are limited to
recording sequences of keystrokes, but
most powerful word processors also allow
you to program more complex macros
yourself. These use special instructions
that cause the word processor to carry
out particular actions in a particular
sequence. Such a macro consists of a
series of commands and codes: you can
see an annotated example of this kind of
document, 'Your fax macro listing', on
page 60.
A macro program is stored as a
separate file. When you want to `run' the
program, you tell the word processor. It
will locate the program file and carry out
the instructions it finds there. These
instructions can be complex, involving the
creation of a complete document, with
formatting commands and information
that you enter via prompts during the
process.
A macro program listing cannot be
typed into WordPerfect in the same way
as you would type a document. You first
have to tell the word processor that you
are about to create a macro program.
WordPerfect will then call up the Macro
Editor which you can use to create the
macro program, a process we describe in
the body of this article.
 WORKSHOP
• of memory with information is known
as assigning a value to a variable. The
value may be either a number or a
sequence of letters (a 'string', which must
be enclosed in double inverted commas).
There are a number of WordPerfect
programming commands that deal with
variables. For example, {ASSIGN}, fol-
lowed by a variable name and either a
numerical expression or a string, will cre-
ate an area of memory under that name
and store the expression or string inside it.
{ASSIGNIfirstname-8— would store the
number 8 as a variable called firstname.
1ASSIGN)firstname—"Fred"-- would then
cancel the old value of 8 and insert the
name Fred instead. The tildes (— symbols)
are used as separators to distinguish one
part of the command from another. The
tilde is normally a shifted character to the
right of your keyboard.
Once you've stored the information,
you'll need to get it back. You do this by
using the (VARIABLE) command fol-
tro: elm
Wenstmeor
file fOSSIGN)ear'expr'
IBM)
Bescrtelloo Coo leader (Block append/
(Block Coppl
OFF)
Ime/(Rome/(110
TEST/company'fax.to.wih.cominser,
TEIDettolor.the.ottertlion.of,
TEIT/faxnum'Fax.00mber:,
(TECl/from'from:,
Olosert.srollIcs.11ne.and.00ner-peoel.toot'
(Groplics)51411.1(Estorlifater)iftter)(Eater)
(Cestraffnmt/14(Beld)Fon.lraosmossett(loldl
(Etter/aeler)(Fmst/3(femt)15
(C eeeee /fron•foo•ttd(Ester)amter/
((mall
Irl-B to Insert nerI kep 4S comnsod;
lrl-PlOp for mere commends; Press Emit Wm done
In the WordPerfect for DOS Macro Editor
the macro commands appear in bold,
while the plain text represents additional
information typed in by the user.
lowed by the required variable's name. So,
in our example, WARIABLE)firstname-
would 'return' (for use in a calculation in
the program, perhaps, or for printing on
the screen) the word Fred.
The (TEXT) command displays a mes-
sage on the status line of your document
and waits for you to type something fol-
lowed by the Enter key. When you hit
Enter, whatever you typed will be assigned
to the appropriate variable for later use.
Command performance
The (TEXT) command is one of the special
upper-case commands referred to earlier:
you can't type these in straight from the
keyboard. Instead, you should press Ctrl-
PgUp to call up the Commands menu, and
hit the letter T. The menu will jump to
(TEXTIvar—message— (you can also use the
arrow keys to select commands). Press
Enter to insert the command.
The commands menu remains in view
to remind you of the 'syntax' of the com-
mand (in this case, the command code
needs to be followed by a name for the
variable and the text for the message to be
displayed). After the (TEXT) command,
type: company—Fax to which company?—
and press Enter to move on to the next
line. Don't forget the tildes.
When you run the macro later, the
(TEXT) command will display the mes-
sage 'Fax to which company?' at the bot-
tom of the screen, prompting the user to
type in a reply and press Enter. The reply
will be stored in the variable 'company'.
Later the program will insert the informa-
tion in the fax cover panel.
M HELPWARE
Filling the gaps
You should now refer to the program list-
ing on page 60 to assist you in typing in
the rest of the program. We have just
entered line three (the numbers in the list-
ing and the comments on the right are for
your convenience only and do not appear
in the Macro Editor). Press Ctrl-PgUp to
activate the Commands menu as above,
and enter lines four, five, and six, which
will cause the macro to get the rest of the
details required for the cover sheet.
When you're writing a macro program,
it helps to include notes for future refer-
ence. Use the (;}comment— command: any
text preceded by the {;} code and terminat-
ed with a tilde will be ignored when the
program is running.
Press Enter twice to leave a blank line,
then use Ctrl-PgUp to enter the 1;1 code,
followed by the comment in line eight of
the listing, and a tilde. Finally, press Enter
again twice (to keep the listing tidy and
easy to read).
ilMamentl ummodlie
El• V(1* tie*
ao Adom
ft**
*O.
a.. bism gfinsill.• 142•E
q EOM q Mow. 11.*1 50-
iwr Q Loh FT
It..n a"' I Inw.1
11
WanrstloolEnrolor 27TIit £r
The WordPerfect for Windows Macro
Editor allows you to produce complicated
on-screen displays, such as this Envelope
Editor, which include easy-to-use icons.

The macro program now uses Word-
Perfect's editing, font and graphics com-
mands to insert the fax cover panel into
the document. You insert standard for-
matting commands into the macro pro-
gram with the function keys. This is fine
for simple commands (using F6 to insert a
{Bold} code, for example), but when
you're working in the Macro Editor you
may not be able to remember the exact
sequence of keystrokes necessary to navi-
gate your way through a series of sub-
menus. In our example, we want the
macro program to draw a horizontal line
at the top of the first page of our fax. In
order to accomplish this, we have to enter
the right codes for the menu sequence.
WordPerfect devotees may know the
required sequence of keystrokes by heart,
but most of us mortals won't. So, first
ensure that the Commands menu isn't
highlighted and then leave the Macro Edi-
tor by pressing F7.
Back at the main document editing
screen, you'll find that creating a horizon-
tal line with a width of 0.1cm involves the
following keystrokes: Alt-F9, 5, 1, 4, 0.1,
Enter, Enter. Easy when you see the menus
in front of you, isn't it? Now back to the
Macro Editor: type Ctrl-F10, enter the
macro name FAX and press Enter. You
will be told that the macro already exists,
so select the second option, to edit the
macro. You will be taken back to the
Macro Editor where you can enter line ten.
Don't forget to press Ctrl-V before Enter
to insert it as a code. (We need four Enter
codes because we want the macro to insert
a blank line after the horizontal line.)
You should now be able to enter the rest
of the listing. In line 13, you should, of
course, substitute your name or the name
of your company. The (VARIABLE) com-
mand, which appears first in line 14,
recalls the information asked for in line
four (stored as the variable `attn') and
inserts it in the fax cover panel. Note that
we don't specify the number of pages in
line 19; the program will count them and
insert the correct number later.
Header hunter
Pay special attention to lines 23 to 34. We
want to search for and remove all existing
header codes from the document and
insert a new one. However, we don't
know how many codes there are (if any).
Normally the macro will stop if it can't
find what it's looking for (and generate a
Not Found error message). So we have to
use the {ON NOT FOUND} and the {GO)
commands. {ON NOT FOUND) is used
together with another command to tell the
macro what to do if a Not Found error
arises. The {GO} command is more tricky.
Normally, when your macro program
runs it will start at the beginning and go
Clever word processors
The word processors below include their own macro or programming language,
which can range from basic to very complicated.
Ami Pro, Lotus Development, tel: 0753 532044.
LocoScript Professional, Locomotive Software, tel: 0306 740606.
Multimate, Borland, tel: 0734 320022.
Word, Microsoft, tel: 0734 270001.
WordPerfect, WordPerfect UK, tel: 0932 850505.
WordStar, WordStar International, tel: 081-643 8866.
HELPWARE
through each line of commands until it
reaches the end. However, you can make
the program jump from one part to anoth-
er using the {GO) and {LABEL) command.
{LABEL) identifies a section of your pro-
gram with a name, as in line 27 of our list-
ing, and (GO) causes the program to jump
to whatever label is specified. The logic of
this part of the program is explained in the
annotations to the listing, but see if you
can work it out for yourself first.
Run macro, run
The {SYSTEM) command in line 44 can
be used to find out all sorts of information
about the current state of WordPerfect:
the name of the document being edited,
for example, or the cursor position. We're
using it to find out which page we're on.
Common errors when entering listings
include missing out tildes or quotation
marks and not putting in enough {ENTER)
commands to take you out of menus and
back into the document. You should also
be careful with 'Yes/No' prompts generat-
ed by WordPerfect when you run the
macro. For example, in line 29 we want to
delete an old header code (if one has been
found). WordPerfect asks you to press Y
or N to confirm deletion. Leaving out the
Y would leave the header intact and cause
a program error.
Once you've entered the listing, type F7
to exit the Macro Editor. You can now
run your macro from within a document
by typing Alt-F10 followed by FAX and
then Enter. If for some reason it doesn't
work, you can exit from the macro by typ-
ing Fl. Go back into the Macro Editor
and check that you have entered the listing
exactly as shown.
Mastering macro programming is not
something you do overnight, but you
should now be familiar with the basic
principles involved. Try tackling one on
your own — and send us a copy on disk if
you come up with one you're particularly
proud of. We'll print deserving examples
in future issues of the magazine. ■
See overleaf for the fax macro listing.
 RKSHOP

Your step-by-step fax macro listing for WordPerfect for DOS

Instructions for entering this program listing are included in the main article. The • character indicates a space that should be entered by
pressing the space bar. Zeros are indicated by the 0 character to distinguish them from the letter 0. The Macro Editor automatically encloses
all codes and commands in curly brackets and displays them using bold type. Our listing does this too, so bear in mind that anything in bold is
entered using either a function key (for example, F6 for {Bold}), a Ctrl-V combination (Ctrl-V then Enter for {Enter } ), or the Commands men

1 {DISPLAY OFF} • Freezes the display during execution.

2 {Home} {Home }{Up} Editing codes are entered by pressing Ctrl-V, then the editing key.
3 {TEXT}company-Fax•to•which.company?.- We've put a space after each message so that when the user type!
4 {TEXT}attn-For•the•attentioneof:.- an answer, it won't butt up against the question.
5 {TEXT}faxnum-Fax.number:.-
6 {TEXT}from-From:.-
7 • The program ignores blank lines: they make the listing easier to rez
8 WInsert•graphics•line•and•cover•panel•text- • This is a comment for your reference and will be ignored by the mace
9
10 {Graphics}5140.1{Enter}{Enter}{Enter}{Enter} • Inserts a horizontal line 0.1cm wide.
11 {Centre}fFont}16{Bold}Fax•Transmission{Bold} • {Font}16 selects very large type.
12 (Enter}(Enter}{Font}3{Font}15 • Reverts to normal text then goes to large type ( {Font } 15).
13 {Centre}From•Fax•Ltd{Font• {Enter}{Enter} 0'. Substitute your own name/company name here.
14 {Enter}{Bold}To:.{Bold}{Tab} {VARIABLE}attn- Don't forget to press Ctrl-V before pressing Tab. Lines 14 to 18 us(
15 {Flush Right}{Bold}From: . {Bold}IVARIABLElfrom- the information stored in lines three to six to insert the recipient's
16 {Enter}{Tab} IVARIABLE}company- name, company and fax number (using the variables attn,
17 {Flush Right}{Date/Outline}1{Enter} - company, and faxnum) and the sender's name (stored in the
18 {Bold}Fax•Number:-{Bold}{VARIABLE}faxnum- variable f rom) into the fax cover panel.
19 {Flush Right}{Bolci}lotal•pages:•{Bold} The macro will insert the number of pages later, because the cover
panel and headers may change the length of the document.
20 {Enter}{Enter}{Enter} • Inserts two blank lines.
21 {Graphics }51 {Enter}{Enter}{Enter}{Enter} • Inserts a horizontal line of default width.
22
23 {;}-Remove•existingeheader.A•codes-(if-any)-
24
25 {Home}{Home}{Down} • Moves to the end of the document.
26 {ON NOT FOUND}{GO}continue-- • If no header found, jumps to line 34 (rather than display Not Found
27 {LABEL}search- • This label marks the beginning of the search sequence.
28 (Search Left}{Format}231{Search} • Searches backwards from the end of the document for a header coc
29 {Backspace}y • A code has been found (a Not Found error would have sent us to lir
34). This line backspaces and confirms deletion.
30 {GO}search- • Continues the search in case there are more header A codes. In th
end, a Not Found error will be generated and send us on to the
continue label in line 34.
31
32 f;lInsert e new s header • A • information-
33
34 {LABEL}continue-
35 ION NOT FOUNDI{RETURN NOT FOUND}- • Resets the standard {ON NOT FOUND} procedure.
36 {Home}(Home){Up}{Format}2312 Goes to the beginning of the document and creates a new header i
Headers will only be displayed on multi-page documents.
37 {TEXT}head-Type•in•text•fortheader...0- Here you.can enter the text you want to appear in your header.
38 {VARIABLE}head-{Flush Right}Page•{AB}{Enter} Press Ctrl-B to enter {^}3} (the page number code).
39 {Graphics}51{Enter}{Exit}{Enter}{Enter} Inserts a horizontal line. Make sure you press Ctrl-V before touchin;
the Exit key or you'll jump out of the Macro Editor.
40 {Format}285y{Enter}{Enter}{Enter} • Suppresses header on first page.
41
42 f;ICount•the•total•number•of•pages-
43
44 {Home}{Home}{Down}IASSIGN}pp-{SYSTEM}page-- • Goes to the end of the document and uses the {SYSTEM} commar
45 = to store the last page number in the variable pp. There are two tild
46 {;}Insert•number•of•pages•where•required- at the end of this line, one to mark the end of the {ASSIGN}
47 command and one for the end of the (SYSTEM} command.
48 {Search Left}pages: • {Search} {VARIABLE}pp- Finds the right place to insert the page number in the cover panel.
49 {Format}2315{End}•of•{VARIABLE}op- Inserts the total number of pages in the header A editing screen.
50 {Exit} {Enter}{Enter} Exits the header editing screen and returns to main document,
completing the macro program.

