Announcing a new BBC ISSUE computer - the Acorn A3000 6 JUNE 1989

The A3000, Acorn's new Archimedes 6502 emulator allows access to many computer for primary and secondary edu- BBC B and Master 128 software packages cation, has been enthusiastically received (where copyright permits). On top of this, by education, software producers and the an optional PC Emulator makes it possible computer press. Since 1982, when the to run MS-DOS packages on the machine. BBC Model B was launched, Acorn has offered outstanding power, performance The A3000 retails at just £649 + VAT and ease of use to users in schools and the (educational prices are available through Inside: home. The A3000 once again leads the Acorn dealers) so that many more schools, way with its advanced RISC technology. including primary schools, will be able to Computer-designed cards bring in benefit from 32-bit technology, with the cash The new machine is like the Master 128 in powerful sound and graphics and an easy- Snaps and snippets that it incorporates its full PC-style key- to-use mouse and pointer interface. The Let the BBC Acorn User Show board and processor into a single unit. But A3000 is being used by peripheral make your day in addition the A3000 has an integral 3.5 and software developers and is available to inch floppy disc drive on the right hand LEA's for demonstration and evaluation. Two-day networking conference side of the case. The 32-bit RISC chip set The machine can be first purchased at the fixed for September has a full 1 Mbyte of fast access RAM, in BBC Acorn User Show at London's Master is the tops for special needs line with the demand for a memory ca- Alexandra Palace from 21-23 July. Excellence flourishes pacity greater than the inherent 640 Kbyte limitation of MS-DOS. An internal Mike Matson of 4mation Educational module with a user port allows Concept Resources warmly welcomes the A3000. Keyboards and Midi equipment to be con- 'I'm delighted that Acorn has launched a nected to the new machine. machine with such tremendous capabilities for the primary school. Initially 4mation There is full software compatibility with the Archimedes )00 and 400 models. The The finished artwork can be printed out, sequel to Droom — that exploits the used as templates, or displayed in a disc- machine's graphics and sound facilities based 'craft shop'. will be available for the end of the autumn term. Sherston Software is also increasing its range of software for the Archimedes Brian Kennedy of Dudley LEA recently system with an Archimedes version of conducted a survey of the Acorn Typesetter, Sherston's popular DTP Archimedes, the RM Nimbus, and package for schools. Available in machines from Atari, Commodore and November, Typesetter+ will be enhanced Apple in a reappraisal of computers in to take advantage of the power and ease of education. As a result of the findings he use of the Archimedes computer. Bill had determined to recommend the Bonham of Sherston welcomes the Archimedes 410/1 and the BBC Master as announcement of the A3000 and hopes to the mainstream computers for schools in produce Archimedes versions of Sherston's his authority. But that was before the most popular software titles. announcement of the Archimedes A3000. He will now also recommend the new Nick Evans of Resource feels that by taking machine. 'The A3000 is offered to schools the power of the Archimedes computer at a tremendously attractive price,' Brian was wary about producing software for the and the WIMP environment into primary explains. 'Other appealing features are the Archimedes series, but now that I've used schools, the A3000 will fill a gaping hole way Archimedes computers, Masters and one of the machines I can see just how in the market. 'Many software houses, like Beebs can be mixed together and will pro- great their potential is for education. It is us, were waiting for the Archimedes vide a smooth upgrade path for future the second stage in the computer revol- market to be proven. With the advent of expansion.' ution in schools. I am confident we'll see the A3000 the Archimedes-based soft- plenty of exciting software very soon.' ware should flood in.' Desktop Stories, a For further details of the Acorn A3000 story-telling environment for children please contact the Customer Services Mike is already working on a new aged 8 and above, is Resource's latest Department, Ltd, Ful- Archimedes package that simulates a craft package for the primary school. Running bourn Road, Cambridge CB1 4JN, or your and design workshop and will simulate its on the Archimedes machine, it provides a local Acorn dealer (a member of a 350- users to produce three-dimensional craft- library of graphics from which children strong national network). work. Using techniques such as quilling, select pictures; they can then add text and curve stitching and embroidery, the backgrounds to build up their own story children design their products on-screen. pages. An Archimedes version of Dust — Computer-designed cards bring in the cash

Enterprising youngsters at a Reading primary school produced a range of coloured Christmas cards and sold more than one thousand copies to parents, teachers and friends. Using Clares' Artisan package on an Archimedes computer, pupils at Geoffrey Field Junior School de- signed a dozen different pictures. They then set up a mini-production line, print- ing out the pictures by the hundred and sticking them onto backing card before setting up shop in the school.

