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GET 'EM WHILE THEY LAST! ,, Games, listings, programming languages, I I I • random insanity! We still have available a few issues stretching way back to the beginning of time (October, 1972) when People's Compwers was published as a news paper called People 's Computer Company.
Highlights of available back issues are listed on the order card at the center of the magazine. Buy a couple at a buck each, or go whole hog and get ALL 15 for just $12! SUBMITTING ITEMS FOR PUBLICATION SUBSCRIPTIONS
VOL 6 NO 1 U.S. Subscriptions LABEL everything please, your name, address and the date; JULY - AUG 1977 tapes should also include the program name, language and o $a/yr. (6 issues) rs system. 0$15/2 yrs, (12 issues) o Retaining subscription @$25 TYPE text if at all possible, double·spaced, on B% x 11 inch ($ 17 tax deductible) STAFF CONTENTS white paper. o Sustaining subscription @ $100+ ($92+ tax deductible) EDITOR SPECIAL FEATURES DRAWINGS should be as clear and neat as possible in black Phyllis M. Cole ink on white paper, Foreign Surface Mail o add $4/yr. for Canada PRODUCTION 8 PET ROBOTS: NEW CAPABILITIES Meredith Ittner Robert Rossum's latest pet robots have very diversified skills LISTINGS are hard to reproduce clearly, so please note: o add $5/yr. elsewhere Donna Lee Wood • Use a new ribbon on plain white paper when making 28 HEATHKIT COMPUTERS Foreign AIRMA IL ARTISTS choose an 8080 or an LSI·l1 system a listing; we prefer roll paper or fan-fold paper, Ann Miya o add $B/yr. for Canada Jay Bonner • Send copies of one or more RUNS of your program, Craig Douglas Judith Wasserman to verify that it runs and to provide a sense of how o add $11/yr, for EUrope CAl TYPISTS things work and to motivate more of us to read o add $14/yr. elsewhere Maria Kent the code. RUNS should illustrate the main purpose 11 PILOT Marilynne Newton and operation of your program as clearly as possible. Back issues, $1 each; indicate Volume and CAl programs by Ellen Nold & Sallie Cannom for composition classes Christine Botelho Bells, whistles and special features should just be des· Issue number, how many copies of each, An 36 WRITING CAl CIRCULATION cribed in the documentation unless they're partic~ order card is at the center of the magazine. tips from composition teacher Ellen Nold Bill Bruneau larly relevant, Vol. 1, Nos. 1,2,3 DRAGON EMERITUS 51 CAl IN BASIC • Paper tapes of both the program and runs can provide Vol. 2, No.5 Bob Albrecht Franz J. Frederick oHers BASIC subroutines for use in CAl us with a way to make our own listing if we need to. Vol. 3, Nos, 1,4 Then, if you give us permission, we can let CCC Vol. 4, Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 RETAINING SUBSCRIBERS ARTICLES (Community Computer Center) sell your program Vol. 5, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6 cheaply via paper tape, to further the spread of inex George Bowie III 16 PROGRAMMING THE HP·25 pensive software, Finally, if we are so lucky as to have The Computer Corner, Harriet Shair pointers from Dave Johnston for the HP-25 owner access to a system on which your program runs, we Foreign Distributors of People's Computers Daniel Dick can try it out ourselves. 20 SR·56 PROGRAMS Bill Godbout Electronics • Make sure your code is well documented - use a sep· Vincent Coen Home Computer Club a catalog of incredibly cheap programs for the SR·56 calculator Mark S, Elgin arate sheet of paper, Refer to portions of code by line LP Enterprises 1070-57 Yamaguchi 21 COMPUTER BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Dexter Fletcher number or label or address please, not by page number. 313 Kingston Road T okorozawa, Saitama, JAPAN Beny Rosen reviews a dozen and offers a bibliography John B. Fried When writing documentation, keep in mind that read Ilford,lGl lPJ Dick Heiser 24 CAPTURE ers will include beginners and people who may be rei· Essex, UK Kouqakusha Pub!. Co., Ltd Brian W. John another fine game from Mac Oglesby atively inexperienced with the language you're using. Haneda Biru 403, 5·1 Lt. Stan Jurgielwicz 31 PERSONAL COMPUTER NElWORK Helpful documentation/annotation can make your Comicro AG 2-Chome, Yoyogi John R. Lees, Jr. Dave Caulkins discusses an effort to link home computers code useful to more people. Documentation should Badenstrasse 2B1 Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 151 John C. Lilly discuss just which cases are coveted and which aren't. CH·8003 Zurich JAPAN 34 INVERSE REVERSE James Muysenberg Carl Main's program has the computer play the game of Reverse • If you send us a program to publish, we reserve the SWITZERLAND Frank Otsuka right to annotate it (don't worry, we won't publish Computer Age Company, Ltd 41 8080 MATR IX SUBROUTINES Bernice Pantell it if we don't like it). Pan Atlantic Computer Sys. Kasumigaseki Building Tim Scully offers programs useful for multivariate statistical analysis Larry Press • Last but not least, please try to limit the width of your Frankfurter Strasse 78 3·2-5 Kasumigaseki John Rible 48 MORE ON WOMEN AND COMPUTERS listings: 50-60 characters is ideal. Narrow widths mean 061 Darmstadt, Chiyoda-Ku. Tokyo 100 Joe Weisbecker the dialogue continues less reduction, better readability, and better use of WEST GERMANY JAPAN space, SUSTAIN ING SUBSCR IBERS REGULAR STUFF
Algorithmics Inc., Bruce Cichowlas 4 LEITERS Don L. Behm letters, letters & more letters Paul, Lori and Tom Calhoun 32 FORTRAN MAN further adventures of Lee Schneider's & Todd Voros' swashbuckling hero People's Computers is published bimonthly by People's Computer Company, 1263 EI Camino Real, Box E, Menlo Park, CA 94025. As ever, thanks to the many many 38 MORE TINY BASIC People's Computer Company is a tax~xempt, independent. non.profit corporation, and donations are tax-deductible. folk who supported our effort in Dragon Bob Albrecht concludes his programming-for'beginners series Second class postage paid at Menlo Park, California, and additional entry points. putting this issue together. Copyright © 1977 by People's Computer Company, Menlo Park, California. 42 THE DATA HANDLER USER'S MANUAL, Part 4 more on how to program the 6502 microprocessor by Don Inman 59 ANNOUNCEMENTS check out the PET - $595 for a complete system 2 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS 5) A more complex match statement DoOoDmJdJdJoDoOoOoOoOoOoOo contained Tiny BASIC computer is just with an implicit assignment would be what we need to bring personal comput· Dear Dragon, nice; we ruled it out because this is TillY ing out of the advanced experimenter's Pilot. Some Pilot systems do provide this Hey mythical monster, keep up the good basement and into the family living room facility by placing the matched text into work on SAM (the make·believe compu· (But how about an extended-BASIC f!!'J LETTERS @ a special variable. ter). Dragonese is the best teaching lan ROM and a PILOT ROM too? Tiny DoOoOdJODdJoDoOoOoDoOoOoDoDoDoOoOdJdJdJoOoOoOoOoDoOdJoOdDdDoOoOoOoDoDoOoOdDdJdJdJ guage I've come across, and at this time BASIC may be OK for kids just learning 6) I agree that all code should be pure we need to be educated in the workings to program but it is a bit too restrictive procedure (the technical tenn for code of the computer more than we need bet· for any serious programming.) And we Dennis Allison did it again! I think his do all, more HORA Y. I manipulate addressable, I submit the following code, which does not modiry itself). It ter computers for the selected few to use. need some tapes with useful programs Tiny PI LOT proposal is grand. (See our strings much more than I do numbers, on which puts the P register in the X. Let shouldn't be much of a problem. like checkbook balancers and menu plan Jan/Feb 77 issue, or Dr. Dobb S JOIln/af all computers that I use. those who need it figure it out. OK, your threat to join Puff the Magic ners too! for March) I have three little comments: 8000303131 EEoo Dennis Allison Dragon in some far away cave has caused I) Please consider that the on ly non-al· Pee my footprints to lead to your door. Pro· And who is going to manufacture this 1) For minimal resources implementa pha character that is under the resting N.J. Thompson Box E blems 21 and 22 not only can be solved wonderful machine? (Or are you hoping tion, the DEL. SEE, and CONT com fingers is the SEMICOLON. Consider also Hawaii Institute of Geophysics Menlo Park, CA 94025 without SAM's CHS and XCH functions, that your articles wiU inspire some man· mands can be deleted. DEL can be ac that the COLON has meandered afound 1525 Correa Road but also 21 can be solved using rewer ufacturer to do so?) complished by typing the statement on diffe rent versions of Ascii terminals Honolulu, HI 96822 instructions. number followed by a CR as in Tiny and typewriters. I have CO LON 3 dirfer· Keep up the good work! DASIC. SEE and CONT can be done ent places on 3 machines in my office. Problem 21 a2 . a by T: and J: respectively. Therefore; Please consider semicolon in· Dennis Allison replies: Sam Hills stead or colon for the most·used delimiter INSTRUCTION SRO SR, SR' 3514 Louisiana Ave. Pkwy. 2) It seems unnecessary to have two in your language. Thanks for your note. Regarding your CLS 0 0 0 New Orleans, LA 70125 kinds of strings. comments: OoDoOcOcOoDoDoDoOoOoOoOoOc INP. 0 0 I UP • 0 a) If only closed strings are allowed, 2) Please put back an external call (peck • • Here are some rules for MacOgiesby's X 0 0 DoDoDoOoOoOcOcOoOoOoO~dDo we can use the same convention as and poke, or USR). A majority or users I) The choice of colon was historical: it's .' game EXAGON, published in the last is· INP. • 0 in Tiny BASIC. Example: of tiny are as higher·level drivers for used that way in the PILOT·73 language .2 .• .'0 0 One of the guys at work made up the en sue of People's Computers. "NOW IS TIME TO PRINT SA things being done partly in machine Ian· and other versions. If it's a problem for closed drawing. Thought you'd like a 3 2 WHlCH CONTAINS", SA guage. I tend to write things COM· you. you could put it on a toggle and let Problem 22 a . a copy. He never even heard of PCC (until The board is an order 5 hexagon having b) If only open strings are allowed, we PLETELY in Tiny. then bit by bit move the user specify it. That could, or course, I talked to him!) 26 randomly selected points labeled with can use the@sign 10 indicate substitu parts to machine language, called by get him into trouble. INSTRUCTION SRO SR, the letters of the alphabet. Every point of SR' tion. Example: Tiny, than finally commit to EPROMS, CLS 0 0 0 Keep up the good work!!! NOW IS TIME TO PRINT SA WHICH and still use TINY as a caller. 2) External calls are important, but are the hexagon can be considered to have INP. • 0 0 three lines passing through it, one hori· UP 0 CONTAlNS@SA something of a bandaid extension to the • • Glen Charnock WB6JKM zontal and two diagonal, at 60" and 120" UP • 3) I hope it's just typos that lert out (and language. In my first cut, I left them out. X • • 864 Palomar Way from the horizontal. The 2 diagonals , 3) If(2a) or (2b) is adopted, we can rur· ) in the March DDJ. Incidentally, there is a revised specifica. INP. .' • , fonn an 'x', hence, you see, the nanle • Oxnard, CA 93030 ther drop the # sign ror numerical tion for Tiny BASIC, unpublished and .2 .• " X .3 .•2 • • variables. Example: 4) Ir you can'l see using semicolon in unimplemented, which supports strings 'EXAGON'. • • 100 A, X stead or colon, how about using it instead and external functions. That will appear SOMETIN.ES A move consists of selecting one of the 200 C: Y"'X·2 of #, the second most used symbol. ill DOJ sometime this summer. Also, Bob points labeled with a letter of the alpha· J.E.Jobaris THE :D1\AGON 300 T: "X:::",X,"Y::",Y (2a) AI brecht and J are working on a new Ian· 724 Oregon Ave. r:;n bet. All the labeled points in the 'x' gen· t; (300 T, X=@XANDY=@y) (2b) 5) It 's cute, but very limiting, 10 have the guage. San Mateo, CA 94402 WINS MATCH statement simply report pres· erated by the diagonals through the sel· ected point (including the selected point) Lichen Wang ence or absence or a match. 3) A lot of typo's did creep into the pub· are then relabeled with the mark or the @ 150 Tennyson Ave. 100 MY : dog, puppy,kittY)lOrse fo r lished text. My fault too! I did proof it, player who moved. OoDd]oOoOoOoOoOoDoOoOoDoOo Palo Alia, CA 9430 I example, still probably makes me wonder but somehow in the rush to get DDJ out whether its a dog or a horse, with another the changes did not get made. The reason Some suggestions on how to improve PCC NB (1) you can only select a point match statement or two. that you got DDJ so late was the Compu. magazine: Get rid of the news about how labeled with a letter (not with The HIP 2000 version is marvelously flex· ter Faire; Jim Warren, Faire organizer and schools are using computers and publish a player's mark) ible: DOJ editor, didn't get it together on more games programs, and more infonna· (2) all labeled points in the x are 100 A::: POS ("dog puppy kitty horse", schedule. tion on new and tittle·known but useful changed (whether labeled A$(I,LEN(AS-I))) programming languages. I especially liked with a letter of a player's says A = the position in the match string 4) Take a look at PCC's ven:ion of the the listing of Z·80 tiny PILOT. Let's see DoDoDoDoDdDoDoDoDoDoDoDoDo mark) of AS with the last character stripped off Tiny PILOT specification. It's a bit more more of the same. On the other hand, I Play continues in tum until no playable Dennis Allison, as a user of your previous (in case he said "dogs"), with A"'O if detailed and has a few minor dirferences. don't particularly care for "Aying Buf· (ie letter labeled) points are left. The works, via Tom Pittman's 6800 version or there is no match. (It was published earlier - January _ falo" type games; so I feel that the Don player with the greatest number of Tiny Basic, I am very interested in the than the DOJ version, but was prepared Quixote Starship will probably tum out marked points is the winner. proposed Tiny Pilot. First reaction - 6) PLEASE MAKE IT EPROMABLE. later.) The major difference is that '#' to be a bummer. Also, your "Make·be HORA Y. Second reaction, same as the I've reached the point where NO routine need appear only when a number is lieve Computen" series is one of the most . \ '. Eryk Vershen frrst. which can't be made ROM isn't worth the wanted inside .a string; the usual tiny assinine things that I have ever seen in a ~ ,~ . People's Computers .-=--=~"- trouble. And in case anyone hasn't BASIC conventIon works fine in assign. computer magazine; I think the whole , . . .,(", .-. ~ I'll have to read it closely to see what it figured out how to address a nearby table ment statements (variables need not be Box E thing is a complete waste of space. On the won't do that Tiny BASIC will. If it will in 6800 code, where the P register is not preraced by '#'). Menlo Park, CA 94025 other hand, the Dragon's completely self- JULY-AUGUST 4 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS 5 DcD~dDdDcDoDcDcDcDcOcDoDo although a good number of hours of theo DdDcDcDoDdJdJcDcDcDoDoD~c yes, that is stealing. But duplicating a views and comments, not echoes! Here's retical and (somewhat precarious) practi copy that he hasgivell me in no way dim a guideline: If it's not worth puuing in As you may recall, the March-April issue cal training in actual tramc had been ad· A most practical problem: How do you your own words, or you wouldn't want inishes his conltol over his copy of the of PC ran a short item in which I sug ministered (and he is bright enough to convert programs written for a particular to be held personally responsible for what software. 1 don't feel it's immoral to sell gested that a computer might generate program a pocket calculator). The local microcomputer with a given micropro· copies of copyrighted software, only it claims, then DON'T PRINT IT! DcDcD~cDcDcDcDcDcDcDcDcDc stories wherein chess games are converted police department gives well-infomled cessor to another microcomputer with risky. In fact, I think it's disgusting to use into accounts of medieval battles. Well it general safety talks in schools, and regis the same microprocessor? TIlls is one of Now for some real contributions - I have I just got the May-June "People's Com (threats of) government force, via the seems that this has already been done, at ters bicycles (without endeavering to ex the most immediate practical problems a friend who produces all sorts of wierd puters". THIS IS NOT CRAZINESS! copyright laws, to restrict other people's least in fiction. Rae Montor of Oakland amine or certify their mechanical safety), faced by a dragon. Where are the Doomsayers, the letters actions. It would also be stupid to ask drawings 3nd comix - are you interested informed me of a story by Poul Anderson but has no facilities to train and test in lots of sp3cecraft? I'm enclosing from Iiule kids, the funny hats, the up· them to respect II "right" which I don't in which chess battles are waged by com· youngsters individually. What's needed: personally believe I have. So what course "Software Sam", "Ralt, Rah, Thrud", lifting prophecies, the "Ng"? The puter-controlled robots. This story, 'The - a list of the address space layout for and "Capt. Gen'rul-issy·rno-Sarge". I've "Women and Computers" was neet partly is left to a liberlarian·anarchist who wants Immortal Game', appeared in the Febru· Is il safe to assume t.hat the people who each machine. also included a !Giant Sand-Warthog! of because the author had a Poly (yey!) to profit from his creative efforts? ary '54 issue of The Magazine of FaJltasy write and read PC could do quite a bit a list of the prom monitor routines _ mine. So, hasadassa. TIlat's about it. with their 11K BASIC, which is good and Science Fiction (Vol 6, No 2, piSS- about this, short of putting a steering or at least a deSCription of each sub· The answer, my friends, is in that word, software. I have much more to say on the 124). wheel on a microcomputer? (Or has a routine (such imput a hex charac Steve Witham :as real topic of the letter, but ... I had al "voluntary". You don't have to use force video game manufacturer done it al· ter), and its entrance and exit add res ready read "Garden of Illusions" from Qaw) or intimidation ("respect my rights, 168 Pain ter Road Jim Day ready?) se,. Media, PA 19063 Earth/Space News, and I thought il was you greedy thieving fiend!") to make a 17042 Gunther Street a list of each machine's other ideosyn the best article they ever printed. I still profit. After all, customers already volun Granada Hills, CA 91344 Good luck with your de·dragoning, or cracies. Agreement form don't understand just what DQS is sup tarily give up their money for software DoDoDoDoDoDcDcDcOcOcDcDoDc whatever may uphold your social re le instructions on how to use a dissem posed to be, though. I also noticed the (do we need a law to make them?), so I vance! bler to locate all I/O, monitor re photo of the new Poly. Those guys, too, why not have them agree to let you con I, , agree not to Just bought an armful of hobbyist jour· quests, and other pOSition dependent let anyone have a copy of TONEGEN or nals in oTle of these chaotic new compu seem to be getting more serious, less fun. trol the distribution of the software Roger Belling code. ter stores (like Hoboken Computer which they buy? In other words, the pro its documentation unless (I) he makes 398 Ogden Ave. Works), noticed a dart by Sol Ubes some· - general principles for making the mod· Anyhoo, my main point is: thanx for gram is rheirs - they bought it - but this sanle agreement in writing to Steve Jersey City NJ 07307 ifications. printing my description of TONEGEN, they've agreed not to let it go. Witham, (2) either he o r I send $3 to where on 'money·making schemes such as a glossy magazine', and was most impres the four voice 8080 lone generator. Steve Witham as "royalty" for the copy No olle around here is aware of any CAl sed with the human component and Calif· "Media" got printed as "Mecia," but the Not only is this scheme more honeslthan of TONEGEN he is receiving, and (3) I bicycle safety collrse, bllt it SOf.wds like a ornia breeze ariSing from your candid zip code gOt four orders through so far. using a copyright, it's also more nexible. have received from Steve Witham accept great idea. lYe'd be happy to support and pulp