15 HELPWARE
 INFORMATION IS
NOTHING IF IT
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 LIFE

Wake up, it's tomorrow

DISTORTED SKYSCRAPERS, reptilian
monorails, metallic palm-trees — anything
is possible in Carlos Urbina's Impossible
City. 'I don't limit myself to things as they
are,' says the Spanish sculptor and painter,
who started using a computer for his
art two years ago.
Urbina found that new technology
offered endless possibilities for experimen-
tation, in contrast with the limitations of
static canvas. 'With the computer, you can
actually realise utopian ideas and give
them movement,' Urbina says. He uses
Adobe Illustrator, together with a photo-
editing package, which gives him the •
chance to erect his own fantastic buildings • •
• •
in Madrid's urban landscape. • •
Regarded as a rebel by the establish- • •
• •
ment, Urbina deplores the lack of imagina- • •
tion in modern-day architecture. 'In archi- • •
• •
tecture, as in politics, practicality always • •
• •
takes priority,' he says. 'There are so many • •
wasted opportunities.' • •
• •
Urbina's buildings can be topped by •• •

razor-sharp palm-trees, take the form of •

• •
pedestals, or, like a Hollywood film set, • ••

• •
hide vacant interiors behind ostentatious
• •
facades. 'Everything is a facade,' he says. • IN

• Of
`Like the society we live in.'
Urbina says that only the Japanese have
had enough vision to create blueprints for
the city of the future. In these plans, the
city soars up into the clouds and sinks
below sea-level, and transport runs many
metres above the ground. Urbina could
have conceived them himself... ■

e§HELPWARE
The Spanish artist Carlos Urbina's vision of
utopia is manic and hallucinatory, and echoes
urban plans already drawn up in Japan.

M HELPWARE
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 HOP

••••••••

4:••••41

woman and computer in your office is an

Installing a network in your office could save you island? Isn't it time that, whenever you
from scatter-brained admirals, dodgy old printers and your colleagues need to pull together
as a team, your office systems don't hold
and religious nuts. It could even save you your job. you back? Isn't it time, in short, that you
got a network?
Steve Cooke and Paul Lavin report. Networks allow you to share files,
printers, modems and software. They let
you send messages by electronic mail that
demand attention and remain on file. You
SCORE TEN POINTS if • You're trying to set up a meeting with can use them to schedule meetings auto-
you're familiar with any of the Joe (who's part-time), Jim (who's over- matically for whenever the required peo-
following situations: worked) and Jackie (who won't attend ple are available. Nowadays, networks go
-J James wants a copy of that report you meetings on any day with an 's' in it, for even further. Used with modern software
wrote for Admiral Simms. You save it on religious reasons). You give up. packages (such as Lotus Notes) they can
to a diskette, dash across the room, and • You phone Joanna about some trouble enhance the way in which you work, with
drop it on to his desk. He loses it. you're having with a client. Joanna's not group document editing, conferencing,
• There are four of you in the office and at her desk. You phone her again. She's in mail and fax functions.
only one laser printer. Luckily you have a meeting. You phone again. She's just left Although techies get a dubious thrill
one of those little boxes which means you for lunch. You phone again. She's in from discussing 10BaseT cable and 100
can plug lots of PCs into one printer. Well, Detroit. The client phones you. Unfortu- Mbps FDDI, having anything to do with
not lots exactly. Three. Someone has to nately you're in. You're sacked. networks can be a mind-boggling experi-
use that vile old daisy-wheel printer which If any of these rings a bell, isn't it time ence for the normal human being. This
can't print a capital F. Guess who? you stopped thinking that every man, article will help make it easier for you. It ►
 WORKSHOP
• explains what networks are, how they
work, and what they can do. It's then up to
you to stick a note on your colleague's PC
suggesting that you get connected. With a
hit of luck, it might even get read...
Know your LAN from your WAN
In the most basic sense, networks tend to
be grouped into three categories. The most
common type is called a LAN (for local
area network). There are different sorts of
LANs, but they all have in common a lim-
ited geographical spread. A LAN links
machines in a single room or building, or
conceivably on a single site — a small group
of buildings in very close proximity.
Big companies, however, may have sev-
eral sites spread around the town that
need to he linked together. This sort of set-
up is called a MAN (metropolitan area
network). Finally, large national or inter-
national organisations may use WANs
(wide area networks), which can link up
PCs, mainframes and other systems
around the world. A WAN may include
several MANs, and each MAN could
include several LANs.
This article deals only with LANs, but
many of the principles involved apply to
-RIIIRWT11111
J • Machines that need to act as resource
1111/111111/111111/1111 1011011111
It°
‘1
:H
,Iii.1141.111/1/1161--
---- '4111
other networks. However, if your com-
pany is big enough to need a MAN or
WAN, this article is clearly only a first port
of call. Installing networks over different
locations is a specialist job for skilled con-
sultants, involving many thousands of
pounds and months of planning.
Let's imagine that you have half a dozen
PCs in your office which you want to link
together as a local area network. First, you
need to decide what sort of LAN you
want. Your answer could depend on price,
your existing PC set-up, future plans, or
just plain irrational preference. So what
are the choices?
Share and share alike
There are two generic types of LAN. The
peer-to-peer system simply involves daisy-
chaining your PCs together, the basic prin-
ciple being that you all share your existing
resources. For example, suppose that
Janet's PC is linked to the laser printer,
whereas John's has a modem attached.
Once you've installed a peer-to-peer LAN,
whenever John needs to print something
on the laser, he can send his document out
over the network (printing it, in technical
terms, to a 'queue'). Janet's PC will use the
PS/2s are specially designed for use
as network servers and terminals. For
example. they include Micro Channel
Architecture (MCA), a type of electronic
data pathway which lets information pass
through your computer very quickly.
network software to print it out on the
laser printer, even if she's busy using her
PC to do something else. Similarly, Janet
can send or receive something via the
modem attached to John's computer.
This sort of operation is worth thinking
about carefully. For example, it implies a
subtle change in the role of everybody's
PC. In the past, each person worked away
on their own machine and had complete
control of it. In a peer-to-peer LAN, how-
ever, each PC may assume two possible
roles. The first is that of resource provider.
John's machine is making a resource — the
modem — available to everyone else on the
network. The second role is that of
resource user. Janet's PC may suddenly
need to use the modem, regardless of what
John happens to be doing at the time.
Peer-to-peer LANs don't just allow you
to share things like printers and modems.
Everyone on the network can also choose
to make files on their hard disk available
to other network users. You can even use
the disk storage space on someone else's
PC, or vice versa. The key word for peer-
to-peer LANs is sharing.
These characteristics have important
consequences which you should consider
before choosing a peer-to-peer network.
First, the advantages:
• Peer-to-peer LANs are all about sharing
existing resources, so they can fit easily
into existing work situations.
• For the same reason, they can cost less
to install than server-based LANs (which
we discuss below).
• They are particularly suitable for small
companies, or work groups within larger
companies.
But there are some disadvantages, too:
providers must be powerful enough to
provide the resource to someone else on
the network at the same time as being used
by their 'owner'. If you've got aging
machines, you could find yourself in

trouble unless you upgrade. Memory
(reckon on at least 4MB of RAM) and
processor power (a good 486 machine
should suffice) are both important.
• There is no centralised security or back-
up provision.
• Resource availability depends on the
relevant machines all being switched on.
• Interpersonal relationships become very
important. If your work group is nursing a
nest of emotional vipers, expect some
explosions on a peer-to-peer network.
There is inevitably some trade-off between
personal productivity and sharing what
you have with others.
As a general rule, peer-to-peer LANs are
at their most useful with work groups of
ten or less. Once you get into double fig-
ures, it starts to make sense to consider a
server-based LAN.
Bigger steps
If peer-to-peer LANs are all about sharing,
the idea of server-based LANs is that
everyone should be able to have their cake
and eat it, too. In other words, you take all
the resources you currently use — software,
printers, modems and so on — and plonk
them all in one big heap, looked after by a
powerful computer (called a server). In
fact, you can have more than one server
(you might have a printer server, a file
server, and so on) but the general principle
remains the same: people work on their
PCs and each person is connected to the
server, which provides centralised file stor-
age as well as other software and hard-
ware resources.
Server-based LANs offer a number of
different advantages and disadvantages. In
their favour are the following points:
• Because the server provides all
resources, Janet isn't going to find her
word processor slowing down when John
uses the laser printer (as might have hap-
pened in our peer-to-peer example above).
• Centralised file storage helps with secu-
rity. Not only can you have regular back-
ups of everybody's work, but you can
establish password systems to allow or
deny access to information.
• In some cases you can save on software
costs, buying a single multi-user licence
for, say, your word processor, and
installing it on the server for everyone to
use. This is usually cheaper than having a
separate copy installed on every PC.
• It is generally easier for a server-based
AA
x4 41
In a Token Ring network, information
passes 'around the ring' from one PC
to the next via the Media Access
Unit (MAU). The flow of information in
such a network is essentially circular.
Although Ethernet networks can be set
up in a variety of ways, they usually
have a linear structure.
system to tolerate network users with a
host of different operating systems. If
some of your colleagues have Apple Macs
and some have PCs, a server-based system
is probably your only option.
As you may have guessed, installing a
server-based LAN is a big undertaking. It
will certainly involve changing the way
you think about your computer system
and will require a lot of careful planning.
It may also involve upgrading your soft-
ware, hiring new staff (to maintain the
network), and investing either in a special-
ly configured server, or in a computer
which can be configured to act as a server.
If you choose a server-based network,
your staff will need to adapt. For instance,
a certain amount of discipline and on-
screen tidiness becomes important. ►
 WORKSHOP
Bayonet node connectors (BNCs) are
often used to attach Ethernet cables and
can be simply twisted on and off. Bayonet
node connectors are also commonly used
to connect video equipment.
• Everyone needs to stick to the same sys-
tem because everyone needs to access files
on the server. People can find this hard to
get used to. And if the server breaks down,
tempers sometimes fly.
All these pros and cons stem from the
basic principle of server-based LANs: cen-
tralisation. If everything's in one place, it's
got to work properly. On a peer-to-peer
LAN, if Janet's PC breaks down, there
may be a way round it. But if the server
fails, everybody is in trouble. In some cases
— where, for example, your company's
telephone system is wired into the network
(as it can be, allowing you to benefit from
special telephone services) — a network
failure can be a pretty serious problem.
For this reason, any company that has a
server-based network should consider ap-
pointing a network manager, who needs
to be either trained or recruited.
All this may sound like something out of
Dante's Inferno. It's true that server-based
Ethernet uses different sizes of coaxial
(see glossary) cabling; the thicker, and
more expensive, type allows longer
networks. Coaxial cabling is used to
connect your TV to your aerial.
networks aren't the easiest things to set
up, but a good server-based system makes
the whole thing worthwhile. Indeed,
the benefits of added security and disci-
plined working habits can make server-
based LANs a good choice even for
smaller work groups.
Physical considerations
Once you've decided between a peer-to-
peer and a server-based network, you've
got to take into account two other vital
considerations. The first is how you are
physically going to link the PCs together;
the second is what software you are going
to use to make the whole thing work.
In practice
Time to think
Ever since his travel business installed a
local area network, Tony R has been
getting more work done in less time and
can now think about expanding his
business. 'Telephones are an essential
business tool but they can be your enemy
as well.' says Tony. The firm uses its LAN
for company-wide electronic mail (e-mail),
which cuts down on non-essential
telephone calls, and increases the
accuracy of communications between
the individual offices.
'A lot of one- or two-minute phone calls
have turned into ten-second e-mail
messages,' explains Tony. 'With e-mail
you have a record of exactly what you
said and when. Telephone calls are
ephemeral at worst and at best breed a
pile of pink message slips that get lost
just when you need them,' he continues.
'You can also be sure that your message
EI HELPWARE
An inexpensive option, unshielded
twisted-pair (UTP) consists of two or
more single strands of wire inside a
plastic sleeve. UTP is also used to
connect up telephones.
The physical connection involves two
separate elements: the actual cable you use
and the system that determines how infor-
mation is sent over that cable. We'll deal
with the latter first, because although the
type of cable will affect your network, the
choice of data transmission system has
more serious implications.
There are essentially four technologies
for sending information over a network:
RS232, Ethernet, Token Ring, and Arcnet.
Of these, we are only going to consider
Ethernet and Token Ring. RS232 (which
involves linking up your PCs using their
serial ports) is desperately slow and is
continued on page 70 ►
has been received which is not the case
if the person that you are trying to reach
is away from their desk when you
telephone them.
'When you need to get some
information to someone else,' he adds,
'you can waste a lot of time calling back
if they aren't there. No one stays at their
desks all day long, but the network never
sleeps – it can deliver essential
messages regardless of lunch breaks,
trips to the loo, time off or late trains.'
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 WORKSHOP
The IBM HelpLine (pictured above) stores dealer – you just need to choose the actual
membership details and enquiries on a cable that's going to join it all together.
file server which allows all members of
the team to share the information. They Cable talk
use a Token Ring network with an IBM The cable area is a mine-field of jargon
PS/2 Model 95 as the file server. and there are several different types of
cable. Not all of them will work with both
Token Ring and Ethernet, so you may find
• continued from page 68 that your choice is constrained for that
therefore not best suited to modern reason. The other significant things to bear
work-group situations. Arcnet, although in mind are cost and connectivity (for
useful in its day, is now somewhat out- example, you may want to look at a cable
dated; it's slower than Ethernet and is that would allow you to incorporate your
no longer so widely supported by net- telephone system into the network).
working software. Unless you're a lunatic, a billionaire, or
When network boffins discuss Ether- British Telecom, you're unlikely to consid-
net and Token Ring, they often refer to er linking up your PCs using infra-red
`network topology'. That's because these beams or fibre-optic cables, though both
two systems actually dictate the structure these options exist. You're much more
of your network. The best way to under- likely to consider one of the options pic-
stand this is by looking at a diagram, so tured at the top of page 68.
take time out now to ponder over the
two diagrams on page 67. Deciding
WordPerfect Office 4.0
which system to use usually boils down
to some straightforward considerations.
File Edit View Send Action
Ethernet tends to be slightly cheaper, David Notwoo Me: :.5T7'. T ., or:
Token Ring is faster and can handle a r- ■ appointments
wgent
greater capacity of users. Ethernet is pop- 1:17j
, L'_-j message stan
ITSCIL
Ha,
ular where VAX or UNIX-based systems mapi
or T
are in use (see glossary), Token Ring is
favoured by users of IBM machines.
Once you've decided which kind of 13■
I*
network you need – with the help of pro-
fessional advice from your consultant or
File Edit View Jcn d Action Tools Window Help
2_1 David Norwood
rt-1 appointments
WordPerfect Office for Windows (right) is > mes sage stan
lab Mall
an example of groupware - software
designed for groups of people who work
on a network. As well as having •
electronic mail, the program can help Ltj
you to schedule meetings by checking Program
memos
your colleagues' on-screen work diaries.
EIHELPWARE
Finally, you need some software – the
network operating system (NOS) – to
make the whole thing work. There are a
number of programs on the market for a
range of prices. Your choice of NOS is
determined by whether you have a server-
based or a peer-to-peer network. Almost
all popular NOSs will work with both
Ethernet and Token Ring.
Decisions, decisions
Choosing a NOS is largely a matter of
compatibility (do you want a DOS-based
system, or are you using Windows or
OS/2?), future plans (Novell Lite would be
a wise choice if you thought you might one
day want to upgrade from a peer-to-peer
to a server-based system), and the features
provided by the NOS.
As a general rule, any NOS will give you
basic networking features like printer
sharing and passwords for users. Not all
of them will include electronic mail or
backup features. Once you've decided on
an NOS, you will need to choose the addi-
tional, or 'bolt-on', features that you'll
have to buy separately (Lotus Notes, for
example, or WordPerfect Office). In some
cases, you may find that it's the compati-
bility of a particular bolt-on program that
makes up your mind as to which NOS to
choose in the first place.
Typical NOSs for server-based net-
works include Novell NetWare, a popular
system, and IBM's Lan Server for OS/2.
It's worth mentioning at this point that if
you're going to follow the server route, a
32-bit system like OS/2 can make a huge
difference. Novell has recognised this and
David Norwood - In Box
Tools Window Help
110fi
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David Norwood - Out Box
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Selected 1 ;Total 0
 In practice
Remote control
Local area networks are all well and
good, but they're not exactly mobile.
However, if you sometimes need to work
at home or if you travel a lot, there are
ways to extend LAN capabilities outside
the four walls of your office.
SBA, a corporate communications
business, bought a PS/2 specifically to
act as a gateway (see glossary) between
its server-based Novell NetWare network
and staff working on portable PCs in the
field. The company had to install a
special card in the server to control the
communication flow and provide extra
serial ports (sockets) to accommodate
additional communications hardware.
With this set-up, as many as 16 users
can access the LAN remotely at the
same time, but for now SBA has installed
only three telephone lines, connected to
three fast 9,600-baud modems.
For what it's worth
'Our only complaint is that loading Network prices can vary greatly - the most important factor is how easily the
applications over the phone is much network can be adapted to your work set-up. To give you some idea, you could pay
slower than if we were in the office. We as little as £100 to link two PCs via their serial ports, but this wouldn't be very
are coping by keeping our applications on useful for most people. Installing Novell NetWare for five users on a server-based
our portables and only using the network network would cost around £2,500. This price includes an interface card for each
for smaller data files,' explains Doug M. of the five PCs and the software, but excludes consultancy, cabling, and the server
PC. Some PS/1 models are particularly suitable for low-cost networks. Otherwise,
you could try the ValuePoint range of PCs, which accepts many industry-standard
has implemented a number of useful links network cards, including Ethernet and Token Ring - see your IBM dealer for more
between NetWare and OS/2, allowing you details. Nowadays some PCs come with networking capability built-in, which can
to control your networking activities using save time and money. IBM's PS/2 series is a good example: see picture, page 66.
friendly graphical symbols (icons) rather
than tortuous commands.
A number of systems are available for Glossar
peer-to-peer networks, starting with the
cheap and cheerful LANtastic, moving on 10BaseT An inexpensive Ethernet local area network which works on UTP (short for
to Windows for Workgroups (lots of built- unshielded twisted-pair). UTP is a cable for connecting PCs on a network, consisting of
in or 'bundled' software) and Novell Lite two or more twisted wires inside a plastic sleeve (see top-right picture, page 68).
(a very flexible system with good opportu- Arcnet Attached Resource Computer NETwork. An early and popular local area network.
nities for upgrading). Choosing between Although it is supported by many vendors, Arcnet is losing out in the popularity stakes to
these different systems is not always easy – Ethernet and Token Ring on performance and price.
you can find more information in future Cheapernet Thin coaxial cable (see below) for Ethernet that uses BNC connectors (see
issues of Helpware Magazine. pictures, top centre and top left, page 68).
Now you know something about net- Coaxial cable Cable which contains an insulated wire surrounded by a second wire made
works. Before you decide whether to get of solid or mesh metal.
one, you probably want to know more Ethernet A networking standard that works over unshielded wire as well as coaxial cable.
about what you could do with it. Don't It performs at up to 10 megabits per second and is very popular.
miss future articles, which introduce elec- FDDI Fibre Distributed Data Interface. FDDI is a new standard for a fibre-optic LAN that
tronic mail and work-group computing as transmits data at 100 megabits per second. Very fast but very expensive.
well as network operating software. The Gateway A gateway connects one type of network to another, allowing, for instance, a
0 end result of installing a network should personal computer network to communicate with a mainframe network.
be enhanced productivity, but the installa- Thickernet Thick, and expensive, coaxial Ethernet (see picture, top centre, page 68).
tion process itself needs time and thought. Token Ring A local area network developed by IBM and adopted by many manufacturers.
It's well worth seeking expert advice from Each station transmits its information or requests when it receives a token telling it to do
a consultant (your supplier should be able so (see diagram, page 67).
to recommend one), and it's not worth UNIX An operating system developed by Bell Laboratories.
being stingy about his or her fee. ■ VAX A large minicomputer system manufactured by DEC.

