- Email: [email protected]
Viewdata bureau
Intelligent terminal Data General are launching a monochrome raster graphics terminal, the Dasher G300. The terminal has a tilt-and-swivel 12 in green phosphor screen with separate keyboard. The screen can display 24 lines and 80 columns. The keyboard has a typewriter-style main keypad, 14-key numeric keypad, 15 program function keys and 5 local function selection keys. The terminal can communicate with any Data General computer. Both RS232 and 20mA current loop interfaces are provided. Software for the terminal includes GCI (Graphics Command Interpreter) which provides commands for plotting, positioning, filling, defining graphic macros, etc. Trendview is a software package for drawing charts. It can be run on all Eclipse machines. Prices are £2438 for the Dasher G300, £313 for GCI and £1875 for Trendview. (Data General, Marketing
Communications, 3rd & 4th Floors, Hounslow House, 724- 734 London Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 IPD, UK)
UK Microcentre UK National Computing Centre has formed a new division called the Microsystems Centre to give impartial help to potential microsystem users in small businesses and the professions. With £250000 a year for the next three years of Department of Industry funding, the first step will be to open a London Micro Workshop in April at NCC's New Fetter Lane offices. Here a bewildered businessman will be able to walk in, pick up brochures, access an online information database (on a micro) and, for a fee, see demonstrations on, according to Group Director Derek Scriven, 'a small but representative selection of machines'. A second centre will be opened in Manchester in late summer. For a subscription of £50 a year, businesses can receive the full services of the centre, including a newsletter. NCC also hope to set up a federation
volume 13 number 3 may 1981
CRAG (CranfieM ~obotics and Automation Group) has developed a low-cost Commodore Pet-based system for the quantitative performance analysis of proposed FMS (flexible manufacturing system) schemes. This development has been funded by the UK Department of Industry as part of the National Engineering Laboratory's A SP (automated small-batch production) programme. (CranfieM Institute of Technology, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 OAL, UK. Tel: (0234) 75011 I. Tx: 825072) of UK microcentres, like those already in polytechnics and universities, to exchange accredited software and promote standards and codes of practice. The Centre aims also.to be strictly complementary to existing user groups in the professions, like the construction industry's CICA, referring prospective users to these more specialized groups. (National
Computing Centre Limited, Oxford Road, Manchester M 1 7ED, UK. Tel: 061-228.6333. Tx: 668962)
Small analyser MCf2 PROGRAMS has announced a structural engineering program for microcomputers, the ST10M finiteelement (space-frame) program. It performs space-frame or plane-frame analysis for modelling buildings or other structures. The program uses 32 k RAM (or 48 k for larger structures) and one disc drive. It runs on TRS-80 or Northstar microcomputers. (MCf2
Programs, McCIintock Corporation, 7000 SW 62nd A venue, Box 430980, Miami, FL 33143, USA. Tel: (305)
666-13oo)
Viewdata bureau GEC Viewdata systems are now offering a viewdata bureau service. Each bureau client has a Prestel-type television receiver for access by telephone to the information stored on to a GEC 4000 system in London. Information is supplied and indexed initially by clients, and may include graphics, coloured illustrations, etc. Updating is possible from any television monitor equipped with an editing keyboard. Various levels of information security are available. A typical charge would be £10 500 a year for full use of a one thousand frame system, plus the cost of the reference telephone calls. (GEC Viewdata Systems,
Kemble House, Kemble Street, London WC2B4AJ. Tel: 01-836
8000)
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Communications, 3rd & 4th Floors, Hounslow House, 724- 734 London Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 IPD, UK)
UK Microcentre UK National Computing Centre has formed a new division called the Microsystems Centre to give impartial help to potential microsystem users in small businesses and the professions. With £250000 a year for the next three years of Department of Industry funding, the first step will be to open a London Micro Workshop in April at NCC's New Fetter Lane offices. Here a bewildered businessman will be able to walk in, pick up brochures, access an online information database (on a micro) and, for a fee, see demonstrations on, according to Group Director Derek Scriven, 'a small but representative selection of machines'. A second centre will be opened in Manchester in late summer. For a subscription of £50 a year, businesses can receive the full services of the centre, including a newsletter. NCC also hope to set up a federation
volume 13 number 3 may 1981
CRAG (CranfieM ~obotics and Automation Group) has developed a low-cost Commodore Pet-based system for the quantitative performance analysis of proposed FMS (flexible manufacturing system) schemes. This development has been funded by the UK Department of Industry as part of the National Engineering Laboratory's A SP (automated small-batch production) programme. (CranfieM Institute of Technology, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 OAL, UK. Tel: (0234) 75011 I. Tx: 825072) of UK microcentres, like those already in polytechnics and universities, to exchange accredited software and promote standards and codes of practice. The Centre aims also.to be strictly complementary to existing user groups in the professions, like the construction industry's CICA, referring prospective users to these more specialized groups. (National
Computing Centre Limited, Oxford Road, Manchester M 1 7ED, UK. Tel: 061-228.6333. Tx: 668962)
Small analyser MCf2 PROGRAMS has announced a structural engineering program for microcomputers, the ST10M finiteelement (space-frame) program. It performs space-frame or plane-frame analysis for modelling buildings or other structures. The program uses 32 k RAM (or 48 k for larger structures) and one disc drive. It runs on TRS-80 or Northstar microcomputers. (MCf2
Programs, McCIintock Corporation, 7000 SW 62nd A venue, Box 430980, Miami, FL 33143, USA. Tel: (305)
666-13oo)
Viewdata bureau GEC Viewdata systems are now offering a viewdata bureau service. Each bureau client has a Prestel-type television receiver for access by telephone to the information stored on to a GEC 4000 system in London. Information is supplied and indexed initially by clients, and may include graphics, coloured illustrations, etc. Updating is possible from any television monitor equipped with an editing keyboard. Various levels of information security are available. A typical charge would be £10 500 a year for full use of a one thousand frame system, plus the cost of the reference telephone calls. (GEC Viewdata Systems,
Kemble House, Kemble Street, London WC2B4AJ. Tel: 01-836
8000)
179