The project started at the beginning of the autumn term when teacher Julia Radford took in some simple commercially- his sleigh piled high with presents, were the zoom facility to produce extremely produced Christmas cards to give her chosen from the wide variety the children satisfying results. The school has just pur- pupils some ideas. She then let groups of dreamed up. chased a second program —Desktop Stories two or three pupils loose on the computer. from Resource. 'The school already has a 'First they had to learn how to draw with Commercial printing of the designs dozen Beebs and a lot of good software for the mouse and create pictures freehand. proved too expensive, instead, a standard them. We want to reserve the Archimedes Once they had mastered this basic tech- card with the school's logo on one side machines for programs that use their capa- nique they began to investigate the other and a Christmas message on the other was bilities to the full,' explains Mrs Radford. facilities. Some picked up the necessary printed at the near-by secondary school. 'Ideally, we would like to have one skills very quickly, others had a bit of Copies of the designs were printed on an Archimedes computer and colour printer difficulty controlling the mouse to start Integrex colour printer . The pupils then available for each of the four year groups.' with. But by the end of a half-day session, stuck them onto the standard cards and all the groups were ready to work on their slipped them into envelopes. Acorn is providing Geoffrey Field Junior School final design.' with a copy of the new Acorn Desktop Publisher to Since the success of this project the school help the school to assess how the program can The most effective designs, such as an has purchased two more Archimedes com- simplify the scaling of drawings and publishing of cards as well as being used for other projects with angel appearing to shepherds, a penguin puters, and a second colour printer. The text and graphics in the future. opening presents under the tree, and children have already got to grips with the Father Christmas landing on a roof with finer points of Artisan, using sprites and Snaps and Let the BBC Acorn User snippets Show make Early orders flood in for new can be networked on Acorn's low-cost network, and all run the popular Beeb BBC BASIC. The R 140, Acorn's UNIX your day Just one week after the launch of the new workstation provides the link to inter- A3000 BBC computer, Acorn had re- national standards. For more details con- Children are welcome, so bring the family ceived orders for over 3,000 machines, tact Acorn or your local dealer. to this exciting computer event, the 1989 including an order for 500 machines from BBC Acorn User Show. This year the Durham Local Education Authority. This Advanced CDT facility event runs for three days: 21st, 22nd and enthusiastic response comes despite the 23rd July. The elegance of the restored fact that the A3000 will not be available available in London girls' Alexandra Palace will form the backdrop in high volume until the BBC Acorn User school for around two hundred exhibitors of soft- Show at Alexandra Palace, London, from ware and hardware related to the BBC July 21-23. David Maddox, IT and busi- Master and A3000 computers. Live broad- ness studies adviser for Durham, com- casts on Greater London Radio will whet mented on his LEA's order: 'We already your appetite for the delights in store. use a lot of Acorn machines in our schools, Daily competitions, free draws, fabulous and the new A3000 offers a powerful, cost- prizes, and appearances by celebrity guests effective route for the future. It can deliver will add to the fun of the fair. With pro- the performance required to implement duct launches, new software, informative fully the TVEI and national curriculum seminars, technical clinics, workshops and requirements.' demonstrations, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Australian IT advisers take to the hills The new BBC computer, the Acorn A3000, will feature throughout the show, This year the Australian IT advisers held Neil Fletcher, Leader of ILEA, examines an and will be on sale to the general public for Archimedes computer after he officially opened the their annual get-together in a hiking lodge the first time. on Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. Organ- new building. ized by Acorn distributor Barsons To order your tickets now — and save £1.00 Computers, the group was bussed up a A new Craft, Design and Technology on each — send cheques or postal orders perilously winding dirt track to a hill-top building equipped with 12 Archimedes made payable to Safe Sell Ltd. £2.50 for chalet. Here they were greeted by a well- computers has opened at Camden School each adult and £1.50 for each child to Safe for Girls. In a collaborative