ARE
LPWA
 Small, but
perfectly formed. The red keyboard button lets you find your wa
around the largest colour screen currently available cm
a notebook PC. IBM's unique ThinkPad 720C features
486 processor capable of performing at 50MHz. Am
PCMCIA technology. Using credit card size adapters, yoi
can now carry your modem and LAN cards in your walle
The new IBM ThinkPad 720C. Perfectly amazing.

• IBM 486SLC2 25/50MHz

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Pe,r0444

My dear,
what is
that perfume
■ their formulae in his head, and refines them
Ambergris, ylang-ylang, rose de mai, bergamot —
perfumers choose their blend of ingredients from
an array of 60,000. Fortunately, the human nose
has an electronic ally. Maude Merisi reports on
machines with a highly developed sense of smell.
HELPWAR E
LIFE
NOBODY LOVED him. He
grew up alone in eighteenth-
century Paris, without the
advantages of birth, wealth
or beauty. But he had one extraordinary
gift; a supernatural sense of smell. He
could pick out any odour, no matter how
faint, and memorise it perfectly.
This is Grenouille, the hero of Patrick
Siiskind's 1986 bestselling novel, Perfume.
Grenouille is an olfactory magician. He
hordes scents; he sniffs them, breaks down
in his quest to produce the perfect perfume.
Strangely enough, this isn't so very dif-
ferent from the modern perfume industry.
Although perfume now is produced in
industrial quantities, its creators still work
in much the same way as the perfumers of
hundreds of years ago.
Such creators are known in the trade as
noses. There are only a few hundred in the
world, of whom no more than a few dozen
really count. And of those few dozen, a
mere handful are geniuses, capable of
bringing to life a perfume that will truly
endure. Some scents become legendary,
like Chanel No.5, created in 1921 by cou-
turiere Coco Chanel's nose, Ernest Beaux,
and still going strong today. But to grasp
the role of a nose, you first need to under-
stand what a perfume is.
Making sense of scents
Perfume is 98 per cent alcohol, in which
are suspended as many as 30 essential oils
— pure aromatic essences distilled from
raw materials which give each blend its
unique fragrance. Bergamot, ylang-ylang,
ambergris, myrrh; these raw materials
have names as exotic as the perfumes
themselves. Many perfume ingredients are
not only exotic but also very expensive. A
kilogram of absolute (essence) from the
rose de mai Provencale can cost £9,000. In
the case of ambergris — an oily substance
used as a fixative in perfumes and found
only in the intestine of the sperm whale —
matters are even more difficult, since the
whale has long been a protected species.
Fortunately for the perfume business,
advances in inorganic chemistry in the late
nineteenth century led to the development
of synthetic absolutes. Not that these are
necessarily cheap; Civertone, a synthetic
alternative to the scent secreted from the
glands of the civet cat, can cost up to
£50,000 an ounce.
There is a bewildering array of such
products, as many as 60,000, which can ►
 LIFE
4 be combined to create great perfumes.
A nose will only have intimate knowledge
of 500 or 600 of them. This is where a
computer can help, by allowing noses to
draw on far more fragrances than they
could hope to know themselves.
Computers also play a role in creating
the particular blend of scents a nose is
triving for. Normally, the creator has to
perform numerous tests, varying the vol-
umes and combination of ingredients. For
each test the precise formula must be
recorded, a task that would have to be
done manually were it not for the power
of the PC. Since the perfumer may go
through as many as 300 formulae to create
a single perfume, computer technology
can be a god-send.
Most perfumers use a PC spreadsheet
for this purpose. Such software is easy to
use and means that formulae can be
displayed in a table (see 'Big ideas for
little boxes', Helpware Magazine, autumn
1992). Spreadsheets can also help the per-
fumer juggle with the constraints of raw
material costs, health legislation and the
chemical stability of the finished product
in a wide variety of conditions.
4' The PC and spreadsheet are invaluable
tools in playing 'what if..?' games at very
high speed, with such complex variables
as: 'What effect on my costs follows from
•
increasing the percentage of sandalwood
that I use and reducing the amount of petit
grain? What effect does this have on the
rate of evaporation of the perfume in
tropical climates?'
Large firms, which manufacture frag-
rances from the most expensive perfumes
.
F I • ' A
;.(1
40°P' 4
to the cheapest air fresheners, have thou-
sands of ingredients researched and logged
on their databases.
Technological sensitivities
But there is more to being a perfumer than
simply being aware of thousands of smells;
it is equally important to know how to
blend them, which is an art in itself. To
create a perfume is, fundamentally, to
transform a feeling or a vision into an
odour. Here the computer is unlikely to be
of much help.
Gabriel Fau is in charge of quality con-
trol and the purchase of ingredients at
L'Oreal in Paris, the world's largest per-
fume and cosmetics company. He says:
`How can a computer replace the brain,
the sense of smell... feelings? To do this
you would have to recreate human intelli-
gence, with all that implies about subjec-
tivity, emotions and taste.'
However, Fau doesn't deny the benefits
that computer technology can bring to the
perfume business. As L'Oreal's buyer, Fau
has to control the quality of raw materials,
which requires a precise analysis of the
chemical constituents. 'In the last 30 years
computers have allowed us to make enor-
mous progress in chemical analysis, which
plays a crucial role in perfume manufac-
ture,' he says. 'Technology helps us to
remain competitive and to innovate.'
Francis Bocris, who has been involved
in the creation of more than 300 products,
including celebrity perfumes such as Cher
and Paloma Picasso, shares this view. 'You
can't create a perfume unless you have a
fine sensibility and, above all, are a truly
 I1

cultured person,' he maintains. 'But com-

puters do help us to visualise connections
and to group families of ingredients and
smells when running tests.'
Some perfumers have also tried to get
ahead of their competitors by taking com-
puter technology into other areas. They
have developed programs which represent
perfumes as colours. The principle is sim-
ple. Each perfume is described by a range
of 'olfactory indices' from one to ten.
These figures make it possible to deter-
mine whether a given perfume is, say, very
`fruity', a little 'rosé' or extremely 'green'.
Ii
Visualising a perfume in this way can be
useful when talking to clients or sales reps,
who may be unable to appreciate the sub-
tleties of a first-class perfume. But then a
truly first-class nose is a very rare thing
indeed. Which is why Lloyd's of London
has been known to insure a nose for as
much as Ll million. ■

The bitter's off

A foaming pint of best bitter may not have quite as refined an aroma as Chanel
No.5, but to the drinker in the tap room its smell is crucial. It's important to
brewers, too, since they don't want to risk their reputation and sales by selling the
drinking public beer that is off. That's why brewers employ teams of tasters who
have the unpleasant duty of sniffing and sipping at batches of bad beer sent back
from pubs in order to determine what's gone wrong. If the brewers could have such
controls at a very early stage of the beer-making process, then they could eliminate
the problem altogether. The dilemma is that at this point the beer is so unpalatable
and smells so foul that humans can't really distinguish anything at all. Enter the
Electronic Nose (EN), developed by the UK company Neotronics.
The EN consists of a series of sensors linked to specially designed hardware,
software and PCs. The sensors react differently to different gas molecules, and the
computer technology tries to make sense of the resulting pattern of 'smells'. The
idea is that the EN will be able to tell the difference between good and bad beer at
an earlier stage in its production than any human.
Although only a prototype, the system has so far proved successful. Future
developments may include a neural nose, in which a network of linked
microprocessors with the ability to learn from their smelling experience will be
able to detect finer variations of odour.
In time such a system could become advanced enough to pinpoint the
constituent aromas of a complex fragrance for a perfumer. It may even suggest a
combination of ingredients to fulfil a particular brief, as in the sort of over-familiar
advertising blurb which enthuses about 'an innocent, fresh, but sophisticated,
optimistic fragrance for the young professional woman'.
Here today....
Tr'r WORDPERFECT 5.1
QuickStart
R WINIX YWS
OuickStart
WLN DOWS The Step-By-Step Approach

