Personal computer society With the rapid growth in the home computer industry, Baxter Associates, one of the oldest multiple trade association management firms in the United States, has formed an association of users of personal computers home and small office computers. The purpose and objectives of the association include the exchange of technological developments in this rapidly growing field. The suppliers af personal computers, including Apple, Tandy Radio Shack, Commodore, Hewlett-Packard etc. are being invited to become associate members.
Howard Frank to keynote Compcon Howard Frank, President of Network Analysis Corporation will present the keynote tal k at Compcon Fall '80. Dr Frank has had a major hand in shaping the meaning of the phrase 'distributed computing', the theme of the conference. He was a principal investigator for the original ARPA Net Design Studies, and has been a director of numerous national level networking projects. He is a member of the White House Advisory Committee on information network structure and functions. Among the
topics he will address in his keynote talk, will be techniques to define and measure the utility of distribution, as well as a strategy for its control. Compcon Fall '80 is sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society and will be held 2 3 - 2 5 September in Washington, DC. For additional information, and an advance programme, write to Compcon Fall '80, PO Box 639, Silver Spring, MD 20901, or call (301) 439 7007.
I T r / T I second source agreement ITT Semiconductors has announced a second source agreement between Texas Instruments and Intermetall, the semiconductor headquarters activity of ITT. The agreement enables Intermetall and other ITT Semiconductors' locations to provide an ITT inhouse source to support TMS 9900 family-based programs on a worldwide basis, and permit ITT to participate in the 16-bit microprocessor market. In return, Texas Instruments receives worldwide second sourcing rights to a series of ITT-developed consumer and automotive integrated circuits. These include remote-control transmitters and receivers, TV channel selectors and character generators, and specific circuits for sound channels, colour framing, and line oscillation.
Dol support for diesel diagnostics Autosense Equipment, based in Bicester, Oxon, UK, is developing a new generation of diesel engine diagnostic systems and a diesel engine timing sensor to be used not only for engine and vehicle servicing but also as part of a diesel engine production line testing system. The development programme is being financed jointly by Autosense Equipment Ltd. and the Department of Industry, under the Microprocessor Application Project.
vol 4 no 5june 1980
Autosense Equipment has been marketing for more than five years a microprocessor-based petrol engine diagnostic system (called Autosense) and has established a special design team at Bicester to work on the diesel diagnostic programme. The range of systems under development, which will use microprocessor technology, will be modular allowing the customer to select the most costeffective version for his particular application.
Scan Data changes Scan Data International has announced important changes that continue the Group's planned development into microcomputers. Chairman Martin Baldwin has concluded marketing agreements with Texas Instruments and Micropad by which Scan Computers will sell the new Texas home computer and the Micropad Hand Data Entry Terminal. Baldwin has also sold Scan Data Centres Ltd., the computer bureau side of the Group's business.
Microtrend to market in the UK Microtrend, an Anglo-Dutch microcomputer software group have launched a UK marketing operation. Around 120 programs are currently available and a similar number are in production. English versions of these products will be available in the UK through a mail/telephone order service and a network of dealers. Nine full-time employees and 10 commissioned specialists have been working on 17 systems (eight in the UK, nine in Holland) to develop a range of products covering the following application areas: • business and industry • education (home, school and university) • home economics (budgeting, planning) • entertainment (games, simulations) • hobby (for radio hams, electronics designers and micro enthusiasts) The initial range of products are written for the • PET (8k, 16k, 32k tape and disc) • Apple (up to 48k tape and disc) • TRS80 (Level II 16k and above) Early in the Autumn, an announcement will be made concerning new software for CP/M-MBASlC Systems, Nascom and Compucolor II.
207