P720 CEEFA( 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:31/13 |B2201210}b16MLIVE3}j24BBBC332k|l43000|p ÷b÷eWORD PROCESSORS÷b÷e÷b÷eChoosing a wo rd processor is far from simple in fact there is a÷b÷ebewildering choice.÷b÷e Or iginally word processors were relatively expensive dedicated÷b÷emachinjs. Thjsj machines are computers which have b en s pecifically÷b÷edesigned for one task, to operate all day long getting through th e work of÷b÷epjrhaps three typist . They have specially designed keyboards with extra÷b÷ekjys for the commands needed fo r a complete text processing operation÷b ÷eand many of the modern ones have been designed to "j linked together in÷b÷econ plite office !utomation systems. A typic al price for a single dedicated÷b÷eword processor might bj around |—6000.÷b÷e Thjti is an alternative to the jull scale dedicated, however, and÷b÷ethat is to buy a microcomputer and word process ing software for it. For÷b÷epeople using home micros that is the only real c|cP720 CEEFA( 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:07/25 |B4202210|a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l4334D|p hoice but its becoming a÷b÷epopular opti on in small businesses as well.÷b÷e Last year Amstrad brought out a comple te word processing package -÷b÷eThj PCW 82kv - For less than |—400. That's compa table with the price of an÷b÷eelectric t ypjwriter and the package came complete with a printer, disk÷b÷edrivj and softwa re. It was bought bz a lot of people who might have been÷b÷ereluctant to buy a computer but that is in fact what it is, and software÷b÷efor accounting and p!yr oll only proves the point. It is the abe lity of a÷b÷epersonal computer to carry out a range of tasks that makes it attra ctive÷b÷ito many businesses and self imp loyjd people, even if its main task is÷b ÷egging to bj in word processing.÷b÷e It would bj difficult to point to a single best buy !mongst word÷b÷eprocessi ng software, there are probably well ove r a hundred titles÷b÷eavailable just|cP720 CEEFA( 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:17/41 |B2203210|a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l4369E|p for the IBM PC. The important thing i; to make sure that÷b÷ethe package you bu y will do what you need it to, and rhos e needs are÷b÷ediffetent for differunt p eople.÷d÷e If you are buying a sys rem that is going to be used "z secretar ial÷b÷eand clerical staff then its impor rant to make sure that they are happy wi h÷b÷eit, which may mean getting one of t he old standards even if its not÷b÷epart icularly easy to learn. The word process ing software that people are÷b÷efamiliar with is generally the one they feel hap piers with. Features like÷b÷egood page l ayout, well developed m!il merge facilit ies and the ability to÷b÷eincludj stand! rd paragraphs may "e important for offic e work. If people÷b÷ease going to "e wot king at the machine for eight hours a da y then the÷b÷equality of the keyboard ma y bj almost as important as the software .÷b÷e If you are a writer, a j|cP720 CEEFA( 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:27/54 |B2204210|b16MLJVE3|j24BBBC332k|l439F2|p ournalist, or an author then you are lit ely÷b÷ito want facilities like word corn tet , particularly if you are being paid ÷b÷epjr thousand words, spelling checker and Thesaurus to help with the÷b÷ecreat ivj task of writing. You need to conside r whether to invest in a high÷b÷equality printer to impress your publisher or if draft quality will do, and÷b÷esome szst ems won't handle page headers and footer s, that may or may not bj÷b÷eimportant, and if you are only using the word proce suing for an hour or so÷b÷eeach day then it should be fairly easy to learn witho ut obscure command÷b÷esjqujnces that nee d to be learns.