for a pl3usible price. You can't rewrite the copyright laws like ance of the payment and agreement. I publicize such a COllles( bll/ it needs a co· If you wish, I'll send you the above data Let me update you on TONEGEN. The you can II contract. Do I think everybody also agree not to copyright any male rial ordinator to set it up. A fly ~'olullteers? on the OSI400 system (I'm a dealer). documentation is ten pages (including will stick to their agreements? (why am I related to TONEGEN. The reason for writing you is a need (as This is the sort of problem that Tom listings). TIle demo music is "l1lUs Spake asking mysclf'r) No, but I think most peo· so many readers seem to ask you for DoDdDoDcDcDcDcOcDoDcDcDcOc Pittman had to face - perhaps he has ZarathUSlra" (the "2001" theme). TIle pie will (I WOUld) ~ certainly more pea, Signed, help) that suddenly crossed my mind as some advice on what to do if one is faced price is now $3.00 + 25¢ for my unfin pie than respect the ai' (C). In fact, prob possibly re latable to the thoughtful kid I am writing you in the hope that you with a program for another machine ished (2 "verses") version of the ably many people resent the impersonal die amusemen ts ill your hn·Feb 77 issue, will be able to help our search for elemen (with the same microprocessor) where his "G minor Fugue". I don't send it out un· ity of "Copyright 1977 by ..." Maybe I Gee whiz, Ste~e, only 2 articles besides and CAI and computer graphics that are tary school level computer teaching rna· nine suggestions haven't been followed. til I've gotten the signed agreement (in should put it this way - I want 10 make Reviews and Announcements lISed wood mentiol'ed so much. Believe me, I'm not terials. We are a spiritual community with (PeC, V5, no. 5, pg, 13 and DDJCCO V2 cluded at the end of this letter.) I in as much profit as I can from my pro cuts. And we underpay Ollr artists as is, so a reactionary and besides not 3 connais an elementary school, a computer, and N02 pg.4). I bought his TB and hope to clude schem3tks for mono, stereo and gr3ms, bUI I depend on People (heh, heh), we can't depend 011 all original art. We en seur of comic strips, I respect your re3d the wish to somehow put Ule two toge buy more from him. He will be writing quad output, assuming you already h3ve a nOI government, to make it happen. Be courage people to submit original photos er's expressed opinions, but could we ther. We have professional teachers and 6502 FORTRAN! parallel outport and amplifier(s). One of sides, if I find proof that someone has or art ill black ink on white paper when have just a 'Tiny Sprocketman', not on programmers, but neither has worked in my customers may wrile a smart driver gone against his agreement in a big way, submitting articles. Other art is also wel paper, rather on the screen? Perhaps with ute other's areas before. Any form of How about MUMPS (see Decus) for a program for TONEGEN - he 31ready has 111 have his signature to print, along with, come but we don't always find the appro software created in a competition en teaclling materials, software, etc. would micro? It is a "plain English" interactive one for "AlphanumeriC Music"'. If so, we perhaps, a letter from someone he's given priate place for it. One area in which it dowed by the corporations whose pro be helpful. language with the ease of use of PILOT would sell it with an arrangement (& low the software to ... would be very nice to have a backlog is ducts 3re crowding the roads? (prizes and a great deal more computational and price!) similar to the one with carlOOIlS - any good computer-related rather than grants or wages can keep it a Our computer is a PDP 11/03 with FOR data base manipulating power. For exam TONEGEN. Finally, let's get back to the style of one-liners you'd like to illustrate? hobbyist activity, and provide richer al TRAN and muJti·user BASIC, with nap ple, there are patient-computer interac People's Computers . Look - I subscribe ternatives.) py disks and a DECWRITER temIinaL rive medical diagnosis programs in Is this "agreement" business puzzling or to your magazine because you're DIF Readers have indicated that e)'ell unedi Our school has about 30 studen ts ranging MUMPS in the public domain which are put-offing? How come I don't just put FERENT! And now you're turnin' into ted product aJlnouncements are useful to You may suspect a layman out Ulere ex from 3ge 2 to age 10, and serves both our better than the ave rage doctor (this is copyright on my software? Howzabout 1 something NORMAL! Please, I'll do any them so we contiJlue to print a few of pects a microchip to turn in to a cinema community and outside children. We are according to a panel of MD's who are explain my philosophy on software dis thing! Even contribute! them in abbreviated fonll. Product re tograph, but I have more diagrammatic non-profit and have tax exempt status. djagnosticians). tribution, etc.? I do not believe that views (lfId comments are always welcome, action in mind, just some improvement "twiddle-de-de, ideas should be free", First, st3ft phasing out those old fash· but we don 't ha~e the in-hollSe staff to on the static and unresponsive charts of We would be. happy to share our exper· If you publish a FORTRAN MAN comic, to paraphrase Ted Nelson's paraphrase. ioned woodcuts. Most of them arc boring produce them. Contributions from read intersections one may see in driving ienee and any materials that we develop I'll buy a few! Thanks for your fme pro· But I also don '( believe that a person h3s and stereotyped. (Altho some are OK, I ers are joyfully recei~ed. schools or manuals. here. TIIank you for your assistance. duct. a right to a monopoly over any market, like that little wierd lion-animal saying unless he has galien it thru ~'OfllI/tary "Ng" on p 19 PCC V5 #4). Also, stop For 'few readers, Ste~e s fOf.lr-voice poly The incident which pointed out this need Vakil Kuner ~ Durk J. Pearson, Entrepreneurial Dragon dealings with other people. If I take or printing "press releases" verbatim from phonic tone generator subroutine for the to me was that my son bicycled into a The Abode of the Message Spectrum Technology Service even use someone's copy of a piece of companies. Those things already appear 8080 is described on page 45 Of our car, wrecked his sister's bike, and was Box 376 Shaker Road Box 942 software without his permission, then, in all the other computermags. I want re- March/April issue, Volume 5 Number 5. found ignorant of the rules of the road, New Lebanon, NY 12525 Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 • PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY ·AUGUST 7 Wagnerian opera, music and lyrics, and recite the dialogue. Robot pet is an interactive system innuenced by its master, Though he's in his forties. his social behavior is that of an but able to look after its own needs in critical ways as house· PET ROBOTS: immature four-year old who whines and weeps if his mother hold pets do. The interests of the master will change with time doesn't break off conversation with others to pay attention to and the infonnation available from the idiot savant may be him. Many people with such odd talents are in other respects changed to suit the needs of the time. Perhaps information in mentally inadequate, unable to care for themselves, unable to ROM can be leased by the family for some period of time, make sense of the world around them. The cases are numerous then swapped for other material. New Capabilities enough so that the teon 'idiot savant' has grown to be a useful descriptor. We may reasonably object that the store of infomlation envisioned here cannot be carried in a household pet whose Idiot savants may be storehouses of vast knowledge that can capacity is a mere one or two cubic feet largely occupied with be elicited from them at will, but typically they are not able motors, power supply, and other circuitry. BY ROBERT ROSSUM to relate the knowledge to anything else, to make appropriate \ judgements based upon what they know. The robot pet might If we're talking about household pets, those that live in some ...... be able to provide the idiot savant's useful knowledge and skill limited area (a single building, a single neighborhood), we have without the unhappy side effects and the emotional wear and opportunities in design thai are 1I0t practical in other situa tear, Automatic speech recognition techniques are improving tions. Other robots may have to operate on remote battlefields We're pleased to present Q second article from Robert Rossum wilil hard-eyed, unsympathetic adult robots. An inadvertant rapidly and the next few years should be filled with demon· or under the sea where communications lapses are likely. If o[ the United States Robotics Society, P.O. Box 26484, fright is as upsetting as a deliberate scare.) Much is known strations of remarkable capability in the field. Speech synthe· your robot is operating on Mars and one·way communication Albuquerque, NAt 87125. The fint article, 'Robots as House about lovable household pets and the knowledge can be sis, Similarly, is becoming more common, nexible, and SOltis' takes twenty minutes, then everything necessary to the roo hold Pets'falso copyngkt 1977 by the U.S. Robotics Society} applied to robotics in a straightforward manner. factory. A robot pet may within the next decade be equipped bot's well being must be aboard the vehicle. If the robot pet appeared in ourJanuary-Febmory issue. Volume 5 Number 4. with greal powers of speech and speech comprehension. never strays farther than the backyard, thOUgll, it needn't The robot pet could bumble about good-naturedly as the carry its memory with it. family dog does, though perhaps with less shedding of hair 11le robot pet is sure to be the pal of the household children, While it is comparatively easy to build machinery that seems on the carpel and less slobbering on the linoleum in the a faithful and loving companion. Cannot the robot also be a The mass memory system upon which the pet robot draws exotic and exciting, it is surprisingly difficult to build reaUy kitchen. Robot pet will pay close attention to family acti powerful educator and tutor? can easily be housed in a closet or hi·fi cabinet somewhere in new machines, with new functions. that seem comfoflably vities, warn of intruders, and develop fondly appreciated the house. Magnetic pulse, radio, or modulated light commun· familiar and leave observers unexcited. Nature has tauglll hu character traits and crotchets. ication between the robot and its memory can be accom· man beings over the millenia that new, little understood things 'Tell me a story, a good one: says cheerful child. plished in a tiny fraction of a microsecond and redundant Apart from extraordinary endurance, sensitivity, and cleanli· are hazardous. ALmost all mutations aTC lethaL Uving things 'What would you like?' says robot pet, with pleasure. channels can make that communication highly reliable. It are more often hanned by dramatic change than improved by ness, the robot pet might bc capable of uncommonly useful ' I like the one about Saladin's meeting with Richard the matters little to your toes that your brain is way up there in it and the sensible human being properly mistrusts innovation. perfonnancc. It might, for example, be an 'idiot savant'. Uon·Hearted.' your head. Critical matters like yanking your toe out of a Some people in the world have unaccountable talents. like 'Richard and Saladin probably never really met.' fire are handled by local renex circuitry witllOut the imme Yankee do-gooders have found it difficult to change the ways the ability to multiply two Iwenty-digit numbers in their 'I know, but I like the story and the one about the Old diate participation of the distant brain. The robot vehicle of poverty-stricken subs.istence famlel'! in distant lands where heads with perfect accurncy in seconds. Such people may Man of the Mountain and the tunnels.' shambling around the house can similarly use its renexes to modem farming tcchniques could markedly improve the qual· be able to iell you promptly the day of the week on which 'All right,' says the patient robot, eager to please, 'I'll handle matters of immediate concern. Only affain lilat ity of life. While visiting agricultural experts know lilat their Christmas will occur in the year 2315 without any previous tell you the tale as it was told to me. , .' require some deliberation or a now of information need in· preparation. One chap can Iranscribe on paper all the instru new ideas will work. the famlers know only that they have volve mass memory at a distance. survived thus far by traditional means and that if liley lose mental parts of music hc hears played by a symphony orche· a single crop in a singlc year, their famities may starve to stra,just as fast as he can write. He can sing every scrap of dcath. Under the circumstances, they tend to a conservative And he tells it, just as it was told to him. He weaves a story view of innovation. of the Crusades, throwing in dates and names, geographjcal references of a useful sort, and observations on the climate None of us is so far removed from the unccrtain life of hunts and the people, differentiating between what is known to man and subsistence farmer that he is not frightened by be fact and what is romance or conjecture, Robot tells lile genuinely new things. Since robots will be genuinely new in story well; he may have been instructed in the art by Peter the human experience, their developers may choose to package Ustinov, Richard Burton, or some other master handler of the robots in comfortably familiar foml that cheers and soothes language. the observer. in Robots QS Household Pets, we treated the no tion Ihal robots might well be modeled after traditional house· TIle childish audience may interrupt with questions or diver hold pets. Floor-loading characteristics, density, weight, smell, sions to which the robot responds patiently and truthfully. taste, colorations, speed of movement, and demeanor mighl ('I don't know' is one true response the robot can make.) all be determined for robots by close study of animals thaI are Robot always returns to the narrative where it was inter already welcome in the homc. (For exanlple, pet robots might rupted unless instructed otherwise, have large eyes with largc pupils, set benealil large foreheads. That's characteristic of baby mammals, by whom hardly any· Robot doesn't know Saladin from a right triangle, but he body feels lilreatened. Further, when mammals are upset can recite stories about selected subjects in logical order and enough to bite, their pupils tend to narrow to pinpoints. Ihe great style. He can drill his master in multiplication tables large pupils of the robO! pet suggest a continuous state of and foreign language vocabulary (checking and commenting non'aggressive calm. We all respond to these little physical on pronunciation), explaining calculus concepts from different cues at a subconscious level. The robot designer who values angles, and recite grammatical rules patiently until lile kid his property may wish to avoid frightening his neighbors can recite the same rules in his sleep. . .
8 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY-AUGUST 9 II should be possible to store the 'character' of the robot The basis for change might be a need for perfom13nce change. HI. Wh"t ' syournam.e1 pet in the central memory. to store the personality Haits, An arboreal robot could seem more useful than a swimmer. A )Ch r ls This pro,ram Is about classltlcatlon anj stereotyplnc. the learned infonnation about local terrain, voice and speech husky outdoor pet might be needed instead of one that sleeps Pl e
nent system. perhaps it would not be such an emmional let's explore thel~, wrench 10 change the vehicle, the vessel in which the char- We all know about college students, rl,ht? PaMpe red, unap;lreclatlve, selt In th!! 10 rms •. , acter is embodied. Copyright © 1977 by the United Stotes RObotics SocietY Your tum, Use two l Ines If you neeJ them. Eve ryone knows ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• a tel,lale Is ... )jependent, Illogical, fickle )valn, bad at math Now ahout the c1lucaslan race, they're ... Micro-Mice Maze Contest )colonlzers, eltplolters, controllers ot the world's wealth ...... )dOlliinated by ""'l!!s and technolo&y The thin" about Protestent pecple Is that they _ OK robotic fans, how about building a micro~ased mouse? )are sr~u&, seit-ri&hteous That can navigate mazes? Spectrum ,a publication of the IEEE )want to Impose theIr ways on others is sponsoring a contest: you design and build a mouse, they 00 you kn0w how math majors are stereotype'.l here at Stantor1? )"0 design and build a mare. Plans are still in preliminary stages; Co ask an upperclassman_ we'll keep you informed as things develop. Or get yourself on Spectrum's mailing list by contacting: Howard Falk , Man· All rl&ht, Chris; aging Editor, Spectru m,IEEE, Inc., 345 East 47th Street, New Jepen,Jen t, Illo&lcal , tickle York, NY, 10017, (212) 644-7574. 'lain. baJ ,)t math colonizers, eltplolters, controlle r s of the worll1's wealth ,10I1Inate
10 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY·AUGUST 11 Traditional programming languages are are in the April and May issues of our sis T: the Type command types out on the often stumbling blocks to teachers and ter publication, Dr. Dobb's Journal. tenninal the text which rollows on •o others who don't want to learn to pro· the sanle line. "_ 0 gram but want to use computers to teach 8080 PILOT is available electrically by A: the Ask (or Answer of Accept) Com , "o .~ lt~ particuJar subjects via instructional dia· dialing in (the preferred mode), pape r mand causes the computer to pause • " 0 • • " • 0 logues. Many people have found that tape, ICOM and ISIS-II diskettes, and and wait for user input. - o.. . PI LOT is a way around the problem. The 9-track magnetic tape. Contact Bill Ford, M; the Match command checks to see if language is compact and powerful, well· National Library of Medicine, Lister Hill what the user typed in for the last Ask suited for CAl which requires li ttle com Center for Biomedical Communication, command matches any of the items puting facility. Even first graders have 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD listed after the M: command. If there learned to write story·generating pro 20014. lister Hill is also developing an is a match, the match flag is turned grams in PILOT. extended PILOT for the NOVA/EC LIPSE on; if there is no match, the match family of computers. flag is not turned on. Home and school microcomputers are J: the Jump command causes a branch to proliferating at a rapid rate; now is the Another source of information on PILOT the label named: that command will time to get easy-to-learn and easy-to-use is the PILOT Infonnation Exchange, run be executed next. languages onto cheap computers_ People's by Gregory Yob, PO Box 354, Palo Alto, Y: and N; the Yes and No commands test Computers will continue to offer assist CA 94301. He maintains a library ofma the match flag. 'JY:' means 'jump, if ance to that end. We published source terials in PILOT, source code in several the match flag is yes, or turned on.' , code in our Va! 5 No 5 for an experi· languages, and a me mbership list with a If the Y or N command occurs by it· • mental version of Z·80 PI LOT by Dean brief note as to who is doing what. self, the "Type' command is used . 'N:' • Brown of Zilog. We've continued to means 'type this ir the match flag is • report on revisions, and we'll let you • • • no, or IUmed off.' know as soon as it's available on paper A bri ef summary of PILOT commands: E: the End command stops execution of tape- it'll cost under $10. that part or the program in which it R: the Remark command indicates that occurs. • ..o John Starkweather, PILOT's originator, the text which roll ows on the same C: the Compute command, if available, "• • has completed an 8080 PILOT under con line is a comment about what that pennits evaluation of at least some • tract from the National Library of Medi part of the progranl does, and is not arithmetic expressions. • cine. The user's manual and source code part or the program. U: the Use command calls subroutines. •
, • ~ , g •o • • • , • • •0 " OI IP ..c .... ~ • .. " ...0 . 0 • - "• • .. ::: t, -;::.II!! o •o • - "0 _a • .... IP IP U'" o• • ~ 01 ....
