Ohio in the UK

BBC-Acom project off the ground The BBC's multimedia project on microcomputers has reached an advanced stage following the announcement that Acorn have won the contract to provide the hardware, much to the chagrin of Sinclair Research, another Cambridge-based company. The project will initially consist of ten half-hour programmes, a number of publications (including the Radio Times) on different aspects of computing and a BASIC programming course. Computer consultant ion Baldachin is to be one of the presenters and a pilot programme will be shown to selected audiences this year. The aim of the producer, Paul Kriwaczek, is to make the series highly entertaining as well as informative. 'We want to demystify computers and show the many opportunities that the microelectric technology can offer people in their home', said Kriwaczek. The Acorn computer, a condensed version of the forthcoming Proton, will be marketed, in BBC's colours, for around £200. The standard model will have 16k RAM, though this is expandable up to 96k. It will be possible to interface the machine with a floppy disc system, as well as having cassette recorder connections. There will be a conventional movinR keyboard, as on an office

electric typewriter (it is possible that this feature is partly responsible for the BBC's choice of manufacturer, since Sinclair's customized touchsensitive keyboard on the z x g 0 and ZX81 is not to everyone's liking) and, with a printer, it could be used as a word processor. The microcomputer also has high resolution graphics (640 horizontal points in black and white: 160 in 7 colours).. Though the British Press has been heralding this project as a breakthrough in computer familiarization, quoting estimated forecasts of 12 000 microcomputer sales, one should be aware that the UK Open University, specialists in the art of teaching through television, have dismissed a similar idea: 'One clear requirement was that no part of the course could be scheduled, and so possible course components such as TV broadcasts and assessment were discarded' (Microsystems '81 Conference- see Preview Microprocessors & Microsystems Jan/Feb 1981 ). I t remains to be seen how much support the programme, due to be transmitted from January 1982, will receive, but it is clear that the path will not necessarily be an easy one, especially with Clive Sinclair's much improved ZX81 on the market at about half the scheduled price of the BBC-Acorn package.

Low cost PROMs

and 2k x 4-bit devices. On these, speed is typically increased by 20 per cent and power dissipation reduced by at least 25 per cent.

Texas Instruments have announced a range of low cost bipolar PROMs. Incorporating the cost reductions brought about by innovative design and processing techniques, they are cheaper than previous PROMs, in some cases by as much as 36 per cent. For example, the price of the 4k TBP28S42, for I00 units, has been reduced from £7.80 to £4.98. Technology advances have also resulted in improved electrical specifications on a wide range of TI products, from 32 x 8-bit and 256 x 4-bit devices up to I k x 8-bit

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BAe flight scanner British Aerospace have ordered a £22 000 System 86 multimicroprocessor data monitoring and control system from Newport Instruments for their commuter jet, being built in Hatfield, UK. Scanning 50 parameters (each about four times per second), the

multimicroprocessor will be used to provide essential information during the flight development programme, scheduled for this summer. Controlled by a handheld terminal on the flight deck, results can be displayed in real-time either graphically or in tabular form. Special real-time software is being supplied as a suite of seven programs, each relating to a different series of tests contributing to the certification of the aircraft. The hardware incorporates an Intel 8086 master station, an 8087 mathematics coprocessor and a fast A/D converter.

Ohio in the UK American Data, worldwide distributors for Ohio Scientific (OSI), one of the largest manufacturers of microcomputers in the USA, has launched a UK subsidiary, Ohio Scientific (UK), to concentrate on the UK market. Through this company, American Data hopes to increase their sales in the UK by some 40 per cent this year, taking a sizable share of the 1981 microcomputer market, estimated at $247.5M. The recent takeover of M / A - C O M has allowed OSI to strengthen their operations with systems in telecommunication, defence, digital processing and transmission units for satellite communications. The range of equipment from OSI, now readily available in the UK includes: •

the 600 Series - the Superboard Series II (£159); the Challenger IP Series II (£250); and its peripheral boards and floppy drives • the Personal Range - the C4P (£1318) and C8P (£2196) systems for home or small office applications • the Professional Range - the C2/3 OEM (£1901/£3275); the C2/C3D (£5016/£5582) with 8-in Winchester drives; and the C3C Prime (£10 168) and C3B (£13213) hard disc multiuser networking models

(Ohio Scientific (UK) Ltd, Middlegreen Estate, Middlegreen Road, Langley, Berks., UK. Tel: (0753) 75915)

microprocessors and microsystems