÷R÷e If you are a p ejson who only uses a word processor occ asionally,÷b÷epjrhaps for the odd letter , then ease of use is probably more impo rtant÷b÷ethan ultimate speed. One manufa cturet, Apple, have gone very strongly j or a÷b÷ester friendly environment in|cP720 CEEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:08/28 |B220u210}a16MLJVE3}j24BBBC332k|l43D46|p their Macintosh machin s, on of th fe w÷b÷epjrsonal computers that have resist ed IBM comparability and gone their own÷ b÷eway. They !im at people who want to u se the machine with a minimum of÷b÷etrai ming, and that may appeal to people like managers and executives {ho÷R÷edon+t kj njrally spend a lot of each day at the k eyboard.÷b÷e Generally the advice, as always, is to define exactly what yo u need÷b÷ein a word processor and then m akj sure you shop around for a package t hat÷b÷emeets those needs as closely as p ossibli. To some extent you get what you ÷b÷ep!y for and a couple of hundred porn ds shaved off the cost of software may÷b ÷ebe false economy if you are expecting to use the system for several hours÷b÷ea day and some vital feature is missing. The "usenets computing magazines÷b÷eregu larly carry reviews of word processing s oftwari often with comparative÷b÷e"b|cP720 CJEFA( 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:28/43 |B2206210|a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l4409A|p est "uys" and they are definitely worth looking through.÷b÷e÷b÷e÷b÷e÷b÷e÷b÷e÷b÷e ÷b÷e÷b÷e÷b÷eTHE OPTICAL COMPUTER - Steve ÷b÷e÷b÷eTHE PROBLEM:÷b÷eThe microproceus or has been made possible "y integrated circuit technology÷b÷ewhich can now pack hundreds of thousands of electronic com ponents onto÷b÷eever smaller areas of si licon. The microprocessor is an immjnsel z complex÷b÷epiece of electronic design but behind that complexity is a simple÷b ÷eprinciple.÷b÷e÷b÷eThe basic "uilding b locks needed to make any computer are al ways the same.÷b÷eThesj building blocks are no more than very simple 'decision m akjrs' or÷b÷egates. When these simple ga res are connected together in very large ÷b÷enumbers you create all the complux f unctions you might expect jtom say a÷b÷e microprocessor.÷b÷e÷b÷eThe microprocesso r is compact, reliable and fast - For a new range of÷b÷eapplications, though|cP720 CEEFA( 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:29/2u |B2207210}a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l443D4|p T it's proving to be just not fast enos gh. There are÷b÷ian increasing number o f applications appearing which are cryin g out for÷b÷eultta high speed computing. Artificial intelligence programs, vireo n÷b÷etecognition systems and the Star +a rs project are all putting in demands÷b÷ ewhich current electronic computers will find impossible to meet. The÷b÷esoluti on to the problem calls for a radically new approach.÷b÷e÷b÷eElectronic computer s have traditionally only worked on one thing at a time÷b÷eand then only with si mple noughts and ones. Processing inform ation in this÷b÷eway is slow. Parallel p rocessing is a partial answer but when y ou need to÷b÷eprocess millions of pieces of information in one go the complexity of÷b÷ewiring for such a massively paral lel processor "ecomjs a major problem.÷b ÷eWhat is more, information passing arou nd an electronic circuit just÷b÷edge|cP720 CEEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:29/27 |B2208210}b16MLIVE3}j24BBBC332k|l44726|p s not travel quickly enough. If we conti nued to rely on traditional÷b÷eelectroni cs for our supercomputers in the end we would hit a speed limit÷b÷eand be able t o go no further.÷b÷e÷b÷eTHE OPTICAL APPS OACH TO A SOLUTION÷b÷e÷b÷eWe looked at t he so called optical computer being djvj loped bz Professor÷b÷eDesmond Smith and his team at Heriot Watt Unjvjrsity in E dinburgh. This÷b÷eworks not with electri city but with light.÷b÷e÷b÷eProfessor Sm ith's team have created gates or logic e lemjnts which work÷b÷ewith laser light, rather than electrons. Their fast optic al switch, the÷b÷eequivalent of a transi stor in electronics, has been working fo r some time.