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Wordperfect 5.1 QuickStart
Hundreds of illustrations lead you
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AUTO At
Don't start up without it
Your AUTOEXEC.BAT file can save you typing boring old DOS
commands, help you recover that urgent report you just trashed
and wish you good morning. Ian Tresman shows you how.
YOU SWITCH ON your
computer only to be greeted
by the message 'I think,
therefore IBM'. Puzzled, you
wonder who could he responsible for the
witticism. If you had known about the
potential of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
the witticism could have been yours.
AUTOEXEC.BAT is a PC-DOS file
which should always be present on your
hard disk. To find it, make sure you are at
the DOS prompt (the screen should read
A uto e xt34ctit ? ?
C:>_), type in DIR C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
and press Enter. The filename is displayed
(without the dot) followed by its size, and
the date and time it was last changed. If no
filename appears, make sure that you
typed the `\ ' part of the command.
AUTOEXEC.BAT is an example of
what is known as a hatch file, so called
because it consists of a series, or batch, of
DOS commands which are carried out in
sequence. AUTOEXEC.BAT differs from
other batch files, however, in that DOS
---- in order to find a program.
HELPWARE
ORKSHOP
searches for it automatically when you
start your machine. Once found, DOS
processes and runs (executes) whatever
commands it contains. By adding the right
commands to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
you can customise your startup procedure
to include a variety of useful functions:
you can clear the screen, display your own
message, open up your favourite word
processor and automatically run programs
such as virus detection software.
(Batch files can do much more than just
run a series of programs. A simple pro-
gramming language lets you design your
own commands; see the black ski-run on
page 80 for an example. We will cover
batch files in more detail in a later issue.)
Your AUTOEXEC.BAT file is first cre-
ated when DOS is installed by your dealer
and it will include some basic DOS com-
mands. For example, the KEYB command
ensures that your keyboard is configured
correctly, rather than always defaulting to
the US keyboard layout, which, for exam-
ple, has the # symbol in place of the £.
If you have ever installed a new pro-
gram onto your hard disk, you might have
been confronted with a message telling
you that changes are required to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. One change may
be to include a reference as to where on
your hard disk the new program has been
stored. Such a reference would be kept
within the PATH command, which speci-
fies which directories should be searched
To display your AUTOEXEC.BAT file
on screen, go to the DOS prompt, enter
TYPE \AUTOEXEC.BAT and then press
Enter. There will be one command to each
line, unless the command is longer than
the width of your screen, in which case it
will continue on a new line.
If you intend to make changes to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file, always make a ►
 WORKSHOP
4 copy first. We recommend that you use
the DOS 5 EDIT program, or the older
EDLIN, both of which are described in
your DOS manual. If you haven't used
either editor, take a look at the green ski-
run on this page. Remember that you must
restart your computer before any changes
you have made can take effect.
If you delete your AUTOEXEC.BAT file
by mistake, you will be asked to confirm a
time and date next time you restart. You
will also find that your keyboard will have
defaulted to the US layout. Consult the
green ski-run if you need to create a new
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
Since this article can't describe all the
possible commands which can be included
in AUTOEXEC.BAT, we have highlighted
some of the more useful ones below.
Total recall
If you have ever had to re-type a long DOS
command because of a single spelling mis-
take, then DOSKEY can help you (if you
have DOS 5 or a later version). DOSKEY
is known as a memory-resident program
because, once executed, it remains resident
in memory until you switch off your
machine. It provides extra keyboard fea-
tures; for example, pressing the 'up' arrow
key on your cursor keypad recalls and dis-
plays the last command entered, saving the
need to type it in again. To use DOSKEY,
enter the command DOSKEY once at the
beginning of your session or, better yet,
put it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (see
the green ski-run). For more information
about DOSKEY, enter DOSKEY /? to call
up the on-line help.
My PC shell
If you're bored with entering commands
to perform trivial matters such as copying
and deleting files, there is an alternative. If
you have DOS 4 or a later version, the
DOS Shell allows you to select DOS com-
mands from a menu instead of typing
them in. If the DOS Shell is not displayed,
type DOSSHELL and it should appear. If
you wish the DOS Shell to be displayed
EIHELPWARE
Protection for
AUTOEXEC.BAT
Before you edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file, it's a good idea to make a copy.
At the DOS prompt, enter:
COPY \AUTOEXEC.BAT
\AUTOEXEC.CPY
If you get the error message 'File
not found – AUTOEXEC.BAT', then •!
check that the DOS prompt reads C:>.
If it does, then your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file may be missing. Refer to your DOS
manual, or contact your technical
support representative (HelpClub
members can contact the HelpLine
at any time).
If you find that you have made a
change to AUTOEXEC.BAT which
causes unexpected effects, you can
restore the original version from the
copy you've just made. To do this,
you enter:
COPY \AUTOEXEC.CPY
\AUTOEXEC.BAT
You will need to restart your
computer to recall the original version.
As a further precaution, you can
protect your AUTOEXEC.BAT (and
your CONFIG.SYS) files against
unauthorised changes by making them
'read-only'. This attribute of files
means that you can look at (read)
them, but not write to (change) them. A
To make your AUTOEXEC.BAT read
only, enter:
ATTRIB +R \AUTOEXEC.BAT
To restore your file so that you can
both read and write to it, enter:
ATTRIB -R \AUTOEXEC.BAT
(For more information on the ATTRIB
command, see your DOS manual.)
The EDLIN (Line Editor) program
supplied with DOS allows you to edit
your CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT and
other batch files. If you have DOS 5 or
a later version, you can use the EDIT
program supplied with your version of
DOS. Don't try to edit these with your
favourite word processor, unless it
supports 'non-document' mode.
(Documents allow a line of text to
wrap around on to the next line,
non-documents don't.)
automatically (if it isn't already) enter the
I
(Anil otei-eite
DOSSHELL command at the end of your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Mouse nous
If your computer needs a command before
a/but-ewe
you can use a mouse, put the command in
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. For example,
if you need to type in VMOUSE each time
you start your computer, put VMOUSE on
a new line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Echo location
The ECHO command is used to show
your own messages on screen. For exam-
ple, ECHO HELLO will flash up HELLO
on screen. Any messages entered into your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file will be displayed
automatically at startup time. ECHO has
another use, too. As DOS reads through a
batch file, it displays, or 'echoes', each
command on screen. The command
ECHO OFF turns off this feature, and all
commands after it are not displayed.
Alternatively, if you have DOS 3.3, or a
later version, any command preceded by
@ will also not he displayed.

Quirky Qwerty
If you intend to use a non-US keyboard,
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file has to include
the KEYB command followed by a lan-
guage-specific code. KEYB UK, for exam-
ple, has the two-letter code UK, which
indicates that a UK keyboard layout is
selected. (Versions of DOS prior to 3.3
have no space between the command and
code: KEYBUK.) To discover which key-
board layout is currently active, just enter
KEYB at the DOS prompt. To discover
which additional layouts are available,
look up KEYB in your DOS manual. For
example, to change your UK keyboard
layout to French, enter KEYB FR.
Pause for thought
If your AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains
commands which display so many mes-
sages that they scroll off the screen, you
may wish to halt the process temporarily.
The command PAUSE does this and dis-
plays on screen 'Press any key to continue'.
In the mode
The MODE command sets up your key-
board, screen display and printer. It is one
of the more complicated commands, and
is described in your DOS manual. Outside
the US, this command selects country-
specific character sets called code pages.
Luckily, when DOS is first installed, the
command is automatically placed in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file for you.
Thanks for the memory
Since memory-resident programs reside in
memory, they leave less memory available
for other programs. LOADHIGH places
memory-resident programs (for example,
PRINT, DOSKEY and FASTOPEN) into
what is known as high memory, leaving
more conventional memory available for
your programs. (Your PC will only have
high memory if it has more than 1MB of
RAM.) To move DOSKEY into high mem-
ory, enter LOADHIGH DOSKEY.COM
in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Also ensure
that your CONFIG.SYS file includes the
commands DEVICE=EMM386.EXE and
DOS=HIGH,UMB (see your DOS manual
for details). The EMM386.EXE command
requires at least a 386 processor.
Mirror crack'd
DOS 5's UNDELETE command can
recover files that have been accidentally
deleted, and the UNFORMAT command
can restore disks that have been acciden-
tally formatted. The likelihood of either
utility being successful is increased if the
MIRROR command is added to your ►
MUM
A file for
every occasion
Although your system has only one
AUTOEXEC.BAT file and one
CONFIG.SYS file, there may be times
when you want them set up differently.
For example, if you need some extra
available memory, you may not want to
install all your DOS utility programs. Or
you may want to use a RAM drive
during one session, but not another.
One solution is to have several
versions of these files. For example,
you may have a version for use with a
particular game, AUTOEXEC.GAM; a
version to provide extra memory,
AUTOEXEC.RAM; and a master,
AUTOEXEC.MST. To use the
appropriate version, you would enter,
for example:
COPY AUTOEXEC.GAM AUTOEXEC.BAT
and then restart your computer.
You could also make a menu of
different AUTOEXEC.BAT files (see
black ski-run, page 80).

HELPWARE
 WORKSHOP
Customised menus
It's easy to make your AUTOEXEC.BAT
display a menu which allows you to
choose at startup which programs you
want to run. For each menu item we'll
write a batch file which will run the
selected program. In this example, we
will have just two menu items: one to
run QuickBasic, which comes with
DOS, and the second to run a word
processor called WP. You can add your
own items in the same way. Note that
if you place the batch files in their own
directory, you must append the
directory to the PATH in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
At the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file, add the command MENU. This will
run a batch file MENU.BAT. Now use
the DOS EDIT program (see your DOS
manual for further details) to create
the batch file called MENU.BAT:
ECHO MY MENU
ECHO (1) QuickBasic
ECHO (2) WP
ECHO To select, press 1-2 and Enter.
This will display a menu on screen
much as it appears on the page above
(but without the ECHO commands on
the left), offering you the choice
between pressing '1', for QuickBasic,
or '2', for WP. Finally, we need to
create batch files called 1.BAT and
2.BAT, each of which will run one of
the selected programs when the
appropriate key is pressed. Both of the
examples consist of the commands
required to run the selected program:
1.BAT:
@ECHO OFF
ECHO Running QuickBasic
QB
REM When finished, rerun MENU.BAT
CD \
MENU
2.BAT:
@ECHO OFF
ECHO Running WP
CD \ WP
WP
REM When finished, rerun MENU.BAT
CD \
MENU
• AUTOEXEC.BAT file. However, suc-
cess isn't guaranteed: much depends on
how the 'accident' happened and how
much the disk has been used since.
Prompt response
The DOS prompt shows that DOS is ready
to accept new commands, and shows you
where on your screen to enter them. It is
typically displayed as the current drive,
followed by the greater-than sign, and a
flashing cursor: `C:>_'. If it does not, add
the command PROMPT $p$g to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The significance
of $p and $g, and other options which
include displaying time and date as part of
the prompt, are more fully explained in
your DOS manual, or, if you have DOS 5
or a later version, enter PROMPT /?
Shrewd remark
The REM command lets you leave a com-
ment or remark in your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file (as with your CONFIG.SYS file: see
`Confounded? Confused? CONFIG.SYS!',
Helpware Magazine, spring 1993). By
preceding an AUTOEXEC.BAT file com-
mand with REM, you can temporarily dis-
able that command when you next restart
your computer. This may be useful to save
memory if you do not need the features of
that command for a particular session.
Pathfinder
When you run a program by entering its
name at the DOS prompt, DOS looks for
PATH C\ Des; C\ Utits; C\T
"11 cLe- cur frAct4r...
EIIHELPWARE
that program in the current directory first.
If it can't find it, it searches those directo-
ries specified by the PATH command. To
see what your current path is, enter PATH
at the DOS prompt. Note that the DOS
directory is included in the path so that
DOS can find all its files. If you have Win-
dows installed, there will be an entry for
that as well. If you delete the PATH com-
mand in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file by
mistake, DOS will be unable to find its
commands, and it will display the error
message 'Bad command or file name'. It is
a good idea, therefore, to note your PATH
command, so that if you delete it you can
type it back into your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file (see green ski-run).
Ready, set, go
At startup, DOS reserves a section of
memory called the environment, where it
stores system information such as the
PATH and DOS prompt. To display these
settings, enter SET on a new line in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Other programs
may store their own information in this
space by using the SET command. For
example, if you have a sound card, your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file may include the
line SET SOUND A220 A7 D1 T3
which specifies technical data. (The word-
ing of the command depends on which
sound card you are using: our example is
for a SoundBlaster card.) The sound soft-
ware reads and, if necessary, changes these
settings when it runs. ■
C
 REPORT

Arabian
baiancui Where would we be without algorithms or
algebra? We wouldn't have satellites, air travel

act
or the Sydney Opera House. We might not
even have computers. It all began with a ninth-
century inventor. Cristina Manzano explains.