• •o o , .•• • : • •" ~ •· u -• • o _ 0 g : ~ 0 .•• • ..• • --• .. -• • g : .• •• • ~ .. .0 ! • ~ " o •· o • • • • • o • -" •o • • •o • •00 • o •• • • , • .• u •• - ·". • • • • • u ..o .."ttl",·.. • • • ,• • •u u , •· .• < <• u • •o o •u ~... o. ..• • o : • ~ o 8 • o o -•o o u < • • • • ••• • • • -~ • _• , ...u u' • • • • H, " ~ . u o • .. "0' " .. • • • • ,• · o o • , " _ u • ~ 0 .. · ... • • • • • • .~ - ... "" H 0 .. o o ~ .0 • •o • _ u. • " , • • • ~ • • "o ...... • • ... •o • ., •o • • 01 U I U • • - ~ • .•" • ~ • o 01 ,.0 0 o• •u ~• <• ~• o u< Z .. ""...... ·... ,.., .... 01 • ,,01 ...... o o • •~ ~ • • •• • o • ! o ·.. ·.. " .. u,,~ · .. o • 8 • . •, o •o • ...... • .:;-: 'II'" :ll 01. • o ....- O~ • .. . g " -... "," ..0::: ...... GI • .... JULY ·AUGUST 14 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS 15 The HP·25 programmable calculator is the lowest priced mem A COMPUTER IN YOUR POCKET FOR $1451 a . key in a-value ber of the Hewlett·Packard programmable calculator line. It has 49 programming steps, eight data storage registers and X - product of z2 and a eight conditional comparisons: a computer for $145. It's x . key in x-value 'bang per buck' is hard to beat. This article is intended for the individual with little or no programming experience. An ENTER - move product, x-value up in stack HP-25 with 'HP-25 Owners Handbook' should be available. b - key in b·value This article should be considered a supplement to the hand book rather than a replacement for it. X - product of x and b + . add az2 and bx An easy way to learn programming is to start with a simple equation such as the equation for a straight line, y "" b + mx, c - key in c-value where m is the slope and b is the y intercept. First. turn the + -add cto bx + az2 HP-25 on, switch to PRGM and key in the following series of keystrokes. line K,y Display Remarks This is a rather cumbersome calculation if this calculation is 01 RCL 3 2403 Recall x in REG 3 to be done a number of times. It would be simpler to use a program like that given below. There are two different ver 02 RCL 2 2402 Recall m in REG 2 PROGRAMMING sions, one includes the constants in the program and the other 03 X 61 Product of m and x uses registers for the constants. It is also possible to generate the x-value automatically as was done before in the equation O. RCL 1 2401 Recall b in REG 1 y=b+mx. 05 + 51 Add b to mx for y The First, the program to calculate y = c + bx + az2 with the con RIS 7. Display y 06 stants in the program is shown. 07 GTO 01 1301 Return to program start Switch to RUN and then f PRGM to beginning of program. Store b in register 1, m in register 2 and x in register 3. Press R/S to run the program. For x : 3, m '" 2 and b = 1, Y '" 7. For line K,y Display Remarks x'" 4, m = 3 and b'" 2, y '" 14. For all values on the right hand 01 5 side of the equation equal to 10. y = 110. Try these values out 05 Key in b, 5 in this case to see if the program has been entered correctly, 02 RCL 3 2403 Recall x in REG 3 03 X 61 Multiply 5 by x M and b are constants and usually do not need to be changed too often. The above program may be rewritten with the val O. STO 6 2306 Store product in REG 6 ues for m and b in the program. let m = 3 and b = 2; the pro- 05 RCL 5 2405 Recall z in REG 5 gram is as follows. • 06 RCl5 2405 Recall z in REG 5. again BY OAVID W. JOHNSTON line K,y Display Remarks 07 X 61 Square of I K,y 08 3 03 Key in a. 3 in this case 01 RCL 3 2403 Recall x in REG 3 line Display Remarks This equation is rather simple and can be solved without pro 02 3 03 Key in 3 01 0 00 Key in 0 gramming, but for more than several solutions programming is 09 X 61 Multiply 3 by z2 more efficient. The sequence of keys is shown below. 03 X 61 Product of 3 and x 02 STO 3 2303 Store in REG 3 10 RCl6 2406 Recall REG 6 O. 2 02 Key in 2 03 RCl3 2403 Recall x in REG 3 x . key in x-value 11 + 51 Add contents of REG 6 to 3z2 05 + 51 Add 2 to 3x for y 04 PAUSE 1474 Display x for a second ENTER - move x-value up in stack 12 01 Key in c, first 1 06 RIS 7. Display y 05 3 03 Key in 3 m . key in m-value 13 0 00 then 0, to make 10 07 GTO 01 1301 Return to program start 06 X 61 Product of 3 and x x . product of x and m 14 + 51 Add 10 to obtain y 07 2 02 Key in 2 b . key in b·value 15 RIS 74 Display y As before, switCh to RUN and f PRGM. Store x in register 3 08 + 51 Add 2 to 3x for y + . add product and b·value 16 GTO 01 1301 Return to program start and press R/S to run the program. It is possible to simplify the 09 PAUSE 1474 Display y for a second program by replacing line 01 with NOP and keying in the x It is not as easy to solve a more complex equation. The key value before pressing R/S. 10 01 Key in 1 sequence given below is for the equation y = c + bx + az2. 11 STO + 3 235103 Store 1 in REG 3. adding To use this program press f PRGM, store x in REG 3, store z The above program can be expanded $0 that x values are auto to contents in REG 5 and press R/S. For x = 4 and z = 2, you should matically generated, starting with 0 and increasing in incre· z . key in z-value gety =42; for x '" 1 and z = 1. you should gety '" 18. If GTO 03 1303 Go to line 03 ments of 1 to as large as desired. The program is as follows. 12 gx2 - square z·value x = 10 and z = 10. then y "" 360. The above program may be 16 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY-AUGUST 17 modified to enter x and z by using the RIS key as shown Line Key Display Remarks The rest of the program is as before and it is run as before. below. 01 3 03 Key in d, 3 in this case The program may be changed so that the constants, a, b, c and Line Key Display Remarks 02 ENTER 31 Move 3 up in stack d, are entered by register instead of being part of the program. 01 5 05 Key in b, 5 in this case 03 RIS 74 Stop program, key in w It may be written as follows. 02 RIS 74 Stop program, key in x 04 ENTER 31 Move w up in stack 03 X 61 Multiply 5 and x 05 3 03 Key in exponent 3 Line Key Display Remarks 04 STO 6 2306 Store product in REG 6 06 fyx 1403 Raise w to 3rd power 2401 05 RIS 74 Stop program, key in z 07 X 61 Multiply w3 by 3 01 RCL 1 Recall d in REG 1 06 gx2 15 02 Square z 08 STO 1 23 01 Store in REG 1 02 ENTER 31 Move d up in stack Key in w 07 3 03 Key in a, 3 in this case 09 5 05 Key in a, 5 in this case 03 RIS 74 04 ENTER 31 Move w up in stack 08 X 61 Multiply 3 by z2 10 ENTER 31 Move a up in stack 2 09 RCL 6 2406 Recall REG 6 11 RIS 74 Stop program, key in z 05 ,x 1502 Square w 06 X 61 Multiply w2 by w 10 + 51 Add contents of REG 6 to 3z2 12 ,x2 1502 Square z 2 07 X 61 Multiply w3 by d 11 01 Key in c, 13 X 61 Multiply 5 timesz 08 ST06 2306 Store dw3 in REG 6 12 o 00 10 in this case 14 STO + 1 235101 Add product to REG 1 09 RCL2 2402 Recall a in REG 2 13 + 51 Add 10 to obtain y 15 7 07 Key in b, 7 in this case 10 ENTER 31 Move a up in stack 14 RIS 74 Display y 16 RIS 74 Stop program, key in x 11 RIS 74 Key in z 15 GTO 01 1301 Return to program start 17 X 61 Multiply 7 times x 2 18 STO + 1 235101 Add product to REG 1 12 gx 1502 Square z 19 RCL 1 2401 Recall REG 1 13 X 61 Multiply z2 by a To use this program press f PRGM. Press RIS, then key in x. 20 1 01 Key in c, first 1 14 STO + 6 235106 Add az2 to REG 1 Press RIS, then key in z. Press RIS to ready program for next 15 RCL 3 2403 Recall b in REG 3 x and z values. Test program by using values given for program 21 0 00 then 0, to make 10 FINALLY! using REG. 22 + 51 Add contents of REG 1 to 10 16 RIS 74 Key in x A REFERENCE BOOK 23 RIS 74 Stop program, display y 17 X 61 Multiply x by b If the constants, a, b, and c, change quite a bit, it would be 24 GTO 01 1301 Return to program start 18 STO+6235106 Add bx to REG 1 more convenient to store them in registers as well as the vari· for Home Computer Users! 19 RCL6 2406 Recall REG 6 abies. Another way would be to store the constants in regis· ters and read the variables with the RIS key. It would also be 20 RCL 4 2404 Recall c in REG 4 * Nuts·and·bolts and survey articles on software, hard· possible to read in both constants and variables with the RIS 21 + 51 Add contents of REGs 6 and 4 ware, applications, and the future, for the experienced key, but this would be quite a few entries per program run. It and the not·so..experienced user of micros. would be possible to generate x or z automatically as was done In order to use this program, press f PRGM; then press RIS 22 RIS 74 Display y and key in w (Note: w must be greater than 0 or an Error dis· with the equation y • b + mx. 23 GTO 01 1301 Return to program start * Hundreds of companies and stores selling hardware, play will result). Now, press RIS and key in z. Next, press AIS software, peripherals and offering all sorts of services and key in x. Lastly, press RIS to obtain lIalue of y. The above are listed with their names and addresses. With the abolle background, it is possible to consider a more program will not run if w is equal to or less than O. The first complicated equation such as y .. c + bx + az2 + dw3. The pro· 7 steps may be changed, as shown below, so it will run with * An index of the articles from the major hobbyist maga· gram may be written as follows. any value of w. The program may be used in the following manner. Store d, a, zines plus information on magazines in the field. band c in registers 1,2,3 and 4 respectively. Press f PRGM and then RIS. Next, key in w, press RIS. Then, key in z and * Bibliographies on different areas so you can investigate press RIS. Key in x and press RIS to obtain value of y. them further. Line Key Display Remarks The above examples show some of the ways that the HP·25 01 3 03 Key in d, 3 in this case can be programmed. They are by no means comprehensive, You'll wonder how you ever got by without it. pce's but it is hoped that they will prove helpful to those who wish Reference Book is available for $4.95 plus 60¢ for ship 02 ENTER 31 Move 3 up in stack to dellelop their programming skills. As stated before, an ping and handling (in Califomia add 29¢ sales tax). Order 03 RIS 74 Stop program, key in w HP·25 with 'Hp·25 Owner's Handbook' should be allailable to with your check from: get the most benefit from this article. ENTER 31 Move w up in stack 04 PCC's Reference Book 05 gx2 1502 Square w Last minute update: Hewlett Packard has announced their Department G Hp·25c with a new type of memory, making possible the 1263 EJ Camino Real X 61 Cubew 06 storage of programs for selleral weels or more. Its price Menlo Park, California 94025 07 X 61 Multiply w3 by 3 is $200. • 18 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY·AUGUST 19 SR-56 PROGRAMS COMPUTER B~,-,KS FOR These programs for the SR·56 caJcu!alor are in the public domain: you just pay copy costs, 5¢ per page, and supply CHILDREN a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope). Be sure to pro vide an adequately large SASE for the number of sheets BY BETSY ROSEN you order. The postage of the SASE should be computed at four Xerox sheets for one oz. It would be 13¢ for 14 sheets, This oven'iew of computer literacy books for children 24¢ for 5·8 sheets, 35¢ for 9·12 sheets, etc. To obtain the STATISTICS brings together an array offact, falltasy, and future 22 Multiple Correlation (3 Variables) Coefficients IS. number of sheets divide the cost by 5, thus a 15¢ program views for your penlsal. 17lOse ofyou with home 23 linear Partial Correlation (3 Variables) Coefficients 15¢ would have three sheets. computer systems may be interested in another 24 Linear Partial Carr. (4 Var., 1 Cons\., 1 Ignor.) IO¢ type of computer book for children, the 25 Reliability or Probability of Success of Component To order programs send a self-addressed stamped envelope 5. how-to-program book. The People's Com with price of programs; stamps accepted, please make the puter CompallY Bookstore offers 'Teach PHYSICS 13¢or less, to: David W. Johnston Yourself BASIC', Voillmes I & 2, by 26 Lens Maker's Equation (Thin and Thick Lenses) IO¢ P.O. Box 3781 Bob Albrecht, $2.95 each, for kids 27 Lorentz-Einstein Transformation Equations !O¢ Washington, D.C. 20007 10 and up; 'My Computer Likes Me 28 Spectral Series of Excited Hydrogen Atoms 5¢ When I Speak in BASIC', by Bob 29 Hyperfocal Distance; Near, Far Depth of Field IO¢ Submitted programs should be Xerox reproducible and should Albrecht, $2.00, for kids 11 and liP; 30 Projectile Motion Equations IO¢ contain: fannula or equation with necessary description; pro 'BASIC', by Albrecllt, Finkel, aJ/d 31 Current in Series AC Circuit IO¢ gram listing including line number, key, display and remarks; Brown, $4.95, for kids 14 and lip. 32 Column Design Program 10¢ user instructions with solved example and author's name and Alld we hear that Bob Kahn at Lawrence 33 Planck's Radiation Law 1O¢ address if someone wants more infonnation on the program_ Hall of Science is recommending Dwyer 34 Venturi Flowmeter 10. The author is the best expert on the program. A copy should and Kaufman s book 'A Guided Tour of 35 Number of Atoms in Cube and Sphere IO¢ be sent to David W. Johnston at the above address and also to: BASIC Programming' (Houghton Mifflin, $3. in 5. Richard C. Vanderburgh 36 Capillary Rise Tube for kids as young as 8, although the pubU'"",,', 37 Probability of a Missile Hit IO¢ SR-52 USERS CLUB descripn'on suggests completion of first year of jUl/ior 38 Radioactive Decay of Mother and Daughter EJements 10< 9459 Taylorsville Road high school math as a prerequisite! 39 Dlumination in Image on Film 10. Dayton,OH 45424 40 Several Thin Lens Focal Length Calculations IO¢ 41 Program for Nodal Point Distances IO¢ Computers are unavoidable today: they're in schools, banks, Computers, Computers.Fiction, and Programming (Electronic 42 Lens Angle of View and Illumination at Angle IO¢ consumer markets, and even libraries. So the time has come to Computers). I then added any listing under these headings 43 Rocket Acceleratjon, Velocity and Distance IO¢ talk of computer literacy for people of alI ages. For the novice, from the three children's collections in the Champaign/Urbana 44 Program for Calculation of Orbital Velocity 10. computer literacy is having a basic knowledge of simple con (illinois) area. Finally, I found twelve titles in these libraries 45 Center of Mass Calculation for N Particles IO¢ cepts and tenninology. The aim of such literacy is to provide which I could preview personally and I added to my Jist from 46 Thennal Expansion; linear, Area, Volume Coefficients 10. the novice with a feeling of understanding when confronted the bibliographies they included. 47 Program for Simple Harmonic Motion IO¢ with an 'expert' explanation. MATHEMATICS 48 Temperature Conversion Program IO¢ 1 20-Digit Product 5. 48A Thennal and Pressure Equilibrium of a Gas IO¢ 2 Real Number Factorial 5. 10 reviewing these materials I attempted to look at the quality 3 Three Simultaneous Equations 5. Computer literacy at the novice level is needed by children as of the book for its intended audience and to see ifit might be 4 4 x 4 Detenninan t 5. well as adults. Children learn a great deal from early introduc used with less sophisticated readers among the adult popula· 5 3 linear Equations in 3 Unkowns 5. tion to subjects via fiction and non-fiction. A sense of famili tion. Therefore, I was looking for the presence of absence of technical jargon which is often used in the more sophisticated 6 N! accuracy for~999 5. GAMES arity with a subject gives a child confidence in pursuing it, and 7 Factors of 10tegers (three programs) 20. 49 Nim B IO¢ the feeling that this is an area in which he 'belongs'. Therefore, materials in any field, and for clear simple explanations with 8 Area of a General Quadrilateral 10¢ 50 Sun-Tsu's Trick IO¢ computer literacy should begin before the first course offered good accompanying illustrations. I looked at fonnat, style, 9 Polar to Rectangular, Bolt Circle (three programs) 15. 5 I Game of Nimb 10. in the school system. organization and scope with the idea of their effect on the 10 Automatic Looping Routine 5. 52 Automatic Strategy Dynamic Nimb 5. potential audience. Formal structure such as chapters, an in II Automatic Factorial Routine 5¢ 53 Twenty-One "A" 5¢ dex, and appendices are an aid to some and a barrier to others. 122 x 2 Matrix Detenninant and Inverse 10. 54 Hi/Lo (0-1000), Guess Your Age in 5 Guesses 5¢ .:)everal dozen books about computers have been written for The author's credentials and the accuracy of the material in 132 x 2 Matrix Add., Sub., and Mull. IS. 55 Pinochle Score Keeper 5¢ children and are available at this time. These are of varying cluded were of interest to me. 1 was looking for whether the 14 Translation and Rotation of Coordinates !O. quality due to pressure on publishers to satisfy a current mar author stated his biases toward his subject or mentioned any 153 x 3 Determinant IO¢ MISCELLANEOUS ket, and the consequent need to produce 'instant' writers in of the potential issues in the field, such as problems of com 16 Hyperbolic and Inverse Hyperbolic Functions IS. 56 Biorhythm 5¢ the field. More such books are constantly appearing. puter privacy. Finally, I looked at style and readability to see 17 Triangle Solution, Given Three Sides 15¢ 57 Biorhythm II 5. if the book contained difficult discussions of simple material. 18 Newton.Raphson Method for Equation Roots !O¢ 58 Biorhythm III 10. 19 Solution of a General Equation 5¢ 59 Daily-compounded Passbook Savings Account 5. My search for such books began with a look at the 1976 What follows is an annotated bibliography of the twelve titles 20 IBM 360/370 Floating Point 5. 60 Shopping Program for Taxable and Non-Taxable Items 5. Olildren's Books in Pn'nl: Subject Guide under the headings 61 Miles per Hour of Racing Car 5. which I saw and a listing of those which I identified but was 21 Polygon Area Programs 5. Automatic Data Processing, Automation, Automation-Fiction, unable to preview. 20 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY·AUGUST 21 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Rusch, Richard B. Man s Marvelous Computer: The Next Bowles, Edmund A. Computers in Humanistic Research. Pren Leed, Jacob. The Computer and Literary Style. Kent State Quarter Century. Simon and Schuster, 1970. 128p. tice Hall, 1967. COMPUTER LITERACY BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL University, 1966. This book is a discussion of the issues which computers will work with in the next quarter century; only a brief introduc Recommended books are marked by an asterisk, -. Prices, Boy Scouts of Ametica. Computers. BSA, 1973. (gr. 6·12) Lewis, Alfred. New World of Computers. Dodd, 1965. tion describes how they work. The book includes a table of wilen available, are 1976 prices. (gr. 3-9) contents and an index. Recommended for grades 5 and up. Braude, Michael. Larry Leams About Computers. Denison, n.d. *Berger, Melvin. Computers. illus. by Arthur Schaffert. Co Synder, Gerald S. Let's Talk About Computers. J. David, Uncoln, Harry. The Computer. and Music. Cornell Univer ward, 1972. 44p. $4.49. 1973. 