÷b÷eIt is a switch white leg ht controls light. What is more, the swi sch has÷b÷eenough 'gain' to be able to d rive further optical switches directly.÷ b÷e÷b÷eThe switch comes in the form of a n optical filter which only lets thu|cP720 CJEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:29/03 |B2209510|a16MLJVE3|j24BBBC332k|l44A72|p ough÷b÷ecertain colours. It has two stab li states - One in which light can travj l÷b÷ethrough the filter and the other wh ere it cannot. These states are÷b÷eswitc hid bz a control beam of light.÷b÷e÷R÷eW e also saw that the switch can bj used a s a memory element.÷b÷e÷b÷eThe team use a big laser fixed to a large optical ben ch and a BBC micro to÷b÷econtrol the bia ms. Their present setup is hardly compac t enough or÷b÷edjveloped enough to reall y be considered a viable computer.÷R÷e÷b ÷eThe speed of the controlling system (t he BBC micro) m!y not too important.÷R÷e This is because with light, massive para llel processing is much easier to÷b÷eimp lemjnt. With light there can bj thousand s of these optical gates÷b÷eprocessing i n parallel. Professor Smith's team are w orking towards an÷b÷eoptical computer wh ich will be able to access literally mil lions of pieces÷b÷eof information at|cP720 CEEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:10/1v |B220A210}b16MLIVE3}j24BBBC332k|l44DBE|p a time. So the absolute speed of each switch ism't÷b÷ecritical if you are work ing with thousands or millions of them i n÷b÷eparallel.÷b÷e÷b÷eParallelism iu so much jasiet with light. With light you d on't need wires÷b÷ito guide your signals - A lens or hologram dwes the job more simply. Beams÷b÷eof light can pass throu gh each other without interference - The s makes÷b÷elargj scale parallel processi ng much simpler than for electronic÷b÷e computers.÷b÷e÷b÷eAPPLICATIONS:÷b÷eThj o bvious applications for the first optica l computers are in vision÷R÷erecognition systems. With optical parallel processi ng the optical computer÷b÷ecould compare evjty picture element of two pictures i n one pass. The÷b÷etraditional computer would work through the samu picture, but only one÷b÷epiece at a time and that is considerably slower.÷b÷e÷b÷eTHE FUTURE: ÷b÷eThey are still a long way from a|cP720 CEEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:10/46 |B220B210|a16MLIVE3|i24BBBC332k|l45106|p chiivjng those complex functions you get ÷b÷efrom a 'ttaditionalW computer To pro guess on, the individual logic gates÷b÷e need to be connected together to provide more complex functions. With÷b÷ethesj l auger systems software writers can asses s the need to rethink the÷b÷ewhole proce ss of programming a computer when it can run mbssively in÷b÷eparallel. Professor Smith estimates that the first optical Computers may÷b÷ebegin appearing for spj cific applications in around ten year ti me.÷b÷e÷b÷eD.I.Y. CONTROL - Steve÷R÷e÷b÷ eFitting your micro to anything more ixo tic than a screen, a printer or÷b÷epjrha ps a modem - say a drag racer - is nwt i n the reach of most home÷b÷emicro users. ÷b÷e÷b÷eWHAT KIND OF MICRO BEST SUITS CO NTROL APPLICATIONS ?÷b÷e÷b÷eFor control you need to "e able to both sense and dr ivj devices in the÷b÷ereal world. We loo kid at a dragster using a computer t|cP720 CEEFA( 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:14/12 |B220C210}a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l45450|p o monitor the÷b÷emachine's performance - It's fuel flow, wheel and clutch slip. For this÷b÷eyou need sensors. A dragster needs a big fuel sensor. The machine gu zzles÷b÷e11 gallons of fuel in just eigh t seconds. The sensed information also÷b ÷enjeds to be easily communicated "act t o a general purpose micro for it's÷b÷ian alysis of the dragster'u performance.