AT THE BEGINNING of Such problems in the ninth-century Al-Khwarizmi, 'inheritances, bequests,

the ninth century the caliph Islamic world were not simply tricky sums partitions and lawsuits, as well as com-
Al-Mamun ruled over an to amuse under-employed scholars; they merce and all the relations derived from
Islamic world that stretched had vital importance for many people on them, or where land measurement, canal
from Persia and Arabia, through North a daily basis. Islam, founded in the 620s, excavations, geometric calculus and other
Africa to Spain. In 813 Al-Mamun found- was a relatively new religion with intricate affairs are concerned'. This wasn't just
ed an academy, the House of Wisdom, in laws on matters such as, in the words of sums; this was business. ■
Baghdad, and the city became a cultural
capital rivalled only by Alexandria.
Scholars flocked to the prestigious
centre of learning. Among them was a
mathematical astronomer, Muhammad
ibn-Musa Al-Khwarizmi, who was to
have a radical influence on the numerical
system we use today.
He wrote a study of the Hindu decimal
system, including the concept of the num-
ber zero (without which multiplication
and division as we know it would be
impossible), which the Arabs adopted.
The original Arabic work no longer exists,
but the Latin translation, De numero
indorum (the art of Hindu calculus),
marked the introduction into Europe of
Arabic numerals, and what we now know
as the decimal system. The system
described by Al-Khwarizmi was named
after him, reappearing after generations of
translation and linguistic deformation as
algorismi, and subsequently algorithm,
meaning a step-by-step method for work-
A mathematical legacy I
ing out a calculation (see box, right). Arabian story-teller Scheherazade has And if six shares equal £12,000, then
Al-Khwarizmi's most important work is died, leaving a £12,000 inheritance to one share is a sixth, or £2,000:
called Al-Kitab al-mukhtasar fi hisab al- you and to Ali Baba. According to her 3. a = £12,000 - 6 (= £2,000)
jabr wa'l muqabala, or The Cornpendius will, you are to receive five times as You get five times this amount, or:
Book on Calculation by Completion and much as Ali. How much can you expect 4. 5a = 5 x £2.000 (= £10,000)
Balancing. Thankfully, this book is more to inherit? In algebraic terms, letters are This simple procedure, or algorithm,
commonly referred to as Al-jabr (comple- used to represent the inherited amounts. solves our algebraic equation in just
tion), giving us the word algebra. Al-jabr We'll use the letter a to represent Ali four steps. A computer algorithm may
is believed to be the first book ever written Baba's share, and 5a to represent your be written:
on the science of equation, and Al- share (since you get five times as much 1. WILL = £12,000; YOU = 5;
Khwarizmi is widely regarded as the as him). As the total shares must add up ALI BABA = 1
father of modern algebra. to £12,000, we can write an equation: 2. TOTAL SHARES = YOU + ALI BABA
In Al-jabr Al-Khwarizmi invented and 1. 5a + a = £12,000 3. ALI BABA'S SHARE = (WILL -
carried out an exhaustive analysis of six The total number of shares is your five TOTAL SHARES) x ALI BABA
types of equation, which together form the plus Ali's, or six shares in total. Hence: 4. YOUR SHARE = YOU x ALI
basis of representing and solving a vast 2. 6a = £12,000 BABA'S SHARE
spectrum of mathematical problems.

HELPWARE
 WORKSHOP
Jargon buster
Your phrasebook for the land of gobbledegook.
n = noun
pn proper noun
v = verb
abbr = abbreviation
s1= slang
adj = adjective
acr = acronym
O
Operating system ir. Software supplied
with your PC that enables you to
perform everyday tasks such as copying
disks and deleting files. The operating
system (PC-DOS and OS/2 are typical
examples: see below) also performs less
obvious, but essential, duties; managing
your keyboard, computer memory,
display and other functions. PCs
cannot run without an operating
system. Every time your PC starts up, it
loads the operating system (either from
the hard disk or from a diskette if
required) before it does anything else.
Some PS/1 models (see below) also
keep a copy of the operating system
in ROM (see below).
Optical disk n. A disk for storing and
retrieving information using a laser
beam. The most common type of
optical disk is called a CD-ROM
(Compact Disc Read Only Memory). It
looks exactly like an audio CD and
uses similar technology. Information is
stored on the disk as a series of pits
burned by a laser. The information is
retrieved using another laser to bounce
light off the disk's surface on to a
photoelectric cell. Optical disks can
store very large amounts of
information (a CD-ROM can hold
around 600MB), and although the
drive systems are more expensive than
the older magnetic types, the cost per
megabyte can be cheaper. CD-ROM, as
the name suggests, is a read-only
medium; you cannot store more
information on it or erase information
put there by the manufacturer. More
recent technologies include WORMs
(disks on which you can store
information; although once stored, it
cannot be erased) and magneto-optical
systems, which use a combination of
magnetic and optical technology (on
which you can store, read and erase
information as you would with a
conventional disk).
OS/2 acr. Operating System/2. Designed
by IBM as the successor to DOS and
first supplied with IBM's PS/2 systems
(see below). Instead of controlling your
computer by typing mysterious system
commands, OS/2 uses graphical
symbols – known as icons – which you
select with a mouse-controlled on-
screen pointer (see below). For
example, to delete all files in a directory
using PC-DOS, you would have to type
in the appropriate command (DEL
*.*). Using OS/2 you would simply
select the file icons and drag them
across the screen and onto the shredder
icon. OS/2 is also a more powerful
system than the older PC-DOS – it can
make more memory available for your
software and lets you run a number of
programs at the same time.
P
Palette n. The set of colours available to
either a computer system or a
particular program. For example, if
you have the new IBM XGA-2 Display
Adaptor and compatible software, you
can display up to 65,536 colours on
your monitor at once, chosen from a
palette of 16.7 million colours.
Parallel port n. A socket on the back of
your PC, usually used for sending
information to a printer. It's called a
parallel port because it sends eight bits
of information at once – as opposed to
a serial, or RS232 port (see below),
which sends one bit at a time. Parallel
ports can therefore move information
about much faster than serial ports.
EAHELPWARE
Parameter n. Information, usually typed
in after a program name or operating-
system command, that may be needed
for appropriate action to be taken by
the software. Some parameters are
essential: the DOS COPY command,
for example, has to be followed by
at least one parameter – the name of
the file you want to copy. Other
parameters may be optional: the DOS
COPY command can be followed by a
second filename with which the copied
file will be renamed.
Parent directory n. Any directory which
contains one or more subdirectories.
For example, if the directory WORK
contains the subdirectory LETTERS,
then WORK is said to be the parent
directory of LETTERS.
PATH n. A command which tells the
operating system which directories, in
addition to the current directory, it
should search for commands and
programs. In PC-DOS, the command
is used in the form:
SET PATH.CADOS;CAUTILS. In
this instance the operating system will
search in the current directory and the
directories DOS and UTILS when it is
looking for a program.
PC acr. Personal Computer. A stand-
alone microcomputer designed for
home or business use, which includes
its own disk storage, display, keyboard
and, usually, connections for input and
output to printers and other equipment.
PC-DOS acr. Personal Computer Disk
Operating System. The operating
system supplied with IBM PCs, either
as a part of OS/2 or as an alternative.
See operating system.
Peripheral n. A device connected to and
controlled by the computer. Examples
include printer, mouse and modem.
Pixel acr. PICture ELement. The smallest
element of a computer display that can
be individually manipulated. On most
graphics displays this is a single dot.
The resolution (see below) of a display
is expressed in terms of pixels.
Platform n. A designated computer system
standard. The IBM PC, for example, is
 one type of computer platform; the
Apple Macintosh is another. Software
is often said to be designed for a
particular platform.
Pointer n. A small on-screen graphics
symbol, usually shaped like an arrow,
which can he moved about with a
mouse or the cursor keys, and is used
to point at and identify an item (an
icon representing a program, for
example) or a menu option.
Port n. A socket on your PC used for
sending and receiving information. See
parallel port and RS232.
Portable PC n. A PC designed to be easily
carried around which, in most cases,
can be powered by a rechargeable
battery pack as well as mains power.
Processor 11. Another name for the
central processing unit (CPU).
Program n. A series of instructions created
by a programmer which, when
interpreted by the computer, causes it
to perform a task. A program can be
anything from a short sequence of
instructions that will display 'Hello
there!' on the screen, to the millions of
instructions needed for a spreadsheet or
word processing package.
Prompt n. 1. A visual indication that the
computer is ready to receive
commands. For example, the DOS
prompt typically appears as C:>_
indicating that drive C is the default
drive for information and program
storage. The greater-than symbol `>'
highlights the position of the cursor `_'.
2. The PROMPT command in PC-DOS
can be used to change the appearance
of the DOS prompt. For example, to
display the name of the current
directory as well as the current drive,
type PROMPT $p$g at the existing
DOS prompt and press Enter.
PS/1 pn. IBM's family of PCs designed
for both home and business use. Each
PC is complete, ready to plug in and
go, and includes word processing,
spreadsheet and database packages.
PS/2 pn. IBM's premier range of
microcomputers featuring upgradable
processors, better graphics and larger
hard disks than previous models, and
the new standard for plug-in cards,
Micro Channel Architecture bus. The
emphasis on expandability helps lower
costs: you can replace individual out-
dated parts instead of buying a whole
new system. New systems also have
enhanced security and networking
capabilities and meet ISO standards.
PS/ValuePoint (PS/VP) pn. IBM's latest
system, using 386 and 486 processors,
is designed for those needing
high-performance from an industry-
standard machine. Uses the traditional
AT bus standard for plug-in cards.
Public domain n. & adj. Graphics, music,
software and ideas which are not
subject to copyright constraints, and
which may be freely copied or used,
are said to be in the public domain.
Public domain software libraries
supply such software, charging only a
nominal fee to cover copying costs.
R
RAM acr. Random Access Memory. A
way for computers to store and
retrieve information randomly, by
means of an indexing system that
allows rapid access to any piece of
information stored, regardless of its
location. This is in contrast to other
storage media (magnetic tape, for
instance) that provide sequential rather
than random access. RAM usually
refers to the memory chips in your PC
which temporarily store programs and
other information. See also ROM.
RAM disk n. An area of RAM which is
set up by the operating system to
behave like a disk drive, thereby
allowing any information on the RAM
disk to be accessed much faster than if
it were on a diskette or hard disk. The
disadvantage is that a RAM disk will
only retain its contents while the
machine is switched on, so any files or
information to be kept must be copied
HELPWARE
R
on to a normal diskette or hard disk.
RD, REMDIR v. Remove Directory. RD is
a shortened form of the DOS command
REMDIR. Both can be used to
remove a specified empty directory. If,
for example, OLDFILES is an empty
directory that is no longer required,
entering RD OLDFILES will remove it.
RISC acr. Reduced Instruction Set
Computing. A computer designed
around a microprocessor which only
needs a small number of instructions.
By reducing the number of available
commands to the bare essentials, the
decoding circuitry within the chip is
simplified, allowing it to run faster.
Resolution n. A measure of the amount of
detail in an image. The higher the
resolution, the greater the detail. The
resolution of a computer's display is
based on the number of pixels (see
above) it can create on the screen. For
example, an old low-resolution CGA
PC displays 320 x 200 pixels. The new
high-resolution XGA-2 system displays
up to 1,280 x 1,024 pixels. Printers
express their resolution as the number
of dots per inch (dpi). The latest laser
printers typically print 600 dpi.
ROM acr. Read Only Memory. Storage
for information which is not intended
to be updated. Most PCs contain ROM
chips that are preprogrammed by
the manufacturer and hold their
information permanently, even when
the machine is switched off. They are
normally used for storing information
which the computer needs when first
switched on — before it has had a
chance to load the operating system.
See also RAM.
RS232 adj. An industry standard for
sending and receiving information in
serial, as opposed to parallel, format.
Consequently, the serial port on your
PC is sometimes referred to as the
RS232 port. It's usually used for
communicating with modems, but
may also be connected to a joystick
or, occasionally, a printer.
Continued next issue
 Where's my file gone?
A hard disk drive can store thousands of files in
hundreds of directories, so it can be annoyingly
ot
difficult to track down a lost file. To make life
easier, use a variation of the DOS 5 DIR
command to search for it. For example, to look
1p
for the file MYFILE, enter DIR \MYFILE /S
(the 'V tells DOS to start the search in the root
directory and the 'IS' tells it to continue looking
in all the subdirectories).
s.
A friend in need
If you're having PC problems, a little difficulty
mastering a tricky software package say, then
you may find it reassuring to check that you
have sufficient documentation at hand.
Make friends and Computer Manuals Ltd stocks over 3,000
computer book titles, which should cover just
influence people about everything you might need. For a free
with our collection catalogue, telephone 021-706 6000.
of PC short cuts, Blanket term
handy telephone You will almost certainly have used *." with
commands such as COPY and DEL to refer to
numbers and ways all files in a directory. For the ultimate in
to cheat at efficiency, use a full stop instead. For example,
COPY A:. will copy all files from drive A to
computer games. the drive you are currently logged on to.
All relatives together
The Drives option in the OS/2 2.1 system
folder is much faster than the 2.0 version, and
provides an easy way to create a folder of
related files. For example, suppose you wanted
a folder of all *.DOC files on drive C:. From
the OS/2 system folder, open Drives, then open
Drive C:. Open the System menu (that's the
box in the top left-hand corner) and select Find.
In the Name box, type *.DOC, click on Search
All Subfolders, and click on Find.
Although it will take a minute or two to
create the folder with matching files, afterwards
you'll just need to open the resulting folder.
Ganging up
Many Windows and OS/2 programs have
hidden screens – called gang screens – crediting
the program authors. To see the Windows gang
screen from the Presentation Manager, select
About Presentation Manager. Hold down the
Ctrl, Alt and Shift keys, and double-click on the
Windows icon. Select OK to leave. Now repeat
the process, and one of several gang screens
will appear. To see the OS/2 gang screen, press
Ctrl, Alt, Shift and the letter 0 key together.
Turbo boost
If you find that your Windows word processor
is slow, it may be possible to speed things up by
not displaying illustrations. WordPerfect for
rIA HELPWARE
Windows has an option to disable graphics (in
the File menu), and can also display text in
draft quality. Both options will let you move
through, and edit, your document more quickly.
Information service
How much expanded memory do you have?
What type of video card? This sort of system
information is sometimes required by customer
support technicians if you run into problems. It
is available through the Microsoft diagnostics
program which is included with Windows 3.1.
MSD.EXE is in your Windows directory. To
run it, type MSD at the DOS prompt.
Do you copy?
If you need to copy a directory of files on to
diskette, the usual DOS COPY *." command
is a little clumsy if the files won't fit on a single
diskette. The command works fine for the first
diskette, but you'll need to copy the remaining
files individually since COPY *.* will copy the
same files. A better method is to use XCOPY.
Enter XCOPY *.* A: /M to copy the first
diskette. When you use the command a second
time, it will copy the remaining files.
So how does it work? Each file has an
archive 'flag' called an attribute associated with
it. This flag is set if the file hasn't been copied
(archived). You can check and change the
status of this flag using the DOS ATTRIB
command (see your DOS manual for details).
Quick eject
If you need to eject the current page in your
printer, here's a quick way to do it without
leaving your computer. At the DOS prompt,
enter ECHO AL>PRN (` A L' is obtained by
pressing Ctrl-L). To create a batch file that
does the same, enter at the DOS prompt:
COPY CON \EJ.BAT
ECHO AL>PRN
AZ
(` A Z' is obtained by pressing Ctrl-Z.) The
batch file is called EJ; to run it, type EJ at the
DOS prompt.
When in doubt, cheat
To get infinite lives in Batman (from Ocean),
type JAMMMM at the title screen. You can
also skip levels by pressing F10. To become
invincible in Fantasy World Dizzy (from
Codemasters), type IMMORTAL at the high-
score table. In RoboCop (from Ocean), pause
the game and then type BEST KEPT SECRET.
In Wing Commander, start the game by
entering WC Origin -k (WC2 Origin -k for
Wing Commander II) and you will get
permanent full shields. Pressing Alt and Del
together destroys the currently targeted ship.
 HELPCLUB •