112p. $5.95; sity, 1970. A better simplistic presentation for grades K·3. It covers input, The book is recommended only as supplemental reading for Bruton, Erick and Langdon Goodman. Automation. Soccer, n.d. output, control and memory briefly. the intermediate grades because the format was confusing. ita loehlin, John C. Computer Models of Personality. Random lics were used both for words not being defined and for words House, 1968. .~ Those Amazing Computers! Day, 1973. 189p. $5.95. being defined. 'Bits' were dermed and the pronounciation Burck, G. "The Boundless Age of the Computer" Fortune, Illustrated with photographs and organized by uses, this book given was 'bytes'. Organized by uses, the table of contents and 69: 101 (March 1964) Part one of four parts. lohberg, Rolf and Thea Lutz. Computers at Work. Stirling, includes a table of contents, a bibliography for further reading glossary appear adequate to the book. 1969. and an index. It includes brief material on input, output, con Corliss, William R. Computers. U.S. Atomic Energy Commis· trol unit, programming and flow charts, central processor, .Srivastava, Jane Jonas. Computers. illus. by James and Ruth sion, 1966. 56p. Meadow, Charles. The Story of Computers. Harvey House, memory and data banks. A section mentions the dangers of McCrea. Crowell, 1972. 32p. $4.50. 1970. 124p. (gr. 5·8) misuse of computer privacy. Recommended for grades 1-4, this short book includes a lot of Cohen, L. The Human Side of Computers, New Ed. McGraw, information very simply presented. Input unit, punched cards, 1975 (gL 7·12) Morrisin, Phillip and Emily. eds. Charles Babbage and His Corliss, William R. Computers. U.S. Atomic Energy Commi paper tapes, records, plastic tapes, oral input, program instrUC Calculating Engines. Dover Pubs., 1961 . sian, 1966. 56p. tions, programmers, languages (ALGOL, FORTRAN, Cook, Joseph. Electronic Brain: How It Works. Putnam, 1969. This summary with bibliography for further reading would be COBOL), arithmetic unit, memory unit bank, output unit, (gr. 5 and up) Penrose, L.S. "Self· Reproducing Machines" ScientiFIC Amer· a starting point for a serious student. It includes problems and control unit, flowcharts plus a little history and some uses are ican, 200:105 (June 1959) more detailed technical information in a more concise format presented. then any of the other titles listed. For grades 7 and up. Davis, H.M. "Mathematical Machines" Scientific American, Pfeiffer, John. Tile Thinkillg Machille. Uppincott, 1962. Steinberg, Fred. Computers. Franklin Watts, Inc. 1969. 89p. 180,28 (April 1949) ·De Rossi, Claude. Computers: tools for today. Children's For the intemlediate grades, this book is a phocographlc essay Pierce, J.R. "How Smart Are Computers?" Saturday Eve/ling Press, 1972. 87p. $6.60 with its emphasis on what the computer does. A little dated in DeRossi, Clause. Computers: Tools For Today. Chlldren's Post, 234:24 (November 4, 1961) Written for grades 4-6, the text is clear and gives simple infor presenting punched cards as the input method and in the looks Press, 1972. 87p. (gr. 4·8) mation about binary addition, bits, punched cards, card read of the book. However the pages are sprinkled with both men Piper, Robert. Story of Compllters. Harcourt Brace, 1964. Dilson, Jesse. CUrves und Automation. Soccer, 1971. (gr. 7-9) ers, magnetic tape, programming, programmers, flowcharts, and women (Only men in the real computer dealings, women (gr. 7 and up) and a little history. A table of contents and index are included. where the public and computer meet). It includes a table of contents and an index. Desmonde, William H. Computers and Their Uses. Prentice Hall,1964. Ray, Jo Anne. Careers ill Computers. Learner, 1973. Iv. (unp) Halacy, D.S., Jr. Computers: The Mac/lines We TIlink With. (gr K-4) Harper and Row, 1969. 279p. $9.95. Englehardt, S.L. Computers. Pyramid Pubs., 1962. For the computer buff, this title (for grades 7 and up) is a dis· Reichardt, Jasia. The Computer in Art. Van Nostrand-Rein· cussion of the computer and its place in society which relates holdt, 1971. Franke, !-Iubert W. Computer Graphics; Computer Art. Phai. the computer to literature of the past and present well as as don, 1971. presenting basic infomlation about the computer's history and Rice, Jean. My Friend the Computer. Houghton Mifflin, possible future. It has a table of contents and an index. 1976 Greenberger, M. "The Computers of Tomorrow" The Atlantic. 21H3 (May 1964) Kenyon, Raymond G. 1 011/ Learn About Calculators And Rusch, Richard B. Computers: Their History and How They Work. Simon and Schuster, 1969. (gr. 7 and up) Compurers. Harper and Row, 1961. ll2p. $5.49. BIBLIOGRAPHY Halacy, Dan. Olarles Babbage: Father of the Computer. Mac· This book is really a 'how to build your own' and includes Millan, 1970. (gr. 7-12) much more about history and 'how to' than it does informa Recommended grade levels were provided by the publishers. -----.Mall s Marvelous Computer: TIle Next Quarter Century. Simon and Schuster, 1970. 128p. (gr. 5 and up) tion about computers. It includes a table of contents, glossary, -- - -. Computers: TIle Machines We Think With. Harper and an appendix of sources for simple kits. Recommended for and Row, 1969. 27p. (gr.7 and up) grades 5 and up, the instructions seemed to be plausible for Adler, Irving. Thinking Machines. Rev. Ed. Day, 1973 Sanders, Donald H. Computers ill Business. McGraw-Hill, that age. --- -. What Makes A Computer Work? Little, 1973. 1972. Arnold, Pauline and Percival White. Automation Age. Holiday, (g,.3·5) • Meadow, Charles. The Story of Computers. illus. Anne Lewis. 1963. Seldin, Joel. The CljQllenge of Men and Machines. rev. ed. Harvey House, 1970. 124p. $5.89. Holtzman, Wayne H. Computer-Assisted Instruction Harper Coward, 1971. (gr.6-8) Recommended for grades 5.8; a glossary, index, bibliography Baker, Eugene. I Want To Be A Computer Operator. Children's and Row, 1970. and table of contents are included. I felt that De Rossi was Press, 1973. (gr. K-3) Seligsohn, 1.J. Your Career iii Computer Programming. Mess· simpler, clearer and contained more information. Jones, Weyman. Computers: The Mind Stretcher. Dial, 1969. ner, 1967. (gr.7 and up) Berger, Melvin. Computers. Coward, 1972. 44p. (gr. K·3) Ray, Jo Anne. Careers in Computers. Learner, 1973. lv(mp). Kenyon, Raymond G. I Can Learn About Calculators and Snyder, Gerald S. Let's Talk About Computers. Jonathan $3.95. ---. TllOse Amazing Computers! Day, 1973. 189p. (gr. 5-9) Computers. Harper and Row, 1961. 112p. (gr. 4-6) David, 1973. 122p. (gr. 3-6) A career book with photographic fonnat, written for K-4 and including sex stereotypes and no information relating to pre Bernstein, Jeremy. The Analytical Engine. Random House, Kahn, Bernice. Computers at Your Service. Prentice·Hall, paration for the various jobs. 1966. 1962. (gr. 3-6) Continued on page 58 ... 22 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JUL V·AUGUST 23 - THE &'5 CAPTURE? X THE "5 CAPTURE P + H & & G , Z & && 0 , & U Q N + B + + C I V ,+ CAPTURE K , + + + " " + FE J 5 A &'5 CAPTURE? I THE THE "5 CAPTURE E + H & & G P BY MAC OG LESBY Z & && 0 & U & N + & + CAPTURE is a game which needs a computer. Its help is essenliru to even set up the + & & T playing board. Since the same beginning configuration wouldn't likely appear again in a & ,+ million lifetimes, the replay option allows the user to go back and try again with the & , same set up. But don't count on the program making the same moves, even if you do. , , + " The user of CAPTURE gets involved with the concepts of randomness, density, estima " + , 5 U tion, metric measure and strategy. " THE &'5 CAPTURE? 0 THE "5 CAPTURE Z WANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAPTURE? YESI PLEASE , & R & & G HERE'S THE BOARD AT THE STARTl , , && & & & + H & N M y G + & + E Z T AX 0 + & & + U & • ,+ Q N & , + B + , , + " + C I " + V ++ , 5 K LW P " + + + RD THE &'5 CAPTURE? N + THE "5 CAPTURE G FE J 5 , & & , , GOING IN TURN~ THE PLAYERS (I AND &) CAPTURE ANY LETTER ON , , && & THE BOARD. NOT COUNTING SPACES~ ALL CHARACTERS WITHIN ONE & & CENTIMETER OF THE CAPTURED LETTER ARE ALSO CAPTURED AND & & CHANGE TO THAT PLAYER'S SYMBOL. + & & + & & THE GAME ENDS AFTER FOUR TURNS OR IF ALL LETTERS HAVE BEEN & ,+ CAPTURED. THE PLAYER WITH THE MOST CAPTIVES WINS. & , , , + " TO CAPTURE, TYPE ANY SINGLE LETTER SHOWN ON THE BOARD. " + , 5 TYPE 'STOP' TO STOP OR 'RESIGN' TO RESIGN. " HOW MANY HUMAN PLAYERS (lOR 2) 1 1 OK~ THE COMPUTER WI LL PLAY THE "S. ••• THE "5 WIN!I WHO GOES FIRST (l:COMPUTER 2:YOU)72 THE "5 HAVE 16 CAPTIVES AND THE &'5 HAVE IS, HERE WE GO ••• VANT TO PLAY AGAIN? YES JULY ·AUGUST 25 24 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS = 1 ~ •w -0 ~ o ,. • w ..= . ~ ",w o -<, •• W wo•• ,"0 w> •• ...• .• •• 0 .ww0 • " ..o • i ", • • '0>- o• 00 ••=w ,- w • ,- • no• • • • • •w. • :: 00 o o.f. • wo -• , ~ ••o W o "&; .c_0 d •o " o • 0 " •• ,w ~ « ~2 , « • Iio 00 • .~ > « • -. x. aN:;-. o o no i_li • >. n ~ :. , _n," ~Zi:' 'w oW ::" . • sli'i • w ; ••• • '0 ;; -.n•• _"0 . · ·-. - -"- • ,,,- .. , .. •• , i --. ---_0_ '" - 01._01 0-· ...... , .- ." • , .. ISO .. ·--<- • • .. SI ..... • o_W o ,a" • ...... "a o ~ JULY·AUGUST 27 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS -~--~~~~~--~~~~------HEATHKIT COMPUTERS We/come /0 the home compliter [ie/d, Heath Company! Were THE Hll looking [onvard to your promised quality, service, and soft ware support. At/d how about lower pn'ces (see page 31) while The HII is based on DEC's 16-bit LSI-II processor which you're at it? gives it the operating characteristics of a standard PDP-II minicomputer; its instruction set is virtually identical to others Since 1926, when Ed Heath marketed his $199 Parasol air PDP-II computers. The system features a wired and tested plane kit, Heath Company has been selling a wide variety of CPU with 4Kxl6 dynamic RAM, a compact switching power consumer electronic products, usually in kit foml. Product supply, a built-in cooling fan, a built·in monitor program and categories have included Amateur Radio, hi-fi components, a 12-slot back panel providing room for 6 boards (each takes test instruments, auto and marine accessories, black and white 2 slots). and color TVs, as weU as general consumer and educational products. And now Heath, a division of Scheumberger, Lid., Each Hil system comes with a complete DEC system soft has announced its new line of home/personal computing pro ware package containing an editor, PAL-II assembler, linker, ducts for hobby, home, educational and small business appli on-line debug package (ODT), input/output executive, BASIC cations. and FOCAL. HII purchasers may join DECVS (The Digital Equipment Computer Users Society), a clearinghouse for the Many people are excited about the equipment, for the manu more than 2S,000 worldwide members who wish loexchange facturer has a half century reputation for quality, reliability, programs and infonnation. The DECUS library contains about and service. Successful assembly of their kits frequently has 800 programs which can run on the H II. been accomplished by persons with little or no electronic Ie skills and knowledge. Instruction manuals have been thorough The HIt as presently configured will support up to 20K of and accurate to meet the needs of such customen. Buying a memory; expansion is planned. The current H II is paper tape Heathkit computer means you can expect that an accurate oriented. manual and optional educational materials will be available. Heath's attention to support, service and education are wei· PERIPHERALS come additions to the computer field where some estimate Heathkit H8 Digital Computer Heathkit H11 Digital Computer SO-90% of kits never become operational. Heath's product line includes interface and memory boards as listed in the 'Heathkit Prices' table. In addition, a number Each of Heath's kits are trial-built by at least 100 people THEHS The HS's multHasking capability was demonstrated to those of other peripherals are available. ranging from experts to first-time kit builders before they attending a June I press party at Heath Company headquarters are presenled to the public. Heatll spokesmen clrum that The HS is built around a wired and tested CPU board contain in Benton Harbor, Michigan. As a game of 'Hangman' ran on The H9 is an alphanumeric video term in al which will work 'anyone' can build their kits. With Heatll's reputation be ing an S·bit SOSOA microprocessor. It is designed for turnkey a video display, the LED front panel display played a game with any digital computer. The system uses a 67 key ASCII hind it, perhaps so. They've been busily training service operation; a programmable speaker provides audio feedback as of 'Chase' and the programmable speaker provided 'musical' upper case keyboard with an SO character, 12 line fonnat on a representatives to deal with their computer line, and their to whether you've perfomled an operation correctly (short accompaniment. Meanwhile the system monitor kept mon 12 inch CRT. Other features include cursor control, a batch reputation for service and troubleshooting support will beep) or not (long beep). Its intelligent front panel has a 9-dig itoring. mode, a plot mode, and a fonnat option to display four 20 doubtless be maintained in this area. it 7·segment octal display and a 16-key octal keyboard. character columns of text. Baud rate is selectable from J 10 The HS software package that comes with the system includes to 9600. Standard serial interfaces include EIA, 20mA loop, The company has made a strong committment to providing BH (,Benton Ha rbor') BASIC; an editor, TED-8; an assem and TTL input/output. The I-1 S features a built in lK x S ROM (Read Only Memory) back up for its computer line in the fonn of software, com bler, HASL-8; a debugge r, BUG·S and the panel monitor, that contains a monitor program designed to pennit you to plete documentation and service support, self-instructional PAM·S. Extended BH BASIC is available at extra cost. System The HIO is Heath's paper tape reader/punch unit. It will func· load or store a program by pushing a single button. Register programming courses, and a Heath Users' Group (HUG). features include lower case output capabilities, command com tion with any digital computer; standard one inch wide rolls and memory contents can be dynamically displayed while a or fanfold paper tap~s are used. Tape is read at 50 characters program is running. pletion (e.g., you type just the first few letters of a command, Their new line is built around two systems, one an S-bit then the system completes the command for you), tape hand per second (cps); the punch operates at 10 cps. The read and machine using the SOSOA microprocessor, and the other incor· ling and syntax error detection during input. BH BASIC, an punch units may be operated simultaneously. HIO features porating Digital Equipment Corporation's (DEC) LS I·II, Heath considered using the S-iOO bus, but rejected it in favor adaptation to Dartmouth BASIC, includes PEEK, POKE, PIN, include a copy mode for tape duplication, a built-in heavy a 16-bit computer. System-compatible peripherals now include of an in-house design. The 'Benton Harbor' or 'BH bus' as it OUT, sin, cos, log and a user function to pennil access to duty power supply, and a stepper motor for reliable reader a TV-type temlinai, a paper-tape reader/punch, a cassette will probably be known, uses 50-pin connectors. The mother machine language routines. In BH BASIC all arguments are tape drive. The interface is standard parallel TTL. player/recorder, a 'hard copy' printing tenninal, and serial board has 10 slots. Interrupts are on-board; data and address expressions; it runs in SK. Extended BH BASIC, which runs in and parallel interfaces. Input/output interfaces, additional locations are in easy-to-remember numeric sequences. The 12K, also includes strings and a number of other unique func· Heath offers DEC's LA36 DEC Writer II as a 30 cps hard memory, and supplementary software packages complete built-in connection power supply can handle up to 32 K of tions. Heath plans to make available source listings for the copy device. Features include the ability to handle fonns the initial product offerings, which will be available by Sep memory and two input/output interfaces. Bus specifications monitor and the input/output routines for BH BASIC's floal· from 3 inches to 14 7/S inches wide, 12S ASCII upper/lower tember. will be published soon. ing point package. case character set, half or full-duplex control and parity check 28 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY·AUGUST 29 " HEATHKIT PRICES on output. The printing head is designed so that the last These courses will cost about S40-50 each, with additional printed character is always vis.ible. The 20 rnA current loop workbooks available at lower cost. Item Description Cost interface is standard. A fanfold paper option and optional E IA interface are available. HUG, the Heath Users' Group, will perfonn a number of H8 8OS0A based system includes a wired & tested CPU, documen· educational functions, including exchange of information tation; software in audio cassette form. $ 375 A GE tape cassette player/recorder is offered by Heath as a and programs. Heath plans to publish minor software H8-1 4K Static RAM board. $ 140 mass storage device for their 8080·based H8. revis.io/lS through HUG; major revisions will be available H8·2 A parallel I/O card with software. at a modest fee. Membership in HUG will be by subscrip· H8-3 A 4K chip expansion set. S 95 A 6800·based trainer to teach machine language programming tion. H8-5 A serial I/O interface board with 300 & 1200 band audio cassette and interfacing will be available in October at a cost well interface. $ 110 below $200. FUTURE PLANS H9 Video terminal, upper case keyboard. S 530 Hl1 16·bit lSI CPU wired & tested; 4Kx16 dynamic RAM; built-in back SUPPORT MATERIALS In the near fUlUre, Heath plans to develop applications plane; power supply with switching regulators 2 full circuit protection; software and produce educational courses, perhaps using DEC system software package. $1295 Heath now has underway a number of self-instructional computer-assisted instruction. We can look forward to H11·1 4Kx16 static RAM board. $ 275 courses to accompany its computer line; several will appear as seeing better graphics capability (including color), a H11·2 Parallel interface. $ 95 programmed instruction workbooks. A BASIC course is now floppy disk system for the HII. and a printer. Many H11-5 Flexible serial interface $ 95 almost complete and should be available in October at a cost ideas for future development are being considered, of about $30; additional workbooks will be available at low including plug in ROMs and a single·box system - (e.g., CRT, Prices are not yet available for the GE cassette player/recorder and the lA36 DEC Writer II. cost. The 6800 trainer course to teach machine language pro· CPU, floppies and keyboard in a single package.) gramming and interfacing will also be available in mid autumn. For additional information, write Heath Company, Dept. 