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A structured approach to computer strategy
books Books received Knowledge-based Expert Systems in Industry. Edited by Jiri Kriz. Published by Ellis Horwood. 161pp. £19.95. Scientists and engineers came together to discuss industrial applications of AI at a workshop held at the Brown Boveri Research Center, Baden, Switzerland. This book is based on the papers given at the workshop. It includes state-of-the-art reports by European and US authors from academia and industry, reflecting current research activities and future trends. Emphasis is placed on knowledgebased systems (KBS) and practical experiences with AI techniques and tools. Topics covered include: KBS for configuration, planning and diagnosis; expert system shells and their environments; knowledge acquisition and knowledge representation techniques and fast prototyping. Jiri Kriz is Head of the Artificial Intelligence Group at the Brown Boveri Research Center, Baden, Switzerland.
Text Retrieval: A Directory of Software. 2nd edition. Edited by Robert Kimberley. Published by Gower. Approx 452pp. £45.00. There is a wide choice of software available for text storage and retrieval applications such as library systems, legal information, correspondence and medical records. Anyone wanting to find out which packages will be most suitable for their needs will find this directory of interest. It contains detailed profiles of 79 software packages available in the UK, Europe and the USA. The loose-leaf format allows for easy updating, at additional cost, three times a year.
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Desktop Publishing. Using Page Maker on the Apple Macintosh by Andrew Lucas. Published by Ellis Horwood. 233pp. £14.95. Desktop Publishing allows the author of a work to do his own typesetting. This book explains what Desktop Publishing is and how to use it. The PageMaker program is described here because it forms, together with the Apple Macintosh and LaserWriter, the most important element of Desktop Publishing. Other software required for word processing and graphics is covered and illustrations demonstrate how these basic tools are used and may be integrated through PageMaker. The book will be useful to people who are considering investing in Desktop Publishing and for those who have already done so and wish to know how to get the best out of their system. Andrew Lucas is Marketing Manager of Prospero Software, London, UK.
Computers in Business by Larry Long. Published by Prentice-Hall. 609pp. £16.95. Written for business students on an introductory computer course, this textbook relates concepts to business practice. A course syllabus using this text could'include one or more of the following areas of study: fundamental computer concepts, MIS topics, micro software and/or structured BASICprogramming. Each chapter is followed by a case study. Accompanying support packages include an instructor's manual, study guide and software. Larry Long has ten years university teaching experience and is a partner in a consulting practice. Prolog Programming: Applicationsjor Database Systems, Expert Systems and Natural Language Systems by Claudia Marcus. Published by Addison-Wesley. 325pp. £22.00. Written primarily for programmers, this book concentrates on PROLOG applications rather than the language itself. Major topics covered are: database management systems, expert systems, the PROLOG language and language processors. Each topic is illustrated with working sample programs and techniques that are helpful in building specific PROLOG programs. Claudia Marcus is the principle technical writer for the Arity Corporation.
A Structured Approach to Computer Strategy by John Jeffrey Eastlake. Published by Ellis Horwood. 191pp. £19.95. Investment in new or additional computerization in any medium-to-large organisation can involve a multimillion pound expenditure. An effective strategy for computer systems development is therefore necessary. File Techniques ]or D a t a Base This book describes a structured Organization in COBOL.2nd edition. By approach designed to ensure an L F Johnson and R H Cooper. Puborganisation makes soundly based de- lished by Prentice-Hall. 410pp. £13.95. cisions about investment in compu- File techniques are becoming increasterization. Flexibility and logical order ingly important with the current trend are features of the approach. Emphasis towards large database systems. This is placed on the business objectives book covers the basic methods for the shaping the strategy, so that the plans logical and physical description of files are in line with the company's policies with the appropriate COBOL stateand vision of future development. The ments for definition and access. It author encourages participation from deals with the subject by taking a all levels of management. specific example, generalizing the conJ J Eastlake is a Senior Consultant cept suggested by the example and at Logica, London, U K. then giving a COBOLinstance of its use.
information and software technology
Text Retrieval: A Directory of Software. 2nd edition. Edited by Robert Kimberley. Published by Gower. Approx 452pp. £45.00. There is a wide choice of software available for text storage and retrieval applications such as library systems, legal information, correspondence and medical records. Anyone wanting to find out which packages will be most suitable for their needs will find this directory of interest. It contains detailed profiles of 79 software packages available in the UK, Europe and the USA. The loose-leaf format allows for easy updating, at additional cost, three times a year.
272
Desktop Publishing. Using Page Maker on the Apple Macintosh by Andrew Lucas. Published by Ellis Horwood. 233pp. £14.95. Desktop Publishing allows the author of a work to do his own typesetting. This book explains what Desktop Publishing is and how to use it. The PageMaker program is described here because it forms, together with the Apple Macintosh and LaserWriter, the most important element of Desktop Publishing. Other software required for word processing and graphics is covered and illustrations demonstrate how these basic tools are used and may be integrated through PageMaker. The book will be useful to people who are considering investing in Desktop Publishing and for those who have already done so and wish to know how to get the best out of their system. Andrew Lucas is Marketing Manager of Prospero Software, London, UK.
Computers in Business by Larry Long. Published by Prentice-Hall. 609pp. £16.95. Written for business students on an introductory computer course, this textbook relates concepts to business practice. A course syllabus using this text could'include one or more of the following areas of study: fundamental computer concepts, MIS topics, micro software and/or structured BASICprogramming. Each chapter is followed by a case study. Accompanying support packages include an instructor's manual, study guide and software. Larry Long has ten years university teaching experience and is a partner in a consulting practice. Prolog Programming: Applicationsjor Database Systems, Expert Systems and Natural Language Systems by Claudia Marcus. Published by Addison-Wesley. 325pp. £22.00. Written primarily for programmers, this book concentrates on PROLOG applications rather than the language itself. Major topics covered are: database management systems, expert systems, the PROLOG language and language processors. Each topic is illustrated with working sample programs and techniques that are helpful in building specific PROLOG programs. Claudia Marcus is the principle technical writer for the Arity Corporation.
A Structured Approach to Computer Strategy by John Jeffrey Eastlake. Published by Ellis Horwood. 191pp. £19.95. Investment in new or additional computerization in any medium-to-large organisation can involve a multimillion pound expenditure. An effective strategy for computer systems development is therefore necessary. File Techniques ]or D a t a Base This book describes a structured Organization in COBOL.2nd edition. By approach designed to ensure an L F Johnson and R H Cooper. Puborganisation makes soundly based de- lished by Prentice-Hall. 410pp. £13.95. cisions about investment in compu- File techniques are becoming increasterization. Flexibility and logical order ingly important with the current trend are features of the approach. Emphasis towards large database systems. This is placed on the business objectives book covers the basic methods for the shaping the strategy, so that the plans logical and physical description of files are in line with the company's policies with the appropriate COBOL stateand vision of future development. The ments for definition and access. It author encourages participation from deals with the subject by taking a all levels of management. specific example, generalizing the conJ J Eastlake is a Senior Consultant cept suggested by the example and at Logica, London, U K. then giving a COBOLinstance of its use.
information and software technology