Help
ware

■ Find out the latest news from IBM

by turning to page 86.
■ Win an IBM CD-ROM drive and a
copy of Chessmaster 3000 in the HelpClub members

HelpClub competition on page 87. can get a discount on

AutoRoute Express, a

■ Modems, sound cards, educational program which plans

your journey, then

programs, animation software, prints out detailed

route instructions.

diskette caddies and more, on offer

to HelpClub members. See page 88.
We fed the HelpClub's ■ Personal System questions answered
membership database
into the program in our selection from calls to the
MapInfo 2.0 (see
page 42), revealing HelpLine. See page 91.
that there are
HelpClub members
from the Shetlands
■ Join the HelpClub now if you're not
to Land's End. already a member. For full details
turn to pages 95 to 96.
■ HELPCLUB
View
WHAT'S NEW AT IBM? Pinkness, for a start.
Anyone who's spotted IBM's adverts over the
from
last few months will have noticed the presence
of that well-known MGM/UA cartoon
character, the Pink Panther. What is IBM up
I In each issue
to? Well, it wants to make computers, and
particularly IBM computers, seem less
daunting. Computers should play an increasing
role in our lives and the technology that IBM
will be bringing out in the next couple of years
reflects this. It's no good if people think of PCs
as complicated business machines, and the Pink
Panther campaign is designed to emphasise the
Michael Fox, friendly aspect of IBM computers.
your HelpClub What sort of technology are we talking
manager, lets Club about? And what sort of effect will it have on
our lives? This January IBM published a report
members in on the called New Horizons — the second decade of
latest news from the personal computer. It discusses the impact
that personal computers have had on our lives
IBM. In this since the launch of the IBM PC ten years ago,
instalment, find and speculates about how future developments
might affect our business, and home, lives. If
out why IBM's you're interested in a copy of the report,
turned pink. contact IBM on 0256 841818.
The march of technology towards new
horizons is inexorable, and one trend that's
bound to continue is the cramming of
increasing amounts of jiggery-pokery into ever
decreasing spaces. For instance, at last year's
giant US computer exhibition, Comdex, IBM
demonstrated a prototype of the Personal
Communicator/2 (PC/2). What is it? It's a
mobile phone; it's a fax; it's a diary; it's a
personal organiser; it's a computer. Amazingly,
the whole caboodle is the size of a chunky
portable phone and weighs less than a pound.
It should be available at a realistic high-street
price within months rather than years.
One of the many remarkable things about
the PC/2 is that you'll be able to make it do
more or less anything you want, by plugging
into it credit card-sized add-on cards. So, you
could add a card that would locate your
position using satellites, and draw maps of
where you are; you could make the machine
into a camera to store pictures in memory; you
could even turn it into a portable radio or TV.
The possibilities are endless.
At this rate you're probably wondering
whether in five years' time we'll all have thrown
out our home or office PCs and be carrying
portables around with us instead. Somehow,
I don't see it that way. I think it likely that the
PC will simply become a more accepted part of
life, just like your video or hi-fi stack. In fact,
EIHELPWA
your PC will probably be part of that hi-fi
stack. But there will still be offices and there'll
still be PCs, so IBM is making sure that it's
producing the PCs that people will want to buy.
The sort of developments that I mentioned
for the PC/2 are already visible on more
conventional PCs: add-on cards (for which
the Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association, or PCMCIA, defines
the standards); notebook PCs that take their
input from a pen rather than a keyboard;
power management technology to make those
batteries last a little bit longer; and direct
connection into the cellular telephone network
for you to transmit information while on the
move. The PC/2 merely fuses these functions
into a single portable package.
Multimedia is another area in which IBM is
heavily involved. Multimedia on the PC means
much more than just storing and retrieving
words; it means linking the words with stored
sound and images. That PC in your hi-fi rack
could be used for listening to the latest CDs as
well as for running the household accounts; the
screen could be used for viewing the latest TV
soaps as well as for catalogue shopping or
playing video games.
Two factors will make multimedia play a
bigger role in our lives: the decreasing cost of
the machinery, and the increasing availability
of software. To this end, IBM has recently
launched the IBM PS/1 Multimedia System.
The PS/1 comes with a CD-ROM tutorial
which uses live video, pictures and voice. It has
realistic graphics and hi-fi-quality sound. The
pack also includes educational software titles
and entertainment CDs, such as the Photo
Gallery which reads Kodak PhotoCD images.
MORI research, commissioned by IBM last
year, showed that there was still a surprising
degree of technophobia around when it came
to PCs. This underlined the need to make them
as easy to use as possible. Helpware leads that
effort, as does the magazine you're reading
right now. Emerging technology will also help.
Developments that are currently underway will
change the PC and the way we use it, until it's
as much a part of the household as the TV
and as much a part of business as the word
processor or typewriter. If we hardly notice
that we're using it, then we can't be worried
about it, can we?
RE
 Wdrive
If you caught the all cle on multimedia in the spring/1993
issue of Helpware Magazine, y • vrifirow,cw what delights await
you once you connect a CD- • your PC. Well, in
the issue we're gkcing you t hance q do precisely that.

IN CONJUNCTION with The questions Send your answers

IBM we're offering the win-
ner of this Helpware Magazine
competition an IBM CD-ROM II drive,
worth £500. Hook it up to your personal
computer and explore the fascinating
world of multimedia in sound, vision and
text. There's masses of material available
on compact disc, and since each CD is
capable of holding around 600MB of
information (the equivalent of more than
400 diskettes) you can really get to the
bottom of any topic you want.
To make sure that the prize doesn't doze
by your PC, we're also giving you the
chance to win some exciting CD-ROM
software. The software company Mind-
scape is offering the CD-ROM version of
its best-selling computer chess program
Chessmaster 3000 to the person who wins
the drive. Not only does this program give
you superb graphics, strong play and var-
ied tutorial features, it also contains the
voice of former world champion Anatoly
Karpov to give you analysis of great games
from the past. In case you don't win the
first prize, Mindscape is offering two run-
ners-up copies of Chessmaster on diskette.
To be in with a chance of winning, just
answer the following three questions.
" What does CD - ROM stand for? on a postcard to:
a. Compact Disc Read-Only Memory CD-ROM Competition,
b. Compressed Disc Read-Only Memory Helpware Magazine,
C. Compact Disc Repeated-Over Memory 5 Great Pulteney Street,
Q Which of the following is not a chess London W1R 3DF.
piece?
a. Rook Don't forget to include your name
b. Bishop and address, and the model of your
c. Cardinal IBM system.
Q How much information can be
contained on a single compact disc?
a. 60MB
b. 600MB
c. 6,000MB
Rules of entry
• The closing date for entries is 31
August 1993.
0 The prize will be awarded to the first
correct entry selected at random by the
editor of Helpware Magazine. The judge's ThinkPad winner
decision is final and no correspondence From the heaps of correct entries to
will be entered into. our winter 1992/93 competition, first
• Winners will be notified by post and out of the hat was HelpClub member
their names will be published in the win- Mark Neil of Writtle in Essex. This is
ter 1993 edition of Helpware Magazine. the first competition Mark has ever
- Employees of Forward Publishing and won and he plans to use his prize, an
IBM, and their families, are not eligible IBM ThinkPad 700, for video editing.
to enter the competition.

HELPWARE

HelpClub
Membership benefits
Every IBM Personal
System is backed by
Helpware®, IBM's
Warranty and Service
for Personal Systems.
Helpware is available to
you if you have registered
with the IBM HelpClub.
Through the Club, your
warranty is protected
and easily validated, but
there is much more...
■ At home or
in business...
Helpware's range of services
is designed to help you use
your new Personal System.
Helpware Magazine — sent
free to all Club members —
contains Workshops, which
take you step by step through
practical topics, together
with exclusive special offers
for Club members. And our
HelpLine offers friendly
professional advice 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year.
■ In a larger
company...
Helpware can complement
your own PC support service.
• Helpware Magazine offers
clear advice without jargon or
confusing technical detail. In
each issue we feature the most
commonly asked questions
from our HelpLine.
• When your own PC
support service closes, the
IBM HelpLine provides
valuable assistance to
end-users working outside
normal business hours.
• Warranty registration will
reduce delays and keep your
service administration to a
minimum.
How to join?
See page 95
• HELPCLUB OFFERS
OS/2 Version 2.1
9 112 1,:ir
The very latest version of OS/2 lets you run all
your DOS, OS/2 and Windows programs at the
same time in a friendly and flexible way (see
`Keeping good company', pages 50 to 51). If
your computer has an i386 processor or above,
There's something for
and at least 4MB of RAM, OS/2 Version 2.1 is
everyone in this issue's the operating system for you. For more details of
this special HelpClub offer, contact Bob Allen
HelpClub Offers, from mini- on 0285 641175.
modems to a vast assortment
Sight for sore eyes
of educational software.
Take the strain off your eyes and your wallet at
the same time by taking advantage of a 20 per
cent reduction on screen filters from Data
gem of a modem Sound. They are available in two versions
(Optik-Glas for flat screens and Fortuna for
We're offering 20 per cent off the PC Pocket curved screens) and there is also a choice of two
Gem fax modem from Dataflex Design. Avail- types of glass (Type 8 is darker and better at
able either as an external battery-powered reducing glare, Type 7 allows more light
model or as an internal expansion card through and is designed so as not to distort
(although this model is not compatible with the images on colour monitors).
PS/2), both can send and receive data at the V.22 HelpClub members can get hold of the
and V.22bis standards. They carry a five-year 14-inch model (ideal for the PS/2), normally
warranty and are BABT approved. Although £116.32, for only £93.06. Post and packing is
they usually retail at £233.83, HelpClub mem- extra; cost depends on the method of delivery.
bers can get hold of them for only £186.83. Please ring for details of other sizes and prices.
To order, or for more information, call one Orders and enquiries should be made to Paul
of the following numbers: Whitebread at Data Sound, tel: 081-883 6421.
Carl Mustad, Comcen Technologies,
South Wales, tel: 0792 589988.
Gary Hudson, First Stop Computers, World Atlas from Software Toolworks has
London, tel: 081-681 8484. 280 detailed maps, including South Asia
Peter Hunt, Omnidec Ltd, (below), and a database of facts on
London, tel: 081-767 4974. climate, environment and trade.
The Software Toolworks World Atlas
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ETIHELPWARE