350-26, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 for their Its apprOXimately $90 price tag will cover the course plus the Heath undOUbtedly is moving in the right direction, with Computer Information Package. components discussed in the course. its emphasis on software, service and education. future developments will depend in part on the wishes of Heath's Assembly language courses for the H8 and HII should be customers; company spokesmen say Heath's way of doing arriving in late 1977 and early 1978. respectively. Heath has business has long been characterized by an attitude of 'the cus contracted with Dymax to write the H8 course, so some famil· tomer will tell us what's wanted.' Do customers want to be iar folk are working on it: Don Inman (author of People's able to buy completely assembled systems? FORTRAN'I Computers' Data Handler series), Bob Albrecht (founder and PASCAL? Applications software for small businesses? Any. fanner editor of this publication and author of its 'Tiny thing is possible. Heath makes a welcome addition to home BASIC' series) and Jerry Brown (author of Instant BASIC). computer business. PERSONAL COMPUTER NETWORK The PCNET (Personal Computer NET • A personal computer with 12· 16K of acters or less. Content tends to be much work) Committee has been functioning in RAM and string BASIC. more informal and direct than conven the Palo Alto area since the April Com • An originate/answer MODEM capable tional media such as business letters. puter Faire. The committee's goal is the of 300BPS creation of regional (followed by na Message system users move rapid Iy to tional) personal computer networks for ward a computer-based personally orien the computer-to·computer transfer of A message service - the ability to send a ted file system containing messages, dis messages and files. A set of network pro· message (generally English text, although tribution lists, text files, etc. The differ tocols should be operable in 8K bytes of almost any file can be sent) is very valu ence is one of kind, not just of degree. machine code, and are designed to be im able. It doesn't sound very dramatic. but plemented in string BASIC. it is surprising how powerful and eHi- The PCNET Committee is about to start a ciency-improving such a message ex· series of experiments. We welcome people change facility is. What keeps ordinary with personal computer systems who The committee believes such a network message services (telephone, telegraph, would like to participate; we're especially should be attractive to personal computer mail) from working as well seems to be a interested in people in the Palo Alto, Cal· users. Participation will be voluntary; you combination of factors: Too slow (mail); ifornia dialing area. We are also most in· often hard to catch someone (phone); terested in similar network efforts else· can decide to participate (or not) on any hard or time consuming to use (mail. tele· where in the country. We'd like to avoid given day of network operation. Network grams); expensive in terms of characters west coast chauvinism and want to work functioning will be relatively insensitive per dollar (phone, telegrams); etc. A com· closely with people in other parts of the to the absence of an appreciable fraction puter based message system overcomes country. of member computers. most of these difficulties. Dave Caulkins 437 Mundel Way Our current thinking indicates the fol People regularly using such a system rap· losAltosCA 94022 lowing tentative equipment required for idly develop a whole new communication work: (415) 328·2411 participation in the network: style. Most messages are brief - 500 char· home: (415)948-5753 Heathkit H10 Papertape Reader/Punch Heathkit H9 CRT Terminal JULY·AUGUST 31 30 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS T And bero... Pariey cln eYen wish him well. F·M.n branches .way once mon: and bellini to I1IpidJy trICe the Counl .. passin,. Ihrouah module I fte. module n\Je1i with Stacia, R"JIslCl$, (;IIel. R.l.ys and Stored-Procram Units. which in byJOOc dlys lI.d kepi tile Von Neuman works O!)en.lina now duert«! •••• 1· and crumblin. inlo diso;rele cOtnpOn:tlll • YOtI go bed< to !he willage. Parity. I "IIV' 10 9"1 bed< aftM the Count! I J Trapped by Ih. fallin, cd", of th_ lale output, Forn.n Man is htld flSl. . and u the evil Count Al191 $lowly dcsoendslhe s'lilll \0 Wllch, $II1all concealed outpul porls In the floor snip open . and btcin 10 output streams or deadly I Di~mbly Gas' PRIf.T ' 00 YOU YAI.T II,sTf.UCTlOI.ST ' , '" II.PUT A~ . SfARf '" If 5UUAlo.I)-'Y' THO: 960 '" DIN L< 201) '" PH),T '" Pflf.7 'HO'~ LAI.Y I.U;;b<;fS II. YOur, Lls7?', BY CARL MAIN ". l/:PUT I. -- _ '" If l:<-e TH"-l. STOP . ".'" Ir A1.S0.)_II.T(!.) TH"I. 211S ...... ,.... ~Je PHi.T , PfWT 'YOU I.AY 01.1."1' HAn. 1.J, lI.Tl~lf ,:t.1.lEf OF 1:U::I>Efs IIi YOUR 1.15 r - '" GOTO 11S '" IF l:e-20 TIIEII 309 I REVERSE II I , U~;IiERS ... Here is Carl Main's program to have the computer (instead of Pf,nT '"~6; PHliT ' FlUHT 1.0'. 1 CAl. OI.LY ~IAI,AUIi. A LIST or 291.01. rE... I::R I:UI'I!'I::~£ , ' a human) play the game of REVERSE (see Vol 5, No 4). The PFliiT 'I r YOU ·JAI.T U: TO TAKE A 1.01:(;£1. LIST. PL[ASE CHAI:G£ TH[ CII'I object is to help kids discover an algorithm for playing RE· '" prl l.T 'STATi:J,o./.T II. LlI:£ Isa , ' '" UOTO 171l VERSE. The flow chart offered with the program listing is I R1.VERSE 5 !IUMBERS '" another way of helping explain how a program works - do ". Pfll:T 'III, ~1.J:L TYPE THL 1.1 ST!' '" un 1._ZEHI.) you find it useful? ". i:AT II.PUT L ,..'" PF.II.T ,., m r,£!:- 11,ITlALIZi:. Th" CO:';LT;;r, IT) f./.r, Il.CICATOLS (e .. I)) ,,~ , ,., 110 YOU :1I'lI,T It.snUCTlOI.t? :YL.!o -I -3 ' ?£'05 0 'Id~ 6 , 8 16 , '1 m C_I. THERE YOU GO I I DID IT IN 5 HOV£SI I! II •• '" ,. , I CAl. \)i..l;Ol.~T1.ATE 1.01.<: ALGOU TlH. TO 1'1.",'1' THt; ";1<1.<' '" F.I::II- CliJ.;CH FCOI. :,oil. or «t;:;V;;I.SI:.'~ ' YOU :111..1.. <.£ "~I'''I1 rOI. THI:. i,Uli!.1-1 DO YOU HAVE AtlOTHER 1. 1 ST tor IU. TO PUT IN ORCER? IYE5 '" F(lf 1-' TO 1,-' k~ I,U:.b.L~S)' ... or 1.1)111.",1.$ II. YOUI. LIS. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• (To be sung to the tune of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald) 8080 MATRIX The Wreck of the The legend lives on from the C.P.U. down To the big loop they call real-time shuffle. SUBROUTINES The loop it is said, never gives up its dead Sequential Files When the skies of November turn gloomy. BY TIM SCULLY With a load of programs eighty thousand lines more ...... Than the Sequential Files take up empty. I'm writing to tell you that I like the magazine's new That good if and when was a bone to be chewed MATRIX ROOT SUBROUTINE (Fortran?) format (statement?). Here's a modified When the gales of November came early. version of "TIle Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". I This subroutine finds the roots (eigenvalues) of the symmetric would like to exchange games with anyone who The wind in the wires made a tattle tale sign matrix A(ND,ND) and returns them as the diagonal elements wants to; I have lots of Streks-mostly in BASIC As a card broke over the reader, of A(ND,ND); the original matrix is destroyed in the process. and a few unfinished. And every me knew, as the system did too, Way back when, Tim Scully founded Aquarius Electronics and The eigenvectors of the matrix A(ND,ND) are returned in the 'Twas the witch of November come stealin'. began designing, building, and marketing biofeedback equip matrix S(ND,ND). The subroutine is iterative. If reduced ac Doug - Dit-Dit -Philips ment. Most recently, he has been applying biofeedback instru curacy is acceptable, line 61090 may be changed to increase McCombs Rd. The dawn came late, swappin' had to wail ments, systems, and techniques for use in drug rehabilitation the maximum allowable value of off-diagonal elements (pre· RD No.2, Box 329 When the gales of November came slashing. programs. One approach has involved using an 8080A micro sently set at 1 x 10,6). This wiJl speed execution of the pro Venetia PA 15367 When afternoon came il was workin' strain computer system for computer analysis of £EG, in an effort gram. In the face of the Interface breakin'. to find ££G correlations of psychological events, Such work 61000 'S(ND,NO) AND B(NO,tID) lUST BE DIHENSIONED BEFORE ENTRY frequently requires use of multivariate statistical analysis, 61001 'THIS ROUTINE FINDS THE EICENVALUES AND When data check came the machine came on deck which involves matrix algebra, Tim has sent People's Com 61002 'EIGENVECTORS OF THE SYMMETRIC MATRIX A(ND,ND) Sayin 'felIas, its 100 rough to check ya'. puters two subroutines which we hope will be of use to oth 61003 'BY THE METHOD OF JAOOBl 61010 I~O:V-O At seven p.m. a main circuit fused in; ers doing such analysis, They are written in Altair Extended 61020 FOR 1-0 10 NO He said 'fellas, it's been good to know ya. BASIC, modified to run on an 8080 system with 64K RAM. 61030 FOR R_O TO NO 61040 V-V+A(I,R)*A(I,K) 61050 NEXT R,t The files wired in, they had B.S. comin' in 61060 FOR 1-0 TO NO And the good flip and flop were in peril, 61070 V-V-A(I,I)*A(I,I) And later that night, its display out of sight, MATRIX INVERSION ROUTINE 61075 S(I , I)-1 61080 NEXT 1 Came the crash of the Sequential Files. 61085 V-SQR(V) This subroutine inverts the square matrix E(ND,ND). Note 61090 VF-(lE-06)*V that the calling program will normally have DIMensioned this 61100 V-V/(ND+1) Does any byte know where the real time clock goes 61110 Q-l When the lists run printers to blotters? matrix and hence it is not reDIMensioned in this subroutine. 61120 p-o 611)0 IF ABS(A(P,Q» 40 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY ·AUGUST 4\ -- - DIAGRAM OF DATA TRANSFER PROGRAM ~~~~~~~~~~~ PROGRAM- DIAGRAM FCOO LOCATION DATA A2) LOAD X register with zero. The program THE DATA HANDLER, FCOl 00 FOOD 07 moves 07 to FD20 FOOl 13 13 to F021 FC02 P FD02 1F FC03 ~g lLOAD ACCUMULATOR IF to FD22 USERS MANUAL: FO from FOOO + value in X. FCo. FD03 22 22 to FD23 FDo. 54 54 to FD24 PART 4 FC05 FC06 ;~ lSTORE ACCUMULATDR FD in FD20 + value in X. BY DDN INMAN FC07 LOOP FCOS EB INCREMENT X register. FD20 FD21 r- FC09 FD22 EO 1 COMPARE X register with 5. FCOA 05 F023 FD24 FCOB BRANCH if result Don Inman is a former teacher, now DO SESSION VI . INDEXED ADDRESSING The X register will be used to control the C:::: FCOC F5'1 not zero_ editor of Calculators/Computers, who's program through the loop five times. We been working with teachers in the San If we are to perfonn arithmetic problems set it to zero initially and count each time Jose School District. Under Dan's [FCOD JUMP on self if (such as addition). with more than two we pass through the loop. When we reach FCOE 4COD lfinished. guidance, the teachers have built Data numbers, the IMMEDIATE and the AB five, we will exit from the loop. The FCOF FC Handlers, complete microcomputer SOLUTE modes become very cumber number 5 was chosen since we will move systems based on the 6502 micropra some to use. Our programs become very 5 pieces of data. We have incremented *To detennine this number, count from FCOC ce$$Or, and are now learning to use them. long and are too specific, The more gen our counter X in the following example, (inctusive) back to FC02: that's 11 instructions. eral a prograTl is, the easier it is to ooapt but we could just as well have written our We're counting backwards, so we need to find This user's manual is designed to serve to new data. In order to make our pro· loop to count downward as in Example the negative binary equivalent of decimal 11. Here's both as a self·teaching guide and as an grams more general, we will introduce 6,5 on page 77. We would then decre how: outline for a course at the beginning the concept of LOOPS and INDEXED ment the X register. Express 11 in binary: 11=0000 1011 level of computer science. While it deals - ADDRESSING. Find the complement, 11, specifically with the Data Handler, it by Changing to 1 and vice can easilv be adapted to other microcom - versa: 11 :: 1111 0100 puters using the MOS Technology 6502. MNEMON IC CODE FOR DATA TRANSFER PROGRAM Add 1 to the complement: +1 -11=1111 0101 The first semester course consists of nine BYTES LABEL INSTRUC· OPERAND COMMENTS Now express the result two-hour class sessions, the first two of TION in hex: -11=1111 0101 = F5 which were spent constructing the sys tems, To recap our series, Part 1 (Vol 5, 2 LOX 0 Load index with zero (register X)_ No 4) covered computer specification, 3 LOOP LDA FIELD1, X SUMMARY OF INSTRUCTIONS computer notation and use of the key 3 STA FIELD2, X F.irst, LOAD the program by the proce· Now that you were successful let's try an TAUGHT THROUGH SESSION VI board. Part 2 (Vol 5, No 5) covered use 1 INX Increment count (register X) , dure previously discussed. addition prograTl to 42 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY-AUGUST 43 ~- .,. ADDITION OF FIVE NUMBERS TRACE OF DATA TRANSFER PROGRAM LABEL ADDRESS INSTR/ DATA MNEMONIC COMMENTS PROGRAM ACCUMULATOR MEMORY X COMMENTS ORIGINAL STEPS FD50 REG . STORE FCOO A2 LDX Load index register FCO, FDOO 07 00 with zero. INITIAL II II II Contents unknown FOOl FCOO· 01 II 00 LDX 13 FC02 DB CLD Clear decimal mode. FD02 FC04· 06 07 LOA from FOOD 1F FD03 22 FC03 18 CLC Clear carry. FCD7 · 09 07 + 13 1A ADC from FOOl FD04 54 FCOA·OC 1A STA F050 FC04 BD LDA Load accumUlator (Absolute, X) FeOD 01 INX FFFC 00 FC05 00 FFFD from location FDOO + value in X register. FeDE - OF 04 · 01#0 FC FC06 FD I FetO-l1 I Branch back LOOP, FC07 7D ADC Add to accumulator with carry FCD7· 09 lA + IF 39 ADC from FOOl + 1 FCOS 01 from location FOOl + value in X register. • STA F050 FC09 FD FCDA·OC 39 FeOD 02• INX FCOA 8D STA Store accumulator (Absolute) FeDE· OF 04 - 02 .... 0 FCOB 50 into location F050, Fe10-11 Branch back FCOC FD FCD7 ·09 39 + 22 5B + I ADC from FOOt + 2 FCOD E8 INX Increment the X register. FCOA - DC 58 ~ STA F050 FeOD 03 INX FCOE EO CPX Compare X FCOE· OF Q4·Q3,tO FCOF 04 with 4. ~ FetO·l1 ~ Branch back FC10 DO 8NE Branch if not equal to zero FCDl - 09 58 + 54 AF I ADC from FOOl + 3 FCll F5 back to LOOP1. + FCOA · DC AF .. STA FD50 04 INX LOOP2 FC,2 4C JMP Jump if done FeOD FC13 12 to self LOOP2. FeDE· OF 04 - 04 0 FC,4 FC Fe1O-11 No branch I FC12·14 Loops on self DONE Data to be loaded: 07 in FOOD, 13 in FDO" 1 F in FD02, 22 in FD03, and 54 in FD04 Initialize vectors: 00 in FFFC, FC in FFFD, ~ ANSWER'" The answer will appear in FD50. AF You will notice we have added a new The number of addends can be readily A TRACE is a chart that shows tempo column in our program on the left. Labels changed by providing the necessary data rary results as a program runs. Traces are are used at key points so that various and Changing the value in location FCOF e~pecially useful in finding bugs in pro branch points and loop origins can be from 04 to one less than the number of grams. To create a trace, select the regis more easily located. Comments should addends. ters and/or memory locations of most contain information telling the reader interest to you, then step-by·step go which label is to be used. through the program 'playing computer' and writing down the contents of each It should also be noted that our counter high·interest location at each step. only goes to four although we are adding five numbers. This results due to the het This is a trace of the preceding program. that we load the first number and then We chose to look at the accumulator, add to that FOUR additional numbers, memory location FD50 (where our The partial sum is stored in location answer should appear) and the X register. FD50 and is repeatedly added to each new number. 44 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY-AUGUST 45 ADDITION PROGRAM LABEL ADDRESS I NST/DATA MNEMONIC COMMENTS START FCOO A2 LOX Load X register FCOl O' with 4, FC02 DB CLo Clear decimal mode, FC03 1B CLC Clear carry, FC04 BD LOA Load accumulator (Abs, X) FC05 00 from location FDOO + value in X register. FC06 Fo LOOP1 FC07 7D AoC Add to accumulator with carry FC08 01 from location FD01 + value in X register. FC09 Fo FCOA Bo STA Store accumulator (Abs) FCOB 50 into location FDSO. FCOC Fo FCOD CA DEX Decrement the X register. CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS FCOE DO BNE Branch if not equal to zero of the largest convention ever held FCOF FA back to LOOP1. Exclusively Devoted to Home & Hobby Computing LOOP2 FC10 'C JMP Jump to FC11 10 LOOP2. FC12 FC over 300 pages of conference papers, including: This program performs the same function For practice, write programs using as The next in this series of articles will 'Topic headings with app't'oximate count of ?"xlO" pages) as the preceding program, to add 5 num· guidelines the programs in this article and cover flow charts, double precision addi Friday & Saturday Banquet Speeches (16) Entrepreneurs (6) bers. The only difference is the use of the the Programming Manual (eg, Example tion via flow charts, 8 bit multiply using Tutorials for the Computer Novice (16) Speech Recognition & X register to count down from four 6.5, page 77). A complete discussion of a trace, and the instructions ASL, BCS, rather than counting up. Decrementing index registers and index addressing con and DEX_ People & Computers (13) Speech Synthesis by Computer (14) the X register saves two programming cepts is contained in chapter 6 of the Pro Human Aspects of System Design (9) Tutorials on Software Systems Design (11) steps (CPX) which were necessary in the gramming Manual. Computers for Physically Disabled (7) Implementation of preceding program. Legal Aspects of Personal Computing (6) Software Systems and Modules (10) Heretical Proposals (11) High-Level Languages for Home Computers Computer Art Systems (2) Multi-Tasking on Home Computers (10) Music & Computers (43) Homebrew Harcware (8) Electronic Mail (8) Bus & Interface Standards (17) Computer Networking for Everyone (14) Microprogrammable Microprocessors Th, DATA HANDLER iii' complete microcomputer system on, single PC board based on the MDS technology 6502 microprocessor. The DATA HAND Personal Computers for Education (38) for Hobbyists (18) LER cen operete at ~ry high speedl 81. nand alone microcomputer or ded Residential Energy & Computers (2) Amateur Radio & Computers (11) lelited controller for ellen luch hilt! speed (ielllces as disk peripharall. E:octemal Systems for Very Small Businesses (5) Commercial Hardware (8) TTY. or terminals are not needed since the DATA HA ND LE R contains 26 keyboard liwitchw for full function hardware front control; person,1 e:ocpend plus ---- abili ty of the system is achieved by using Ihlt Altair/lMSAI peripherals on the Names & addresses of the 170+ exhibitors at the Computer Faire DATA HANDLER PC board. The DATA HANDLER Bare Bones Kit which Includes the DATA HANDLER PC board, PC board stand, 26 keyboerd Iwitches, and a complete doc'Jmentetion package is being offered at a price of $89.95. The complete kit is priced It $179.95. This includes the DATA Order now rrom: $12.00 (Sl 1.95, plus a nickel, iryou prerer) HANDLER PC