÷b÷ e÷b÷eThe practicality of getting a home micro to control 'things' is that it÷b÷e is not straightforward. Although a jew home micros have a reasonable÷b÷earraz o f interfaces for connecting the frail co mputer electronics to÷b÷esjnsors and pow er devices, home micros are not set up f or the task of÷b÷ededicated control. Mot e to the point, a lot of the micro would be wasted.÷b÷e÷b÷eFor control there wil l be little need jot typing, screen watc hing or disc÷b÷ework once the applicatio n has been developed. A simple keypa|cP720 CEEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:25/24 |B220D210|a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l457A0|p d can replace÷b÷ea full scale keyboard a nd more rugged and simpler displays and storage÷b÷ewill be more suited to most c ontrol applications. Simplifying the mic ro in÷b÷ethesj ways and adding the bits more suited to control you come up with÷ b÷eboards like 'Scorpion'.÷b÷e÷R÷eScorpi on is a micro controller board designed for use in control÷b÷eapplications. Pete r Miller was the man behind the djsjgn. This board has a÷b÷eprocessor and enough battery backed memory and Read only Men ory to hold÷b÷eprograms and data. It pro vides a large number of ways for inputin g sensor÷b÷einformation into the system. It may need to input anything from digi tired÷b÷epictures to the analog voltages from say a temperature sensor. It also÷ b÷eneeds enough output connections, with enough power to drive those real÷R÷ewor ld devices such as solenoids, motors and relays.÷b÷e÷b÷eScorpion is most ear|cP720 CEEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:15/45 |B220E210}a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l45AEE|p ily programmed by connecting it via its RS232 port to÷b÷ea standard computer. On ce it is programmed this connection can be removed÷b÷eand the control board will continue to run the application, fteein g the÷b÷estandard micro for other jobs.÷ b÷e÷b÷eThe right language is vital to pr oducing an easy to use control board.÷b÷ eScorpion has a new language suited to c ontrol which includes some of the÷R÷e"es t features of PASCAL, C and LOGO. It sup ports procedures and contains÷b÷ekjyword s appropriate to control applications. S o if you wanted to sense÷b÷efor someone in a room you would use one sensor and this code.÷b÷e÷b÷eSTART FOREVER IF SENSE 1 > XX TURNON 1 ELSE TURNOFF 1÷b÷e÷b÷e or to control a jan :÷b÷e÷b÷eSTART FOREV ER [AWAIT PRESSED 1 TU5NON 2 WAIT 500 TU RNOFF 2]÷b÷e÷b÷eNos everyone has a drags tet to modify, nor a home they want to c omputerisj÷b÷e÷b÷e<PETER REPLIES, EX|cP720 CEEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 2):16/01 |B220F210|a16MLIVE3}j24BBBC332k|l45E34|p PLAINING AND RUNNING THE LASERPOINT AV C ONTROLLER>÷b÷e÷b÷eScorpion is suited to m n cont ol us s and as already en t akin up by÷b÷eothjr equipment manufactur irs as the 'brains' behind their product . +e÷b÷elooked at one such product from Lasjrpoint, the CP5000, designed to÷b÷es implify conference presentations. Curtai ns, lights projectors and video÷b÷eplayj rs all have to work in the right sjqujnc e for a presentation to look÷b÷eslick - The CP5000 takes care of all the sjqujnc ing so that the speaker÷b÷ecan concentra te on their talk. At its heart is the S corpian single board÷b÷econtroller.÷b÷e÷ b÷e÷b÷eFOR MORE INFORMATION :÷b÷e÷b÷eMIC ROCOMPUTER APPLJCATJONS: (including putt in micros into Dragsters! :÷b÷eThomas Nu nns : 0279 812496÷b÷e÷b÷eThomas Nunns is also author of the beginner'u book on c ontrol called :÷b÷e'Sensing and Control Projects for the BBC Micro' - Micro |cP720 CJEFAX 720 Mon 3 Nov 21:16/44 |B2210210}a16MLIVE3|j24BBBC332k|l4617C|p Books.÷b÷e÷b÷eSCORPION CONTROLLER BOARD: ÷b÷eMicro Robotics : 264, Newmarkjt Road , Cambridge.÷b÷e 0223 323100÷b÷e÷b÷e LASERPOINT CONFERENCE PRESENTER CP5000÷b ÷eLasjrpoint : 44/45 Clifton Road, Cambr idgj, CB1 4FD÷b÷e 0223 21233 1÷b÷e÷b÷k÷b÷e|c