13IN
Smarten yourself up
In conjunction with Children's Computing, the
HelpClub is offering big discounts on a range of
educational software for your PC. We haven't
got enough space to list all the programs, but
you can ring Children's Computing for further
information on other titles.
• Talking Classic Tales, RRP: £99.99, Club
price (CP): £74.99. Animated CD-ROM
story-book containing five well-known fairy
tales. Children can explore the story at their
own pace and listen to pronunciations of
individual words.
• Telling the Time, RRP: £14.99, CP: £11.25.
Bobby the Clown helps younger children get
used to the idea of telling the time. Clear and
colourful graphics and a cute character make
the learning process painless.
• The Playroom, RRP: £25.99, CP: £19.50.
Inside the playroom children can select from
one of six modules covering a range of skills
including maths, spelling and reading. Comes
with a book and colouring crayons.
• Bodyworks, RRP: £59.95, CP: £44.99.
Discover the human machine with this
exciting anatomical exploration program.
• Designasaurus RRP: £24.99, CP: £18.75.
Shows how dinosaurs lived.
• Reading Magic Library, RRP: £39.95,
CP: £29.99. A series of interactive stories for
younger children.
• Jigsaw!, RRP: £24.99, CP: £18.75. Improves
shape recognition and memory skills.
• Print Shop Deluxe, RRP: £54.99,
CP: £41.25. Make full-colour banners, signs,
and posters using 1,000 preloaded images.
• Spellbound, RRP: £34.99, CP: £26.25.
Develops logic, spelling and memory.
• Grandmaster Chess, RRP: £34.99,
CP: £26.25. Clear graphics, champion play.
• Mickey's Memory Challenge, RRP: £25.99,
CP: £19.50. Disney characters help to
improve memory.
• Talking Jungle Safari, RRP: £43,
CP: £32.25. Explore natural habitats.
• Mario Teaches Typing, RRP: £29.99,
CP: £22.50. Mario teaches kids to type.
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, DOS and
Windows RRP: £35.99, CP: £26.99.
CD-ROM RRP: £44.99, CP: £33.75.
Highly respected computer typing tutor.
• World Atlas, DOS and Windows, RRP:
£70.44, CP: £52.85. CD-ROM for DOS,
RRP: £99.92, CP: £74.95. CD-ROM for
Windows, RRP: £105.69, CP: £79.30.
The program includes 280 detailed maps HelpClub members can get
and a vast database of facts on climate, nearly £50 off the Pocket
environment and trade. Gem modem from Dataflex.
You can order these products from Children's
Computing by post or fax, or by telephone on a
special HelpClub order line. Post and packing is
£2, regardless of how many items you order.
Children's Computing, Unit D3A, Telford
Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX6 OTZ. Tel:
0869 322007; fax: 0869 325000.
Immunise your PC
Screen filters improve the
Prevention is always better than cure, and Dr sharpness of images and text
Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit is one of the best on your monitor while cutting
ways to stop your PC from catching a nasty out annoying glare.
computer virus. It offers protection from all
known viruses, while monthly upgrades keep
you a step ahead of the infections. Order details
are the same as for the educational software
offer above. DOS RRP: £99, Club price: £82.
Windows version RRP: £147, Club price: £103.
Tidy those disks
Why not keep all your diskettes safe and sound
with a lockable Lexmark Diskette Caddy? And Prevention is better than cure
why not keep 50 formatted Lexmark 2MB disks - so why not take advantage
in it as well? Normally the two items together of the HelpClub offer on
would cost you £119.65, but HelpClub mem- anti-virus software.
bers can get them for only £59.83.
Send your orders (cheques only) to Lexmark
International Ltd, Diskette and Caddy Offer,
Westhorpe House, Little Marlow Road, Marlow,
Buckinghamshire SL7 3RQ.
Sound explosion
Soup up the sound capabilities of your PC by
taking advantage of a discount on Sound Blaster
2.0 and Sound Blaster Pro expansion cards.
Both cards slot in to your PC and allow you to
link up your computer to external speakers or
headphones. The Sound Blaster Pro contains
additional advanced features for those with a
Remember
more professional interest in PC sound. Sound always to quote
Blaster expansion cards are suitable for PS/1 and
PSNP machines. Sound Blaster 2.0, RRP: £105,
your membership
Club price: £84 (plus £5 post and packing). ► number
eh HELPWARE
 HELPCLUB OFFERS
Don't get lost - get AutoRoute.
The HelpClub is offering 30
per cent discounts on route-
planning software.
Make your own cartoons with
Disney's Animation Studio
from Infogrames.
Fantastic voyages: HelpClub
members can get tempting
discounts on Hilton hotel
breaks in Europe and the UK.
All prices are correct at time of
going to press and are inclusive of
VAT unless otherwise stated.
• Sound Blaster Pro, RRP: £165, Club price:
£130 (plus £5 post and packing). Order details
as for educational software offer, page 89.
The long and winding road
Plotting your journey from A to B is simple with
AutoRoute Express from NextBase (see 'Ditch
the back-seat driver', pages 42 to 43). The pro-
gram is available in seven versions covering UK
and Eire, France, the Benelux countries, Italy,
Germany, the US, or the whole of Europe.
HelpClub members can get the Windows ver-
sion for £99.95, a 30 per cent saving on the RRP
of £149.95. The DOS version costs £69.95, a 30
per cent saving on the RRP of £99.95.
Orders by fax, telephone or in writing, giving
daytime telephone number and quoting refer-
ence HW693, from NextBase Ltd, FREEPOST
(TK 995), Headline House, Chaucer Road, Ash-
ford, Middlesex TW15 2BR. Tel: 0784 421422;
fax: 0784 420072. Don't forget to specify the
version you require. Visa and Access cards are
accepted. Cheques should be made payable to
NextBase Ltd. Allow 28 days for delivery.
Get animated
Disney's Animation Studio gives you the chance
to do virtually everything that animators in film
studios can do, and comes supplied with a num-
ber of figures you can adapt (see 'Quick on the
draw', pages 32 to 35). The program will run on
any PS/1 or PS/2, provided you have at least
6MB of free disk space and a minimum of 640K
of RAM. Although the price is usually £99,
Animation Studio is available to HelpClub
members at the special price of £75 (which
includes post and packing). Please make cheques
payable to Infogrames and send them to Lucinda
Bingham at 18a Old Town, Clapham, London
SW4 OLB. Tel: 071-738 8199 for more details.
Existing offers
Holiday offers
Get one overnight stay in a double room in the
Brussels Hilton, with breakfast, dinner and a
range of tourist discounts, for just £119 per per-
son. The offer is valid until 31 October (subject
to availability). For details and reservations call
0800 289303. We can also offer a ten per cent
discount on Hilton special discount weekends.
Call the special events department on 0923
246464. Discounts of up to 50 per cent are
available at UK Hilton hotels; call 0235 865656
quoting IB92 for details. Rank Hotels are offer-
ing 15 per cent off weekend breaks all over
Britain. Call 081-569 7222 for details.
riNHELPWARE
Training
Continuing our most popular offer, Ditec Inter-
national is offering up to 40 per cent off its PC
courses. Prices start at £99 plus VAT per day.
For details of dates and locations of the courses,
call Mary Ham at Ditec on 0272 273304.
Easy PC
Banish technofear with a range of education
packages designed to build computer confidence
rapidly throughout the family. Learn to type,
add up, spell, speak French and, amongst other
things, play chess, at a saving of at least £20.
The price for the Famipack, Discover & Learn I
(for ages five to eight) and Discover & Learn II
(for ages eight to 12) is £34.99.
Telephone Action Computers (0800 3333),
Hi Voltage (081-686 6362) or Byte Direct (021-
766 5559).
Golf 4
Turbocharge your golf by signing on at the Golf
Improvement Clinic in the heart of the City of
London and get your first session free. Contact
Katherine Stewart at City Golf, 35 Farringdon
Road, London EC1M 3JB, tel: 071-404 6060.
Insurance
National Vulcan is offering a 15 per cent dis-
count on cover for your IBM PC and Sun
Alliance is offering reduced premiums on Home
Cover, its domestic insurance package. Sun
Alliance has also developed Helpcare, which
provides cover for private medical treatment for
members and their families. For PC cover
details, write to Contingency Department,
National Vulcan Engineering Group Ltd, St
Mary's Parsonage, Manchester M60 9AP. For
Home Cover details, write to FREEPOST, Sun
Alliance UK, King's Orchard, 1 Queen's Street,
St Philips, Bristol BS99 5BR. For Helpcare
details, call 0202 292464.
Hertz
Get a 25 per cent discount on Hertz car rental
in Europe; ten per cent in the United States
and Asia Pacific; and five per cent in Australia
and New Zealand. For more details, call the
HelpClub on 0628 895222.
Printers
Lexmark is cutting 35 per cent off the prices of
IBM 4072 Execjets, the IBM 23xx range of
Matrix Printers and the IBM 4029 Laser Print-
ers. Call Tessa Black on 0628 899088.
 HELPCLUBI

Question§3(
Answers
The HelpLine provides HelpClub members with friendly
technical advice whether you phone during office hours,
at the weekend or at four o'clock on Christmas morning.
The following pages feature a selection of recent queries.

O Using the Disney Pack Brring, brring. `... Er hello. HelpLine? Can you tell me if a petrol-driven
Sound Source lawn-mower will interfere with my IBM PS/1?' Of the thousands of
Creating a new
questions the IBM HelpLine receives each week, the staff recall the
Bookmark for Windows question on lawn-mowers as one of the more unusual examples.
The team mans the phones 24 hours a day, all year long, even on Christmas day.
• How to use your lunch-times are the busiest,' says Grahame Mackenzie, who was with HelpLine
password effectively
when the project went live in April 1992. 'Many people think that lunch-times are
Restoring a deleted the quietest times, so they tend to call then. In fact we're very busy from 9am to
group window 9.30pm, with a lull between 6pm and 7pm.'
The release of IBM OS/2 Version 2.1 is a significant event for the HelpLine
Recalling the Works for team. Most major hardware and software releases increase the quantity of calls by
Windows Option menu
up to half again as eager new owners discover how to use all the new features in
Installing PC Globe the shortest possible time. Although calls can vary widely in length, 90 per cent of
all queries are resolved in under eight minutes.
to Upgrading OS/2 to What if no one in the HelpLine office knows the answer to a question? The
install TrueType fonts
HelpLine team will probably know somebody who does, either IBM technical
O Running Paintbrush in support staff or a leading software vendor, and refer you to them. So will a lawn-
black and white or colour mower interfere with a PS/1? The answer is that provided you're not computing
on the lawn, there should be no problem. ►
e Why and when to park
your hard disk