board, PC boer:J mnd, 26 kevboard switches, the comp1'11 Computer Faire (Write for shipping charges ouside U.S.A.) liltt of IC'I, 1 6502 MOS Technology microprocessor, sockets, LED's, resistors, capacitors, 500 ns memory, end a complete documentation pack8gll. 8o:oc 1579 Palo Alto CA 94302 (415) 85 \.7664 Insjde CaHfomja: 513.49 Payment must accompany the order. "'Copies will be shipped be/ore August 3D, 1977. I8'7'7 • Ba.n. fra.n.c:lBcO 4. PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS FROM JEF RASKIN know how. You might ask: How much I make the same comment to Ms Ahlgren, When I first got my Poly, I rubbed my does it cost to write such a book? It and ask her if CRDMEMCO would want hands with glee and sat down to try some Dear Ms Ran, might take me six months full time, plus to sponsor a real beginner's book? I think of the neat games that were in various I'd have to have an editor part of the Ms lift hits the nail on the head with her books I had bought. It took two days, Since I was the author of the article in Dr time. The book then has to be TESTED. reply in regard to the difficulties of fe three people and numerous long distance Dobb's that helped you decide to get a Every chapter and paragraph has to be males in technical fields. calls to Ann Arbor, Michigan where we MORE Polly 88 computer, I thought that I'd be tried on a number of people to see that it made our purchase, to figure out how to an appropriate person to try to answer really works. I am sure you'd love to be One positive idea: if People's Computer load our BASIC cassette tape. some of your questions. Besides, I feel one of the testers. It might cost, just in Company, or anyone, would like to set responsible (but neither guilty nor negli. my time alone, some $15,000. The editor up a course (which won't help you, living Finally with that done, I sat down once gent). has to be paid, then there are printing in Michigan, if it happens here) and han· again to explore the wide world of com· ON and distribution costs. An investment of die the administration of it, I would offer puting. Imagine my 9Jrprise when I AND First of all: you need know no mathema $30,000 would be an absolute minimum. to teach it with the guarantee that any learned that there was no sudl thing as tics in order to program. For years J Since computers are selling so well with person who can read and write who takes plain BASIC, that every computer com taught a programming course (at UC San out such a book it is hard to get a manu the course wilt leam how to program. pany had its own variation and that none Diego) to hundreds of people who, like facturer to go out of its way to make Such a cou rse does not belong in a uni· of the programs in any of those books yourself, find even high school algebra a such an expenditure. Maybe your letter versity but among the people. and magazines worked in my Poly. No dosed book - or at least an uninviting and this reply will get the ball rolling. body had bothered to tell me that fact one. The idea that computers are basi and I was flabbergasted. Talk about an cally mathematical creatures is false, but Another th ing that you mention is the Jef Raskin archyl So instead of using programs, we promulgated by the fact that most pro sexist nature of the computer world. This Box511 all spent hours trying to figure out how grammers are mathematically adept. is a valid observation, there are very few Brisbane CA 94005 to debug programs. Net result - more When I taught I used a language, FLOW, women in the microcomputer (or other long distance calls - a few to California that I invented that is so amathematical computer) field. In my classes there were where Poly is located (nice people but that it can't even add or subract. Thus I not helpful to us novices) - and not a nearly as many women as men. A glance FROM ANN ETTE RAN proved to my satisfaction (and to my stu. at my course records shows that, given a single program that works well. So my dents' satisfaction) that anybody can computer course that did not assume the number one suggestion, plea, etc. is that leam to program. The only prerequisite is typical male point of view (you all know Dear People's Computers, the computer manufacturers hold a sum 6th grade literacy. From your letter I can what a transistor is ... ), women do as mit conference and develop a mutually see that you have more than the mini. well as men in programming. This is, of I was realty pleased with all the thought compatible BASIC. Since I am basically mum requirements to learn to program. course, what I expected to find if I taught ful responses to my letter. As Mr Raskin a pessim ist and don't believe such a can· well. I have taught other subjects besides has noted, Mr Inman is both right and ference wi ll ever be held, my next sugges You do not need to know hexadecimal, computer programming and know that wrong in his contention that my prob· tion is that someone publish a chart of octal or binary arithmetic to program. there is no difference between women lem is that I am a novice. A female novice the various BASICs showing how to trans You do not need to know the secret inner third world people, and the 'normal' col: comes to computing with more deficit in late one into the other. That probably is workings of the computer. You do not lege population in learning ability. her background that do males. However, unrealistic too. need the arcane jargon of the computer in all fairness to Mr Inman I should point scientist. You can learn to program. The If you have particular questions on the out that it is more acceptable in our cui· I have a feel ing that many people prob question that you legitimately ask is how Poly·8B I'd be glad to try to answer them. ture for a woman to admit that some ele· ably enjoy the challenge of perfecting and where. If you wonder why I didn't mention ment of technology is incomprehensible, their BASIC and making it work but I am typing expenses in my comments on writ. but there are many men who face the not a tinkerer and want to be able to type N I know that the manuals that come with ing books it is because my Poly·8S does same problem but are ashamed to admit in an al ready developed program and have all the brands of microcomputers are in my typing for me using a text editor that it. One of the positives of the women's it work the fi rst time. Another thing adequate for the newcomer. Believe it or I wrote. Another random comment that movement is that the issues it confronts which occurs to me is that many manu not, Poly's are among the better onesl should make you feel better is that even are not just women's problems but hu facturers rely on their customers to com You should see some of the others. Most though I am a professional computer sci. man problems and their solution benefit plete the job of debugging their hardware of the books in the field are also hopeless. entist, I had to call Polymorphic Systems not only women but all of us. and software. Once again that favors the As an author in the field I can see some a number of times to get explanations on male and his skills and leaves females like of the reasons why. A book for the com stuff that the manuals supposedly covered. I think that the issue of sexism in science me out in the cold. plete beginner has to be pegged to some was detailed thoroughly in Professor particular computer and a particular ver I agree with most of the responses that Lift's letter and that the suggestions she If the personal computer industry is to sion of some language. It can't be written were printed to your letter but I feel that and the others make have a great deal of expand, it must appeal to a wider market for all or even most computers. They vary Mr Inman was right in saying that you r merit. I hope that someone picks up on than it does currently. Small business· in detail too much. The beginner is just as problem was that you are a beginner - them. men, researchers, teachers all are paten floored by a picayune detail as by a gen· but he was wrong in not recognizing just tail users of computers but they want eral concept. In fact it takes a while be how much more of a beginner you are be As was pointed out, some of the pro· equipment which does not require that fore you can see which is which. In any cause you are female. This culture does blems I am having are because I am they learn a whole new discipline. For ex· case it has not been judged economically make it harder for females to acquire the 1J primarily interested in software and ample, I am doing research at a local hos feasible by any company to come out mental skills that make doing anything 2) dealing with an infant industry which pital and have talked with a number of with a text for real beginners (as you say, technological easier. Ms Owicki's letter has hardly begun the process of debug the residents preparing to go out and es not dumb people, just those without a made some good points but she labors un ging itself. It is to those two interrelated tablish practices. They were fascinated computer or scientific or mathematical der the idea that you have to be familiar problems that I would like to address with the idea of computerizing their reo background). I'd love to write one. I with math to program. myself in this round of our dialogue. cords but they don't want to write the 48 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY ·AUGUST 49 - programs or spend time tinkering with although there are recent signs that this no woman who works mainly with hard their computer's innards. Where oh where may be changing in North America. ware. The further one gets fNlay from the is the machine for them?! I would love to internal workings of the mechanism the have my Poly handle the statistical end of Even if a woman has overcome these greater the presence of women. Even the my research but where do I get the soft background deficiencies, she will, on terms hardware and software correspond ware? How do I get that very expensive average, still have a harder time than to 'yang' and 'yin' (hard - yangl soft - piece of equipment to work for me like a comparable man. The existing male yin). This speculative analysis levels it my car does or my TV set or any of the OODQ~(?~ dominance works strongly against a self nicely to a series of spectnJm dia other pieces of complex equipment which woman trying to enter the field. First· grams, I use every day? I would like to hear from ly, people's expectations are conditioned YANG_YIN some of the manufacturers since it is by what they see around them and so will MALE _ FEMALE they who have to make the changes. What not as easily accept a woman. In most so· HARD-SOFT do you people think? Do you have any cial situations a person who is obviously plans to standardize BASIC or to produce different than the rest is at a severe dis • Direction of mOll8ment of focus A 00~0~(?~ computers which are simple enough to go advantage unless they make a special ef· to work immediately and which have the fort to overcome the barriers of suspicion software to make them useful tools? and confusion resulting from the mutual lack of familiarity. Thus the social envir Nuff said for now. onment in which computing is learned and performed is very important in the Annette Ran development of female computerists. Right bc'sfn hemisphere Left braIn hemisphere Rational Intuitive 17250 Cornell In this I am very much in agreement with Scientific" • Artistic Southfield M I 48075 Rita lift's remarks and the action pro gram she describes looks excellent. The The movement of focus arrow shows the four aspects of the program are addressed general direction in which attention tra FROM ANDREW CLEMENT directly to overcoming the lack of back vels. This can be seen in the 'micro revo ground and developing the confidence lution'. First came the chips, then the Dear People's Computers, and encouragement needed to deal with CPU boards, basic system software, and the current social reality of the male now people are paying more attention to The article 'Women and Computers' raises dominated computer world. I certainly real applications. With each technological an important issue - it has too long been hope the program is successful and gets innovation attention snaps back to the BY FRANZ J. FREDERICK neglected and needs to be discussed much the support it deserves. left and then drifts right as we follow the more (the same can be said about partici successive ramificatioos. What are the pation by other groups in computing and The other side of the coin is for us men consequences for women? Well, yin ele Dr. Pranz J. Frederick is tlIl associate professor of Media Sci capability for use by teachers. It was assumed that these teach in fact the sociological and anthropologi to be more aware of our privileged posi ments are becoming increaSingly involved ences in the Department of Education at Purdue University. ers should be able to use the language without being experi cal aspects of computing are ignored too tion and do what we can to make 'com· with computers and are in fact vital to He teaches courses in Computer Assisted Instnlction and enced programmers. It was also assumed that the primary use often). The topic was weil-covered, and I puters available to the people regardless breathe warm life into our technological illfonl/atioll Scie,lce. These collrses are centered around tIle would be tutorial based upon sets of questions and answers. found myself agreeing with much that of race, creed, sex or technological back gadgetry. Computing, taken in a broad lise of micro-compllters in the schools. His home compllter was said. The thing I take most excep ground'. This means that we make a con view, is not purely yang but spans the system is based 011 a SW1PC 6800 board set with /6 K of With the advent of low cost micro-processors and in partic tions to is, Don Inman'sdownplaying the scious effort to welcome newcomers, try spectrum and offers a place for anyone. RAM, a KC standard 300/600 BA UD tape interface, /28 ular the advent of multi-user micro-processor systems, the importance being female rather than sim to understand their problems from their It is only by the melting of diverse and characters per lille 16 line video tenninal, and a servo con ideal of low cost CAl in the classroom seems possible. The ply a beginner. Being a beginner is obvi point of view and do what we can to varied interests that the full potential trolled plotting robot named 'Waldo' whose photo appeared in only generally available higher level language currently on ously a big part of it and a great deal help. This will be hard because we are of computing to serve as a tool for all the last issue of People's Computers. This article is a combin micro systems is of course BASIC in more or less extended must be done so that novices, of any unaccustomed to doing this. But the re people who want it can be realized. ation of two articles by Dr. Frederick from the proceedings of versions. While BASIC is a general purpose computing lan flavor, can over·come the barriers to com wards of a more diverse, stimulating, and Otherwise it will remain sterile gimmick· the 'Pirst JIIest CoaSt Compllter Paire'; it is reprinted with guage and does not have the built-in CAl functions, it is puting more easily. However, apart from egalitarian computing community should ry - a peculiar form of mental-mechani pennission. possible to generate these capabilities through subroutines. this, women face special lind significant make it well worth the effort. cal masturbation. obstacles to more active participation Recognizing that it may be some time before a micro CAl that need to be addressed particularly. It An aside: One question that has not been This analysis shouldn't be interpreted as INTRODUCTION language is generally available and that extended BASIC with is important to realize that a female be· raised is whether women are inherently suggesting that hardware should remain string functions is likely to be a defacto standard, the author ginner is, on BVerage, much more of a be (biologically, evolutionarily) less well male dominated or that there is some· Computer assisted instruction lessons can be written in almost designed generalized CAl subroutines in BASIC. Those pre ginner than a male, even though they may suited to computing than men? When I thing unnatural or unhealthy about woo any computing language_ Why then are there specialized com sented in this paper are keyword and phonetic answer proces both have comparable intellectual abili showed the women and computers arti men wanting to participate in it. Individ· puter-assisted instruction languages? The answer is threefold. sors and a student records subroutine. ties and education. This is because even cle to a woman friend (who works with ual variations in background experience One, CAl languages typically have a limited set of commands. from a very early age our culture directs computers) she remarked that one reason and opportunity are so great that each Two, CAl languages usually have some special answer proces KEYWORD ANSWER PROCESSING males much more towards mechanisms that more women were not involved is person has to be regarded on their own sing functions. Three, CAl languages usually provide facilities and the mastery of the physical world. that computers are predominantly 'yang' merits. and making prior judgments about for recording student perfonnance and for providing a copy of The first efforts at answer processing involved exact answer These are the life experiences that An· in nature whereas women tend to an individual is unfair and discriminatory. those records for the teacher. Virtually all CAl languages are match. After initial experimentation, teachers began to dis nette mentioned and the sic ills thus de be more 'yin'. This started me thinking. interactive; those which aren't tend to come under the rubric cover that exact answer matching simply was not effective for veloped happen at a much more basic lev I had for somt! time observed that the few Andrew Clement of computer-rnanaged instruction (CMI). many types of tutorial lessons. For example, the student's el than simple 'electricity and machine women in computing were predominantly 789 West 18th Avenue answer to a question might have the same words in a different building.' This orientation starts early and in the applications sofr.vare end, many Vancouver, BC The major design intent of these languages was centered order and therefore be counted wrong. The exact answer pervades much of a male's upbringing, fewer in system software and I know of Canada V5Z lWl around the notion of providing certain basic computational match implicitly required exact order as well. 50 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY ·AUGUST 51 ------_.------ Illis dilemma lead to the development of keyword answer response message, record indication of incorrect response processors. In tIlis case, the author specified a keyword and if and record the student's actual response. Blank the answer that word occurred anywhere in the student's response, the variable. Return to the calling routine. response was considered corrcct. Embellishments quickly be came necessary and included such things as (I) multiple key CALLING PROGRAM DESIGN words and (2) allowing the keyword to be embedded with a larger word. This latter feature allowed the student to respond The design of an answer processing routine is dependent with the plural fonn or past tense of the authors' answer and to some extent upon the design of the calling program. still be considered correct. Most CAl languages treat lessons as blocks of infonnation to be presented to the student. The block may be composed of (1) infonnation to be displayed, (2) question, (3) specified answers to be compared to a student's response and (4) actions to be perfonned dependent upon the quality of the students' response. EXAMPLE OF 'BLOCK' A suggested block in BASIC would be as follows: 500 PRINT "NAME A PROP!::RTY OF COLOR" 505 R.E~!---STliLIENT RESPONSE VARIABLE IS A$ AND IS THE SAME 506 REM---IN ALL BLOCKS 510 INPUT A$ 520 REI>[---R IS NUHB.ER. OF ilLOCK IN THE PROGRAM; K IS THE 521 REt;---NU~WhR OF KEYWOlUlS 1"0 MATCH 530 R.. 9 , K- l After some further experimentation teachers began to frnd 540 1t.E"}[---AUTHOR SP~ClFIED KEYWORD 550 A$(l) .. "HUE" that exact order of keywords was indeed important and desir 560 A$(2)- "VALU£" able for some lessons. Consequently, the next major embel 570 A$(3) .. "It The generalized keyword subroutine presented here was de 1. K2 (number of matches) signed to allow specification by the author of up to five 2. K (number of keywords to match-see BWCK design) keywords and to allow tJlf' autJlOr to specify how many must 3. Kl (actual number of author keywords) be matched in order to be considered correct. 4. A$ (string variable which holds student answer) 5. R$(I,J) (string matrix used to record student responses and performance record) KEYWORD ALGORITHM 6. A(5) (numeric matrix used to hold length of keyword strings) The keyword algorithm is as follows: TIle keyword routine uses only two temporary variables (I and I. Compare each author keyword with student's response. J). They are used as loop counter variables. 2. If a keyword matches, increment the match counter. 3. Compare the match counter with the authors' specified TIle keyword subroutine allows the following keyword checks: number of matches. If equal, print a correct response message, record indication of correct response and record I. Specification of single keyword match from field of 1 to the student's actual response. Blank the answer variable. 5 author specified keywords. Retum to calling routine. 2. The keyword is treated as a root keyword consequently it 4. If no match in step 3, check to see if all keywords have will allow the occurrence of the keyword with prefix been compared without success. If so, print an incorrect or suffix in the student response. 52 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY-AUGUST 53 - l Row I ABCDEFGHI JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ PHONETIC ANSWER PROCESSING (original letter) Row 2 ABCDABCHACCLMMABCRCDABHCAC Answer processing using keywords represents a very powerful (Jetter equivalent) tool in the development of conversational simulations. Pro grams can be devised which can carry on a useful conversation Step 2 - The H Replacement: in a limited context. Each H in a word is transfomled to the preceding letter While keyword answer processing opened new horizons in the provided the character is a letter. If not a letter (e.g. ,a development of tutorial lessons, tcachers began to encounter blank), H is unchanged. problems with students who could not spell or could nOI type accurately. These problems lead to a concern for some sort of Step 3 _ Elimination of Successive Identical Consonan ts: answer processor which could phonetically encode the respon ses and thus avoid some basic problems in typographic errors AU but the first element of an uninterrupted sequence of and spelling errors. a single consonant is eliminated, (e.g., CO=C, TJ':T). A very basic but interesting phonetic answer processor algor· ithm was developed throu:jt a project funded by the National Step 4 - Elimination of A's: $cience Foundation. The project resulted in the development All vowels, transformed A's, are eliminated except if A is of a CAl language called PLANIT. It was to be "machine-inde the first character of the word to be encoded. TIle final pendent". It successfully met that goal with the only restric word contains only consonants and a leading A if there tions being a 24 bit word size (minimum) and access to a FOR is one. TRAN IV compiler. The phonetic algorithm used in PLANlT is quoted verbatim in this article. Examples: Original Word Steps 2 3 4 BASIC PHONETIC PROCESSOR PROCEDURE PHONETIC BHAMADAC BBAMADAC BAMADAC EMDC The general algorithm for a phonetic answer processor in HAZARD HACARD HACARD HACARD HCRD J BASIC is as follows: ON- UNE AM- LAMA AM - LAMA AM - LAMA AM-LM AWHILE Al-IHALA AAAALA AAAALA AL I. Disassemble the answer or response string into single l character strings. The phonetic subroutine requires the following unique vari· 2. Sequentially convert each single character string into its' phonetic equivalent using the PLANlT PHONETIC abies: ALGORITHM. 3. Reassemble phonetic characters equivalents into a single I. BS (phonetic encoded answer) 2. A$ (string variable to hold student response) string. 3. R$(I)) (string matrix to hold student performance 4. Retum to calling program for comparison of phonetic equivalent response to a phonetic equivalent answer spe records) 4. B$(73) (string matrix used to hold individual characters cified by the lesson author. from student response or author answer) The phonetic subroutine uses only two temporary variables PHONETIC ENCODING AND FORMULAS PROCESSING· (1 and K). TIley are used as loop counter variables and index The phonetic answer processor subroutine requires the follow pointers for matrices. ing extended BASIC features: The phonetic answer processor subroutine is designed to be called to process both the authors' answer and the students' I. STRINGS (length at least equal to 70 characters) response (on separate GOSUB calls). The phonetic response 2. MID$(AS),I) processor can handle character strings up to 70 characters 3. LEN(AS) length with embedded blanks and punctuation. The only re striction is that the use of a comma in the students' answer PHONETIC ENCODING may produce a syntax error depending on which BASIC in The phonetic encoding process is accomplished in four steps: terpreter you use. The listing of a sample mini-lesson (one "block") and the Step I - Letter Equivalent: phonetic subroutine follow. All letters are transformed into their letter equivalents. Any remaining characters including blanks arc unchanged. The letter in Row 1 is transformed into the letter immedi 'B.nnick, F.D. and C.H. Frye, PLANIT LANGUAGE REFERENCE ately below in Row 2. PLANIT ignores all other charac MANUAL, Svnem D..... lopment Corporation TM·(L) -4422/002/01, ters. Oct. 1970. (APf'ENDlX E) JUL V-AUGUST 55 54 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS -- I. Information to be retained. The structure of a block would appear as follows: Note: After last block, Set 1=1+1 THEN RS(J,2)== STUDENT RECORDS "$QUlT" Line # R=n (Defmes number of block) (TIlls signals the end of the entries in the matrix) There afe three major purposes for maintaining records of It is often possible that a learner might encounter the same question/answer item more than once. Therefore, it student performance. One, the learning process is enhanced Line # 1=1+1 (The lth time the student has encountered 4. Summary report. when the learner knows immediately of the quality of his is useful to know the actual sequence encountered by the an item; used as a row index to records matrix) performance. It is also of particular value to the learner student. It is also occasionally very useful to see the stu The summary report should print a report heading and to know of his perfonnance relative to the total task or dent's actual response to an item. Another useful item of Line # RS(I,l}-STR$(R) (Stores a string representation the columnar headings - "block number" and ''judge lesson. Two, the teacher can more effectively guide the stu infonnation is some identification of which block of in of the block number in the record matrix) ment". It should also print the total number correct, dent in learning if the teacher has records which indicate foonation was encountered. Last but by no means least, Line # PRINT ''WHAT IS THE MOST AVAILABLE MI total number incorrect, and a perfonnance percentage. the student's performance with respect to specific items. one needs the result of the response judgement. CRO COMPUTER LANGUAGE" Three, the teacher can use performance records to assess 2. Matrix layout. S. Complete report. the effectiveness of the learning materials - Le., the teacher Line # INPUT AS can identify those areas of the task needing fe·design. The complete report should include a column for the It is probablY most convenient to use a two dimensional Line # RS(I,2}=AS (Store student answer in matrix) actual response as well as all the data for the summary The first purpose described above can be accomplished by the string matrix for storage of the performance record. TIle Line AS(I)="BASIC" report. use of simple correct and incorrect answer counters of the TIle author has arbitrarily designated the matrix as # R$(R,C), form: Line # A$(2)="EXTENDED BASIC" The subroutines are actually only the routines used to print line #R=R+I (Right Answer) the contents of the records. The records are actually generated 2 3 Line # IF A$OAS( I) AND A$OA$(2)THEN UNE #n 1 through the blocks. The subroutines are executed after the 0< Une # R$(I,3)=="+":PRINT "RIGHT!" student completes his lesson by typing GOTO n where n is the 1 1 BASIC + starting line number for the desired report. (Wrong Answer) Line # GOTO UNE # n+ 1 line #W=W+l 2 2 YES - Line #n RS(I,3)="~":PR1NT ''WRONG!'' The following listing shows the subroutines and two example 3 2 NO + blocks. Line #n+1 GOTO NEXT BLOCK The appropriate counter is incremented after judging the stu ROWS 4 dent's response. At the end of the program, the lesson author 5 would probably use something similar to the following code: 6 ------~~~'~~'~~------Une # PRINT "YOU GOT ";R;" RIGHT WITH ";W; .. "WRONG!" 7 n $QUIT !..jne # PRINT "YOUR OVERALL PERFORMANCE WAS",INT«R/R+W)'IOO), % CORRECT," EXAMPLE OF RECORDS MATRIX The procedure just described is entirely student Oriented, ie, 3. hems to be defmed or manipulated in a block. no records are kept for teacher use. The second and third purpose for maintaining perfonnance records is to make in Most CAl languages treat lessons as discrete "chunks" fonnation available for teachers. of information. The "chunks" may be either infonnation to be printed OJ questions and answers or a combination. We will refer to such an arrangement as a "block". STUDENT RECORDS DESIGN The design of a more pervasive studen t records procedure may be summarized as follows: I. Identify the infonnation to be retained. 2. Specify matrix layout required to maintain the infonn alion. 3. Identify items to be manipulated or defmed for each question/answer block presen ted. 4. Specify infonnation to be presented in a summary report fonn. 5. Specify completed record report form. The design presented here is predicated on a machine with no disk or a machine with a BASIC whlch permits storage of array/matrix data. JULY ·AUGUST 57 56 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS - • • • ," g ANNOUNCEMENTS • ez " OoOoOoDoOoOoDoOoOoOoOoOoOo The PET's expanded 8K BASIC contains 00000000000000000000000000 strings, integers and multiple dimension , arrays. It has high precision (10 signiti· HARDWARE cant digits) and direct memory access x·y PLOTTERS through PEEK and POKE. Commodore OoOoOoDoOoDoDoDoDoDoDoOoDo claims its BASIC is an upward expansion SYLVANHILLS LAB announees the from current popular versions of BASIC, availability of 8080 based software to THE PET! and that it's 20% faster than most other control their series of plotters. TItis en 8K BASICs. ables the micro-computer to act as the The PET Computer by Commodore will controller for the plotter and requires be rolling off the assembly in early Sep WelI be publishing an interview with about 2K of memory. The software fo r tember at a bargain price of $595. We Charles Peddle, father of the PET, in our mat is such that it may be used in con· hear the $100 price raise over the $495 next issue. For those wishing to order a junction with application routines avail estimate given at ComputerFaire will go system, orders will be filled in 90 days able from MICRO-VISIONS INC. 4926 towards advertising - Commodore is mak· and are FOB Palo Alto, or money will be Travis, Houston, Texas 77002. ing a serious bid to comer the mass mar· refunded. ket. Although sales clerks don't yet know Plotters are shipped completely assem· about it, it appears Macy's, Sears, & J .C. Commodore International Ltd. bled and tested, but require the purchaser Penney will caIl)' the PET. 901 California Ave. to mount them on his drawing surface Palo Alto, CA 94304 and do the interconnection between the The PET is a self-contained factory as (4IS) 3264000 control PC boards and his computer. sembled unit that contains a 6502 micro This requires an 8 bit parallel 110 port computer, keyboard, CRT display (40 and 5 and 24 volt power sources. DdJdDdDdJdDcDcDoOoOoO~oOo *********************************************************. columns, 25 lines), IOOO·baud tape cas Continued from page 23 ... Hayes. William. Hold 17IDI Computer! Atheneum, 1968. sette, and memory. For S595 you get 4K Applications include architectural, me· of user memory (or 8K for S795) plus the SWTPccr-64 chanical and schematic drawing; PC Spencer, Cornelia. Keeping Ahead of Machines: The Human Key, Alexander. The Incredible Tide. Westminster. 14K needed by an 8K BASIC interpre board artwork; positioning of small Side of the Automation R('I1o/ution. John Day, 1965. (gr. 6·9) ter, a 4K operating system, a I K diagnos The Southwest Technical Products Cor objects; computer generated art; games; Norton, Andre. Tile Beast Master. Harcourt Brace, 1963. tic routine, and lK machine language poration CT·64 Tenninal System kit and many others. Sizes available are II x Srivastava, Jane Jonas. Computers. Crowell, 1972. 32p. (gr. (gd·12) monitor. along with the optional CT·VM video 17 ($7S0), 17 x22(S89S)and22x 34 I . S) -----, Catseye. Harcourt Brace and World, 1963. (gr. 6- 12) monitor is a complete package providing ($1200). The system, described as 'quite portable', everything needed for a complete stand Steinberg. Fred. Computers. Frankln Watts, Inc. 1969. 89p. --- --. Ice Crowl/. Viking, 1970. (gr. 6- 12) weighs 44 pounds. It is 16.5 inches wide, alone tenninaJ system compatible with SYLVANHILLS LAB.INC, (g,.4·6) 18.5 inches deep and 14 inches high. modems and ASC U computer systems of I Sylvanway - - - - - . Outside. Walker, 1974. (gr. 5-12) about the size of a portable TV but a every kind. Box 239 Strong, E.L. "How Streams of Water Can Be Used to Create somewhat more awkward shape to han· Strafford MO 65757 Analogues of Electronic Tubes and Circuits" Scientific Amer ----- . The Stars Are Ours! World, 1954. (gr. 6·12) dIe. The kit features 16 lines of 32 or 64 (417)736-2664 icall, 207:128 (August 1962) characters per line, scrolling or page mode Philbrook, Clem. "Ollie's TealM alld tile Football Computer" TIle 73-key keyboard, a major source of operation, upper and lowe r case charac Thomas, Shirley. Computers. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Hastings, 1968. (gr. 4.6) complaint by people who've seen the ters, reversed character printing, control OoDoD~oOdDoDoDoDoDoDoDoDo 1975. system will be upgraded from the calcu character printing, cursor control and Vorwald, Alan and Frank Clark. Compllfers: From Sandtable Steadman. Ralph. Little Red Computer, Steadman. McGraw, lator type keyboard shown on proto complete control character decoding, to Electric Brain, 3rd ed. McGraw, 1970. (gr. 5 and up) 1969. types. Just what directions that upgrade DOUBLE DENSITY MICROFLOPPIES will take are unknown; as of now the key The kit includes the power supply, key Sundh, KerSlin. Augusta, Call Do Anything. Putnam, 1974. board is upper case only; a calculator board, serial interface, beeper, assembly The rust flexible disk drive for 5\4. inch MISCELLANEOUS FICTION ABOUT COMPUTERS style numeric keypad is included. The 64 instructions, chassis and cover and is sold diskettes to offer double density record ASCII characters are available without in kit fonn only for S325.00 ppd. in US. ing of 250,000 bytes on each side of a Christopher, John. TIle White MOlllltaills, MacMillan, 1967. using a shift key; the shift key makes 64 The optional CT-VM video monitor is diskette, was introduced at the National (g,.4·9) graphic and reverse field characters ac sold assembled, requires the CT-64's Computer CO!lference by Pertec Compu cessible from the keyboard. The graphic power supply and sells for SI75.00 ppd. ter Corporation. Del Ray, Lester. The Runaway Robot. Westminster, 1965. characters can be used to play games, (g<.4·9) plot, or draw pictures. Sample software Southwest Technical Products Corp. The new dri~l Pertec Model FD200 includes a card game (cards displayed) 219 W. Rhapsody MicrofloppylM, is mechanically and Faimlan, Paul W. The Forgetful Robot. Holt, Rinehart and a rocket ship landing, and a backgammon San Antonio, Texas 78216 functionally interchangeable with the Winston, 1968. (gr. 5·8) board. (SI2)344'()241 diskette drive introduced earlier by 58 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY·AUGUST 59 - Shugart Associates but penni!s writing 00000000000000000 0000 00000 needed with the users' 6502 microcom· 00000000000000000000000000 over microcomputers. See a couple of August 26, 27 Osborne & Associates on 40 tracks versus a 35-track limit for puter. Tiny BASIC, a subset of Darmouth hundred exhibits of computers, memory Microprocessors - Where they came the Shugart SA400 unit, in addition to NATIONAL'S GAMES BASIC , permits immediate entry and exe· boards, printers, floppy disks! from and where they are gOing, an ana the double density feature. The Pettee cution of Tiny BASIC language programs. CYPHERS lysis of all products on the market FD200 also allows recording on both The Quiz Kid Racer is National's calcula Statements include a user subroutine that See manufacturers show and tell about today. At the Shelburne Hotel. sides of a diskette, whereas other units tor programmed to challenge youngsters allows branching, with arguments to as· General George Brown, chainnan of the their systems ... and answer your ques are limited to one side, according to Per in math games against themselves -- or a sembly language subroutines. ROM soft 10int Chiefs of Staff, has said with res tions - in detail. You don't have to be a More New Products Than Ever! tee. competitor when the double