Supplying more memory

to your games program

DOSKEY and OS/2

et Free technical support

for OS/2 owners

Dialling into the IBM

OS/2 Bulletin Board

COI HELPWARE
 HELPCLUB
Sound advice
I enjoy using the new PS/1 Disney Pack, but
the sound from the Sound Source only seems to
work occasionally. Is it faulty?
V Probably not. For readers who don't know,
the Sound Source is a small box which comes
with the Disney Pack. It provides high-quality
sound and plugs into a PC's parallel printer
port. The printer, deprived of its port, plugs
into a socket on the Sound Source. The
problem in question occurs if the printer is
plugged into the Sound Source but is not
switched on. The Sound Source detects that the
printer is attached, and waits for it to give a
signal. Being switched off, the printer does
nothing and consequently neither does the
Sound Source. The solution: switch on your
printer or unplug it from the Sound Source.
`I have an IBM
Model 80, which I Damaged bookmarks
do not want anyone When 1 run Windows and select Help, I get the
else to use.' message 'Bookmarks are damaged; please exit
Caller WinHelp and delete WINHELP.BMK'. If I
press OK to acknowledge the message, I simply
get the same message the next time I select
Help. I have a PS/1 386 machine with
Windows pre-installed.
• 'Bookmarks' is a feature of Windows Help
which allows you to mark your place in the
Help information for future reference. All very
handy, as long as you exit Windows properly
(select the Exit option from the File menu in the
Program Manager). However, if you just turn
off your machine, the file in which the
bookmark details are stored, WINHELP.BMK,
can get corrupted. When you next request help,
Windows cannot read the file correctly, and
displays the error message you mention. The
answer? Do as the message says and delete the
Although calls can WINHELP.BMK file (Windows will create a
vary widely in length, new one automatically). At the DOS prompt:
90 per cent of all • Type CD \Windows [Enter]
• Type DEL WINHELP.BMK [Enter]
queries are resolved in
• To go back to Windows, type EXIT [Enter].
under eight minutes'
HelpLine
Security guard
I have an IBM Model 80, which I do not want
anyone else to use. Using the Reference
Diskette as described in my manual, I have
As a HelpClub member you can ring
M HELPWARE
enabled the Unattended Startup Mode. Shortly
after the computer is switched on, this feature
should request a password. Instead, OS/2 stops
loading halfway through and a message is
displayed indicating that VMOUSE.SYS could
not be found. At this point I can only switch off
the machine. If 1 disable Unattended Startup
Mode, the problem does not arise.
WO The Unattended Startup Mode is available
on selected IBM models. It is designed to stop
unauthorised use of your machine so that no
one can use it until the correct password is
entered. Until then, your mouse operation is
disabled, as is the keyboard (except for entering
the correct password).
After OS/2 starts to load, it looks for the
mouse and finds that it is disabled because the
correct password has not yet been entered. This
forces an error and the machine flashes up the
message you mention. All operation stops until
you respond. Although your machine may
appear dead, it is still ready to accept your
keyboard password: type it in and OS/2 will
continue to load. Unfortunately the use of your
mouse with OS/2 is now lost.
The solution is not to use the Startup Mode,
but to use the Automatic Lockup feature of
OS/2 instead. Display the Desktop pop-up
menu by clicking the right-hand mouse button
in an empty space on the OS/2 desktop. Select
Open Settings, and click on the Lockup tab.
More details are available by selecting Help.
Hide and seek
1 was working my way through Windows on
my PS/1 386 and I somehow managed to delete
the GAMES group window, and all the games
program icons which were in it. What is the
easiest way to get them back?
IN We need to ensure that the GAMES group is
indeed deleted rather than just hidden from
view. Small group windows can be hidden
behind larger windows, or they can disappear
off screen if you scroll the desktop window too
far. From the Windows Program Manager,
select the Window option from the menu bar at
the top of the screen.
The bottom half of the pull-down menu
shows the names of all group windows that
exist. If there are too many names to fit, select
the last option, 'More windows...', and a
complete list will be displayed in another
window. If the name of the group you are
looking for is present (ie GAMES) then the
group has not been deleted.
Select GAMES with the mouse and the
games window should appear. If the window
doesn't appear, it's because it's off screen:
scroll it hack on screen using the vertical or
horizontal scroll bars.
If the GAMES program group is indeed not
present, don't worry: Windows on the PS/1
386 has a quick way to restore it, and any
other missing groups. From the Program
Manager, select the File option from the menu
bar and then select Run. Type in WINRESET
and press Enter.
Exit Windows in the usual way and restart
your computer. You should find that all
windows and icons will appear as they did
when you first got the machine.
A choice of menu
When I first started using Microsoft Works for
Windows, an Option menu would pop up
every time I opened the program. The menu
allowed me to choose whether I wanted to use
the word processor, database, tutorial or
whatever. I inadvertently selected not to
receive this menu but to go straight into
Works. Can I get this menu back?
Yes! Once in Works:
• Select the Option menu.
• Select Works Settings.
• Click Show Startup Dialogue.
• Click Show Status Bar.
• Exit Works and restart the program. Your
menu will now appear.
Global initiative
I have purchased an IBM PS/1 Famipack
machine and am trying to install the program
PC Globe on it. When I select and run the
INSTALL option, an error message appears.
Are my diskettes faulty or am I doing
something wrong?
IIITo install PC Globe you must select and
run the file called PS_START and not the file
called INSTALL.
the HelpLine twenty-four hours a day,
Font of knowledge
I am using OS/2 and making full use of its
ability to run DOS, Windows and OS/2
programs at the same time. I have recently
acquired a couple of TrueType fonts and some
programs to take advantage of them. How do I
install the fonts?
TrueType is a standard of scaleable font
which allows you to specify text in a range of `We get calls at
sizes. However, before you can use TrueType all hours, even at
fonts you will need to upgrade to OS/2 Version
2.1 which includes full Windows 3.1 support
3 o'clock in the
for them. There are many other benefits in morning
HelpLine
upgrading; see 'Keeping good company',
pages 50 to 51.
Off colour
I have been using the Paintbrush program
supplied with Windows. The program used to
run in colour, hut now only runs in black and
white. What have I done?
Paintbrush allows you to specify whether the
program starts in colour or black and white.
Once you are in Paintbrush, select Options
from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
From the pull-down menu, select Image
Attributes, and then, from the Color section,
select Color. Restart Paintbrush and it will
open up in colour.
No parking
I recently upgraded my old machine to a brand
new IBM Personal System. The manual for my
old machine recommends that I type PARK in
order to park the disk before I switch off,
otherwise I may damage the fixed disk. But, `Whenever I type
whenever I type PARK on my new IBM PARK on my new
Personal System, it displays the message 'Bad Personal System, it
command or file name'. I have scoured my new displays the message
manuals for information on parking the disk,
"Bad command or
but can find no reference. I am frightened to
touch my machine in case I damage it. How do file name"'
Caller
I park the disk, and what is parking?
In the same way that a record-player has a
needle to read sound from a record, a disk
drive has a head which both reads and writes
your files to the hard disk. And in the same ■
131 HELPWARE
 HELPCLUB
• way that the needle (and the arm) is placed
in a holder for safety when changing a record,
the hard disk head is also placed in a safe area
when not in use. If your computer is then
moved, the head cannot damage the hard disk
and your valuable data. The process of moving
the hard disk head to the safety area is called
parking. Older disk drives required you to enter
a special command such as PARK. Newer fixed
disks, such as the ones used in IBM Personal
Systems, do this automatically when you turn
`Most major hardware off the computer, so there is no need for you to
and software releases issue a command.
increase the quantity
of calls by up to
half again' Game plan
HelpLine I want to run a game on my PS/1, but each
time I try, I get the message 'Not enough
memory to run the game'. Is there anything I
can do to get it running?
There may be. When you start your
computer, the first program that is loaded into
memory is DOS, meaning less memory is
available for your game. DOS then examines
your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT
files, which contain instructions to configure
your system. Some of these instructions also
take up memory, leaving less for your game.
You therefore need to prevent DOS from
examining your CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files. You can do this by
formatting a blank diskette (enter
FORMAT A: /S), and then restarting your
machine with the disk in drive A. There should
now be from 10KB to 100KB of additional
fr memory available to your game. If this is still
not enough, you may need to enquire about a
`I want to run a game memory upgrade from your dealer.
on my PS/1 but
each time I try I get
the message, "Not The easy life
Before I upgraded to OS/2, I used DOSKEY to
enough memory to make the entering of commands easier. How
run the game"' can I get the benefits of DOSKEY when I run
Caller
DOS under OS/2?
Readers who are not familiar with DOSKEY
should see the article on AUTOEXEC.BAT
(pages 77 to 80). OS/2 has its own version of
DOSKEY, but it is disabled when OS/2 is
installed. To make it work, you will need to
introduce a small change to your OS/2
three hundred and sixty-five days a year.
EIHELPWARE
CONFIG.SYS file. At the OS/2 prompt, enter
E CONFIG.SYS (E is the OS/2 editor). Look
for the entry REM SET KEYS=ON, and
remove the REM command. Select Save from
the File menu. When you next run DOS, you
will be able to use DOSKEY-like features.
Sorting out support
I understand that as an owner of OS/2, I
qualify for 60 days of telephone assistance
from the HelpLine. When does the 60-day
period begin: when I purchase OS/2; when I
first install OS/2 on my machine; when
I send off my registration; or when you receive
my registration?
You qualify from when you purchase OS/2.
Make sure that you send in your registration
now so that you appear on our membership
database as a registered customer.
Read all about it
What is the IBM OS/2 Bulletin Board?
The IBM OS/2 Bulletin Board is an
information exchange forum which you can
dial into using your computer, a modem, and
the OS/2 PM Terminal program (this is also
called Softerm). The bulletin board's telephone
number is 0256 336655, and the recommended
protocol is 8-bits, No Parity, 1 Stop bit (for
details refer to the PM Terminal program in
your OS/2 manual). If you need to buy a
modem, contact your dealer for advice.
The OS/2 Bulletin Board System (BBS)
includes a section which lists information and
programs: 1. IBM: Announcement Details; 2.
IBM: Software Fixes; 3. IBM: Hints & Tips etc;
4. IBM: Education & Training; 5. Progs: OS/2
2.0 Specific; 6. Progs: Announcements &
Demos; 7. Progs: Apps & Others; 8. Progs:
Compressors etc; 9. Progs: OS/2 Drivers; 10.
Progs: Editors & Browsers; 11. Progs: File &
Directory Utils; 12. Progs: OS/2 Fonts; 13.
Progs: Games; 14. Progs: from Magazines &
Journals; 15. Progs: Network Utilities etc; 16.
Progs: OS/2 – Recent Files; 17. Progs: Picture
Utilities; 18. Progs: Programming Samples; 19.
Progs: Rexx; 20. Progs: System Utilities; 21.
Progs: Other Utilities; 22. Progs: UK Uploads;
23. Progs: Comms & BBS; and 24. IBM
Employee Written Software.
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Helpware Magazine - back issues for New Members

N
Summer 1992
Using modems
Autumn 1992
Design a logo
Winter 1992/3
Mobile computing
Spring 1993
Graphics bureaux
N
N
Operating systems Spreadsheets Database problems Common PC problems
Letterhead design Printer pitfalls Presentation graphics Project management
Swapping disks and files OS/2 Version 2.0 Upgrading your PC CONFIG.SYS files
Disk drives Addressing window envelopes

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 FEEDBACK

d r--I \ - ‘ r-

LIFE Burning rubber As the

Grand Prix season reaches its
250kph climax we examine how
computer technology makes the
boy racers go ever
faster. Nip and tuck
Now you can try before you buy your hair-do,
nose job or make-up as PCs give you a glimpse of the future
without any of the pain. Painting by numbers Scientist Harold
Cohen has taught his computer to paint — with a brush. Are PCs going
to put the human masters out of business?
Blow your own trumpet, trombone, clarinet and
bassoon; linking synthesisers and MIDI software to your PC
can make you maestro of a million sounds.
WORKSHOPS Polyglot PCs Can your computer put
that letter from your Danish customer into perfect
English? We take a look at machine translation.
Under pressure Compression software can
double your hard disk space at a stroke.
Lights, camera, action! Jazz up your home videos by
adding titles, special effects and other professional
touches, courtesy of your computer. We show you
how. Electronic letters Putting yourself on an e-mail
system can speed up communications, cut costs and
increase efficiency. HELPCLUB Pages of
tempting offers, the latest news from IBM, and
your queries from the HelpLine answered.

PLUS Installing OS/2 Version 2.1, exploring

shareware software and a trip to Spain's newest
science museum.

ra HELPWARE
 AFTE HOURS
Silly software
Welcome to the page that thinks it's hip to
be trivial, featuring prize-winningly weird There's some unusual
software, cows galore and just a dash of software about these days. For
instance, there's About Cows,
late fifties' screwball comedy. a CD-ROM packed with cow-
related information including
cow history, cow trivia and cow
folklore. It costs £19 (£22.33
including VAT) and is available
from Optech, tel: 0252
714340.
Continuing on a bovine
theme, the winner of the
Grand Prize at 1992's Weird
Software contest, held at the
San Diego Computer Fair (in
California, naturally) was
Bungee-Jumping Cows. In
case you didn't know, bungee-
jumping is the pastime of
leaping from a great height
with an extremely strong
Coin-a-caption competition rubber band tied around your
ankle. You then bounce up
The paperless office? Don't make me laugh. Thirty-five years on and down in mid-air,
and we're still suffering from the kind of print-out overdose presumably having fun (though
facing Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in this scene from not if you're the Miss Australia
Desk Set (1957). As Hepburn worries that the electronic who broke her collarbone
behemoth pictured above is going to oust her from her job, our when she took a header into
question to you is, what is the lady in the middle saying to her? Sydney harbour after someone
Send your suggestions (witty ones and no more than 20 words) miscalculated the length of
on a postcard to Caption Competition, Helpware Magazine, her bungee).
5 Great Pulteney Street, London W1R 3DF. There's a Smack It, Bungee-Jumping Cows
`the ultimate computer stress reliever' (see page 13), for the best works with the Windows
entry (in the opinion of the editor). The closing date is 31 August. version of the After Dark
M'732- PARIS
I141 (3( I NEW YORK
i(onfOY ArviSrozpcim
j Go I 2.012..toll
tif- 0. 2. MA6OLLES
eft 12-7 tvilLim
ITIHELPWARE
screen saver (a program that
stops phosphor burn by
cutting out your screen if your
computer is left idle for a set
period of time).
With Bungee-Jumping Cows
you get very much what you
might expect: a screenful of
cows bouncing around on
rubber bands. Every now and
then a tether snaps and a
poor cow drops to the bottom
of the screen to become a
pile of hamburgers, steaks
and sausages.
Another prize-winningly off-
beat package was Aliens,
devised by Boredom Inc.
(which probably says a lot
about the state of mind of
their intended market). Aliens
asks you a series of multiple-
choice questions about your
neighbourhood, such as: 'Your
nine-year-old son comes home
with a new friend. Is his name
Danny? Biff? Fabian? Zondar?'
Your computer then works out
if your garden is a UFO landing
site and whether you should
stock up on tins and shotguns
and blow your life savings on a
fall-out shelter.
Tragically, at the moment
neither Bungee-Jumping Cows
(below) or Aliens are available
in this country.
I DELAYED
_ DELAYED
DELAYED
DELAYED
DELAYED
DELAYED
 IBM Dealer Classifieds

Help
ware VEeS Ilennett's
To reserve your ADECS Ltd Bennett's CIC Software Ltd
advertisement Venture Centre 155 Mansfield Road 26 High Street
please call University of Warwick Nottingham Merstham
Science Park NG1 3FW Redhill
Richard Ward Coventry CV4 7EZ Surrey RH1 3EA
Salesteem
Russell Square House Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM:
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London WCIB 5AE PS Notebooks PS Notebooks

Tel: 071-333 8901 Tel: 0203 692313 Tel: 0602 470470 Tel: 0737 644829
Fax: 071-333 8899 Fax: 0203 410428 Fax: 0602 474123 Fax: 0737 645570

Independent

Computer
KEATES
Business Machines Limited microsmiths
----- Solutions
------

Communication Systems Ltd
Rue a la Dame 36-38 Carnaby Street
St Saviour
Jersey, JE2 7NH
Channel Islands
Authorised for IBM:
PS11; PS/VP; PS/2;
PS Notebooks
Tel: 0534 68321
Fax: 0534 21755
ICOS Ltd Keates Business Machines Microsmiths Ltd
45 Brunswick Centre 8 The Green
London London Newport Pagnell
W1V 1PD WC1N 1AP Milton Keynes
Bucks MK16 OJW
Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM:
P5/1; PSIVP; PS/2; PS/I; PS/2; PS Notebooks PSI1; PSIVP; PS/2;
PS Notebooks PS Notebooks
Tel: 071-494 0010 Tel: 071 837 2672 Tel: 0908 211234
Fax: 071- 494 2780 Fax: 071 837 5279 Fax: 0908 211123

Microsystems
Nelson
Computer NETWORKING

Microsystems Centre
services
Nelson Computer Services Padhanis Computer Centre Personal Networking Ltd
(Slough) Ltd St Johns Court International Springfield House
Systems House Bacup Road 70 High Street Pipers Road
Petersfield Avenue Rawtenstall Edgware Redditch
Slough SL2 5EL Lanes BB4 7PA Middx HA8 7EJ B98 OHV
Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM:
PSII; PSIVP; PS/2; PS/l; PS/VP; PS/2; PS11; PSIVP; P5/2: PSI1; PSIVP; PS/2:
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Tel: 0753 820055 Tel: 0706 217755 Tel: 081-952 2051 Tel: 0527 23811
Fax: 0753 694463 Fax: 0706 212597 Fax: 081-951 5091 Fax: 0527 28329

6D
Stothers & Hardy
2,0 / 20
(Henley) Ltd. sy stems

RAD Systems Stothers & Hardy (Henley) Ltd
Business Technology Centre
111 High Street
Wealdstone, Harrow
Middx HA3 5DL
Authorised for IBM:
PS11; PSIVP; PS/2;
PS Notebooks
Tel: 081-863 2559
Fax: 081-427 1945
Yorkside Personal 20/20 Systems (Fife) Ltd
64 Bell Street Computers 12 Woodend Industrial Est.
Henley-on-Thames 48 Westfield Road Cowdenbeath
Oxfordshire Horbury, Wakefield Fife KY4 8HW
RG9 2BN West Yorks WF4 6HD
Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM: Authorised for IBM:
PS/I; PSIVP; PS/2; PSIVP; PS/2; PS Notebooks PSII; PS?VP; PS/2;
PS Notebooks PS Notebooks
Tel: 0491 410005 Tel: 0924 263911 Tel: 0383 515131
Fax: 0491 410765 Contact David Riggall Fax: 0383 515017
 QEMM 3 86 •
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For DOS 3,4,5 & 6. Compatible with Windows 3.0, 3.1 & WFW.
ROMs: System,

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Quarterdeck Office Systems UK Limited: Widford Hall, Widford Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8TD Tel: (0245) 496699 Fax: (0245) 495284
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QEMM•386 v.6 RRP 09.95 Ex V.A.T. Price includes Quarterdeck Manifest. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. E&OE. ©1992 Quarterdeck Office Systems