set is pur ware has been designed so that most any pect to dissent over government surveU computer expen to fmd out how exciting All the products you've been reading chased. The degree of difficulty of math I/O devices can be used. The ROMs are lance, microcomputers are ... and why they are about in the ads will be on display at Both the signal interface connector and questions can be increased by entering totally pin-compatible with 2708·type " If any citizen of this country is so going to be a multi-billion dollar business PC '77. Many companies will be showing the de power connector are compatible the request on the key. The Quiz Kid PROMs. concerned about his mail being read or before long. One look will convince you. exciting new products. Heath Company with the Shugart equipment, and mount Racer will carry a suggested retail price of is concerned about his presence in a will display exclusively, for the first time, ing holes and outline dimensions are $21.95 as a single unit or $39.95 in the The RAP/Tiny BASIC ROM package meeting being noted, I'd say we ought See Morse code translated into their complete computer line. Solid State the same. double, competitive model. (SWIOI) is priced at $200 and includes to read his mail and we ought to know print ... even into voice . . . all by micro Music, Polymorphic Systems, The Digital full documentation with deliveries from what the hell he has done." computer ... and at a price within rea· Croup, Thomas Instrumentation, Mos The new FD200 Microfloppy TM disk National's newest living color video ganle, stock to 30 days ARO. RAP is also avail sonable hobby limits. See Oscar data Technology, Technical Design Labs, drive is marketed to OEM users by Adversary Model 600 offers 23 games to able on a set of seven 1702A PROMs Read this Mister Brown, computers ... repeate r control com Southwest Technical Products, Cromem· Pettee and will be incorporated in both play (action type Pinball, Wipe-out, etc.). (SW200) for $295. Tiny BASIC is avail· puters ... all sorts of fantastic ham appli· co, E & L In struments, TIle Interpring OEM and personal computing products Adversary 600 will carry a suggested re able either in paper tape fonnat (SW300) dzeyx wtpcw aouyq oudpq etmp cations of microcomputers. Group, Kent-Moore In struments, Persci offered by Pettee's Microsystems Divi tail price of $79.95. for $25 or on a set of nine 1702A PROMs wvuwx pnejx pcfqk czlqu lacac Inc, George Risk Industries, Mid West sion. Delivel}' of sample quantities is (SW201) for $275. All software is fully Don't miss the fun at the Pier in Scientific, Osborne and Associates, Ex slated for August 1977 with production The 600 lets players hear the realistic documented with deliveries from stock to And if you would like to produce such Boston ... where calculators ... TV pandor, Quay Corp, Matrix Publishers, quantities expected in September. Unit sound as playing surfaces are struck 30 days ARO. messages that will baffle the codebreakers Games ... Microcomputer ... Hobby Camelot Publishing Co, Hayden Book Co, price of the FD200 is $405. with ball or puck adding to the excite· of the CIA, just send for the CRYPTO computer systems ... ham computer sys Gaw Electronics, Enclosure Dynamics ment. Depending upon their skill, Darrell Crow GRAPH IC program that will let you eas· tmcs ... and even small business compu and Soroc Ternlinals will all be showing Pertee Computer Corporation players can select three paddle sizes Microcomputer Associates ily ENCODE and/or DECODE your pri· ters you may be able to use in your busi new products. Plan to attend! 21111 Erwin Street to test their skills. lbis provides skilled 2589 Scott Blvd. vate correspondence for maximum secur ness will be on display and running for Woodland Hills CA 91367 players the opportunity to inflict "Eng Santa Clara CA 95050 ity using your versitile home computer you to try out. Free Seminars, Forums, Technical Talks (213) 999·2020 "o~~o~,~o~,;;,.,;;•• ,;; •• ,,,,,,, lish" on their opponents. (408) 247-8940 system. On Heathkit products, micros in medi Advance tickers are SIO until August I; cine, robots, music, ham radio applica· 1 i)"'7«'l~ The 600 has remote game selection, in Documentation of cypher technique, pro after that the price is S12. tions, applications of micros for the hand· dividual controllers, easy-to-read scoring 000 0000~00000000000000000 gram listing in BASIC for only $6. Addi icapped, and more! OoOdDdJdOdJ~~oOoDoOoDoOo on the TV screen and is designed for per tional52 for punched paper tape. Computermania Tickets manent installation. MINI WORD PROCESSING Peterborough NH 03458 Before August 10, registration is $8; at Jon Stedman or call toll free (800) 258·5473 the door, it's $10 for the weekend. Make CENTRONICS MICROPRINTER Scott Brown The Software Store has released a Mini 1528 Summit Rd. checks payable to 'Personal Computing Berkeley, CA 94708 Centronics Data Computer Corp. intro· National Semiconductor Corporation Word Processing System running on MITS 77' and send to: duced a compact, high speed, low cost Consumer Products Division Altair equipment under Disk Extended 00000000000000000000000000 microprinter, the Micro·l, al the 1977 1177 Kern Avenue Basic for $150.00. Mini Word Processing Pe'77 Sunnyvale, California 94086 Route 1 National Computer Conference. The mi· is designed to help an operator generate ATLANTIC CITY, AUG 27-28 croprinter produces copy on aluminum (408)733.2600 letters, text and mailing labels or envel 00000000000000000000000000 Box 242 coated paper by discharging an electric opes. The System consist of seven pro Mays Landing NJ 08330 DoDaO~oOoOoDoOoDoOoOoOoOo PC '77 offers you the most complete show arc to pe netrate the coating, which is less grams which are driven by a menu select of its kind ever held . Proven in '76 and than one micron thick. Toners and rib· routine from which any of the seven pro GATHERINGS acclaimed in '77 by all the major profes 00000000000000000000000000 bans are not required. The printed char· SOFTWARE cessing programs can be utilized. Each sional publications as the COOling event of acters, unlike those resulting from ther· program interacts with the operator to es· the year, this show is a 'must'. Make HOUSTON , SEPT 17·'8 mal printing. are impervious to liglu, tem OmJdJoDmJdJoOoDoDoOoOoOoOo tablish file nantes and drive numbers. The OoOoOdDoOdDoOoOoOoOoDoOoOo plans now to attend. Here are some of the perature, and humidity. In addition. the options are selected by the operator using scheduled events: FINALLY! AN EXHiBITION IN TEXAS finished printed page may be reproduced 6502 ASSEMBLER, TINY BASIC ON simple Y or N (Yes or No) responses to BOSTON, AUG 25-27 DEDICATED TO HOBBY COMPUTING! on most office copy machines. ROMS the detailed program prompts. After each Pre-Convention Professional Seminars function is completed the System re loads 'Computennania', a brainchild of Kilo August 22-26 Technical Design Labs and WHAT: Houston Personal Computing Aimed at the home, hobby, and micro· Microcomputer Associates Inc. is selling the menu routine. The 51-page User's baud's Wayne Green will be at Boston's Trenton State College Z80 Seminars at Faire processor markets, the Cen tronics micro their 6502 Resident Assembler Progrant Manual provided with the System in· Commonwealth Pier Aug 25·27. Yes, near-by Trenton State College. Five WHERE: Hall of Exhibits, Shamrock printer has a higher print speed (240 char· (RAP) and Tiny BASIC interpretive pro c1udes detailed instructions concerning all that's right, at the same time as the software and four hardware seminars. Hilton Hotel; So Main at Hol acters per second) and lower selling price gram on ROM chips. Two 2K x 8 ROMs operator prompts, system error messages, PC '77 show in Atlantic City (see next August 25, 26, 28 Sybex Seminars at the combe, Houston Tx ($595) than competitive models. Initial comprise the software ROM package a number of examples, and programming announcement). Shelburne Hotei. Three intensive semi· WHEN: Saturday, September 17, 1977 deliveries are slated to occur during the housing the 1.75K Resident Assembler considerations for custom applications. nars: Introduction to Microprocessors, 9am -6pm last calendar quaner of 1977. and the 2.2K Tiny BASIC program. See dozens of microcomputer systems on Programming Microprocessors, Micro· Sunday, September 18. 1977 The Software Store display and running ... sit down and give processors Applications. 9am -4pm Centronics Data Computer Corporation RAP generates a listing and places object 706 Chippewa Square them a try ... find out why people get August 24, 25. 26 Tychon Inc. Micro· Hudson, NH 03051 code into RAM for immediate execution; Marquette MI 49855 hooked on Star Trek ... find out why computer Interfacing Workshop at the HOW MUCH: $2 per person for all events (603) 883'() ' " minimum of 4K x 8 RAM memory is (906) 228·7622 100,000 computennaniacs have gone nuts Shelburne Hotel; on both days 60 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JULY-AUGUST 61 WHAT TO SEE: OcOdDdDcOdJdDcOcOcOcOcOoOc surprises of special interest to computer Prof. J. L. Houle - MIMI '77 botics and artificial in telligence has age. There is no tuition fee entailed for hobbyists and amateurs will all be the Ecole Poly technique, surged. More than seventy members of state residents. • Exhibits by computer hobbyists of order of this Personal Computing Show. Case postale 6079, succursale A USRStm alone report active work on ro home systems SAN FRANCISCO, OCT 18-20 A free copy of PERSONAL COM· Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3A7 bots. The Society is seeking an estimate Donald J. Ketchum • Exhibits by manufacturers of the PUTING magazine will also be given to (514) 3444753 of robotic activity worldwide, and these Data Processing Professor in microcomputing equipment latest 'The Industrialization of Space' is the each attendee. first grants are the beginning of a general Otaffey CommWlity College • Computer games arcade search for the robots. Alta Lorna, CA 91701 focus of the 23rd annual meeting of the 00000000000000000000000000 • Computer chess tournament American Ast ronautical Society, to be Computer enthusiasts are encouraged to • Door prizes held at the Airport Hilton Hotel, San participate in the show. Since the primary Grants will be made for surveys of: The • Lessons for laymen Francisco Airport, October 18·20. A· purpose is to explain all aspects of per· United States West of the MiSsiSSippi, the 00000000000000000000000000 • Computer generated artwork mong the topics to be discussed will be sonal computing to the public, there will OT HE R United States East of the MiSSiSSippi, and • Oasses for small businessmen Technical (including communications, be a need for dozens of workshops and Canada. Later grants will be made for AEDS PROCEEDINGS • Workshops for hobbyists navigation, and manufacturing - which seminars. Plans call for publishing all pa· 00000000000000000000000000 surveys of other areas. pers in a Show Proceedin~ to be made Houston Personal Computing Faire may require large space structures available after the show is over. The reports will be published as part of P.O. Box 36584 and space settlements) Educational data systems are a function IN the basic robotics literature, establishing Houston TX 77036 Space Law MICRO COURSE NY of hardware, software and peopleware. CommWlity Planning in Space If you are interested in participating in their authors and supervisors as important The fifteenth annual convention proceed· Psycho-Social Aspects of living and this show, you are asked to contact David The Evening Division and Department of contacts in the field. Proposals from ap· ings are now available from the Associa· OcOoOd]oOdDcOcOcOcOoOcOcOo Working in Space Blil/llell or Louise Garcia (50S) 266·1173, Mathematics & Computer Science of ST. plicants are due on or before 30 Septem· tion for Educational Data Systems. Over Economic Realities. no later than August 15,1977. JOHN'S UN IVERSITY offers a series of ber 1977; completed reports are due on eighty original papers presented April 25· intensive short courses on low-<:ost per· or before 20 June 1978. For details, 29,1977, in Fort Worth, Texas, are in· BOSTON, ocr 11 ·14 The conference will bring together these Personal Computmg Magazine sonal computing. Each course is designed write: cluded in the publication. Categories in· various aspects in an integrated manner, 401 Lou;,;an,SE to provide an understanding and a well clude: The 16th Annual Conference of the to give a fuller understanding of the prob· Suite 'G' (8 rounded body of infonnation on success Survey Grants North American Simulation and Gaming lems facing us as we look to Space for Albuquerque, NM 87108 ful implementation and use of small com· United States Robotics Society Instructional Support & Curriculwn Association will be held at the Park Plaza future profit; and to bring a greater ap puter systems. It reviews the state of the Box 26484 Managing Computers and Computing Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts on Octo preciation of the benefits awaiting us at art in current microcomputer technology Albuquerque NM 87125 Infonnation Systems & Applications ber I I through 14,1977. The theme of this new frontier. The conference will including both hardware and software de· Certification the conference is "Adult and Continuing help assure that as each step becomes OcOcOcOoO~oOcOcOcOoOcOcOc sign as well as numerous applications of Human Values in Educational Data Sys Education in Simulation and Gam ing". technologically feasible, it also becomes personal computing in education, recrea· 00000000000000000000000000 tems financially feasible. tion, business, etc. No computer exper· Social Implications of Computers The basic goal of the North American MONTREAL, NOV 16·18 tise is required. Any individual who has a NAME-THE·USERS'.(;ROUP CONTEST Computer Impact on Society Simulation and Gaming Association The meeting is co-sponsored by a variety common sense understanding of compu· (NASAGA) is to advance an optimal, of organizations, including Stanford Re· The Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, ters can actively benefit from the course. A five-year membership is the prize in a Copies may be ordered by sending S 10.00 RESPONSIBLE application of the tech search Institute, IEEE, and the [..5 Soc· Canada wiU be the site of a gathering on name.the.users'·group contest sponsored to: nique of simulation and gaming. The ob· iety. Special tours of facilities dealing all aspects of mini· and microcomputers The course will meet every Tuesday from by computer hobbyists exchanging in· jectives of the Association are: with Space have been set up by local or· and their applications. Symposia on mini· 6-8 P.M., from Sept. 27 through Oct. 18, formation on the use of Heathkits. The AEDS Proceedings ganizations. A few such tours include and microcomputers will be Nov. 16·18 and it costs $20. For further infonnalion: more obvious choices are ruled out by 1201 16th Street, N.W. • to facilitate COIlUnWlication among Stanford Linear Accelerator, NASAl and on personal and home computers Heath Company objections to use of Washington, D.C. 20036 persons interested in the field of sim· Ames, and the Exploratorium. Nov. 17·18. A computer show will be Dean Patrick Basilice their trademarks by an independen tor· ulation and gaming; held Nov. 17-18. Evening Division ganization. Entries and requests for 00000000000000000000000000 • to promote the training of specialists American Astronautical Society ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY further infonnation should be sent to: The re will be several awards presented in· in the field of simulation and gaming; P.O. Box 7205 Jamaica, N.Y. 11439 PER IODICAL GUIDE • to facilitate communication between Menlo Park CA 94025 cluding a microcomputer fot the best (212) 969·8000, xl01 Charles A. Floto paper in the symposium on Personal and these specialists and poJicy-makers, Paul L. Siegler (415) 494-8339 267 Willow Street, Apt. 27 The Periodical Guide for Compulerists Home Computers. The judging will be students, and other concerned persons; E.V. Steams (408) 742·8150 New Haven CT 06511 is a new 20·page book that indexes over based on both the content and quality of OoOcOcOcOcOcOcOcOcOcOdDdDc and 1,000 personal computing articles from presentation. • to promote the deve lopment of better OcOdDdJdDdOcOcOcOoOcOcOcOc IS magazines for January· December techniques in the field of simulation ROBOTICS GRANTS OcOdDcOcOdJcOcOcOcOoOdDdJc 1976. The articles are indexed under and gaming. A 200·250 word abstract should be sub· mitted by September I, 1977 to the Sym· more than 100 subject categories. In CHICAGO, OCT 27·29 MICRO COURSE IN CA posium Chainnan. Notification of accep· Three individual grants of $100 are of· dexed are magazine articles, letters from Special activities being planned in con fered by the United States Robotics So· readers, book reviews and editorials from Another 'Personal Computing' show, tance will be sent by September 10. The junction with the conference include: ciety to students who survey practical ac· Chaffey Community College al Alta Lo· b.oth hobbyist and professional publica· October 27·29, at the Holiday Inn at accepted papers are due by November 10. mobile workshops, optional tours, and a tivity in research and development on roo rna, California, has scheduled a fall-quart. tions. Oticago's O'Hare International Airport. TIle p r oceedin~ are scheduled to appear Game Fair at the popular Boston Globe bots in specified areas of the world. The er course in microcomputer programming The show will feature a variety of per· February I, 1978. Accepted papers are Book Festival, among many others. surveys must be perfonned lor academic that will be offered in two 12·week class The books are available from E. Berg Pub· sonal computer systems, new products, considered to have been submitted for credit with fonnal approval of appropri· sections. Both classes will be from 7 to 10 lications, 1360 SW. 199th Ct., Aloha, home brewed systems and applications - possible publication in the ISMM journal NASAGA ate professors. p.m., one on Tuesdays starting Sept. 13 Oregon 97005 for 52.50 each postpaid, all of it directed at the computer neo· Mini- and Microcomputers. clo Barry R. Lawson and the other on Wednesdays beginning and also from local computer stores. phyte. Manufacturers and distributors Room 205, Metropolitan College With the sudden rise in the use of person· Sept. 14. The only prerequisite for the will be offering consumer discounts for For correspondence, submission of ab Boston University al, privately owned computer systems, three-unit course is that a student must A forthcoming issue in July will index cash purchases at the show - some up to stract and to be placed on the mailing 755 Commonwealth Ave. private research and development in roo be a high school graduate or 18 years of January· June 1977 articles. Boston MA 02215 SO%! Door prizes, grand prizes, gifts and list: 62 PEOPLE'S COMPUTERS JUlY·AUGUST 63