project be- stocked bar and a throng of Archimedes Sell Ltd, Market House, Cross Road, computers with attendant RISC OS. tween Acorn and the Camden Consortium Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5SR (please don't of the TVEI Pilot Project in ILEA, the send cash). The formal sessions started that evening, school will explore the use of Acorn's powerful machine in teaching CDT. The with intervals spent watching possums and Alexandra Palace, in Wood Green, North the occasional Tasmanian devil under the Archimedes computers and four Master London, is easy to reach by road, rail or spotlights outside. An unexpected power 128 machines will also be used for TVEI . There is free parking for 2,000 cars. cut the following day necessitated a hike development work. 'We can now boast The show is open from 3pm to 9pm on or ride (horses were provided) to the near- one of the most advanced CDT facilities Friday 21 July and from 10am to 6pm on in the London area,' said headteacher est camping ground where — lo and behold Saturday 22 July and Sunday 23 July. — the computers had arrived before them Geoffrey Fallows. 'The Acorn computers and were set up and ready for use. As they open up exciting new opportunities for sipped the wine thrust into their hand as teachers and students in CDT and art and they dismounted, and admired the eco- textiles. ' logical splendour in one of the most beautiful nature reserves on this Earth, they reflected on the differences of their meetings and the drab venues for the For your free subscription to Acorn Education News, simply fill in the coupon below and pommie IT advisers meetings back in send to: Acorn Computers Limited, Department 6EN, FREEPOST 4335, BS1 3YX. England. Spread the 'News' by photocopying this coupon for completion by interested colleagues. Acorn has announced 3 new Please send me a copy of the Archimedes software catalogue. models to its 400 series of Name powerful desktop Position workstations School/College Acorn's range of computers now offers a complete upgrade path, from the original LEA BBC micro, via the BBC Master Series Address and the A3000, to the Archimedes 440/1. Long-lived standards have been main- tained across the whole range. All models Postcode Telephone No. 6EN Two-day Master is the tops for special needs Jt is acknowledged that microtechnology In many cases the software is standard and networking offers greater rewards to those with special only modified so that it can be controlled needs. The Centre for Special Needs by a single switch. Programmers working Technology was set up by Birmingham for the Centre have developed an interface conference Social Services Department to co- package, Encoder, which allows any ordinate the city's approach to special switch user to run any software package on fixed for needs technology. It concentrates on their BBC Master . Once developing uses of microtechnology with this package has been loaded into the the disabled in five areas: rehabilitation machine, the range of software available September and therapy, communication, assessment, to the disabled user is dramatically en- The fourth Econet conference will be held education and training, and recreation. larged. A version of Encoder is also at the Microtechnology Centre, Man- planned for the Archimedes computer. chester Polytechnic, on Monday and Almost all the technological systems in Tuesday, the 11-12 September. As in use, both in the Centre itself and in the An important aspect of the Centre's work previous years the emphasis will be on day centres in Birmingham, incorporate is the running of training courses for people hands-on experience, with a range of Acorn Master Series . who work with the disabled, including a activities designed to meet the needs of all This machine is recommended by the 3-day course that covers the basics of types of network user. Econet systems in Centre because a wide variety of peripheral microtechnology, and a session that intro- four rooms will link a range of work- devices can easily be plugged into it, and it duces word-processing applications and stations, including the Master 128, the is comparatively inexpensive. They con- the various alternative input devices that 32-bit RISC-based Archimedes machines sider more software for use in the caring are available. and the latest R140 UNIX workstation. professions is available for the Master than for any other micro. And furthermore, the The Centre now shares its experience in Among the many formal activities organ- Master microcomputer has proved itself many ways with other social services ized for this year's conference are sessions very reliable and robust. departments and special needs organiz- with information for new network man- ations. For further details of the services agers as well as for advanced network users. The Centre has an enormous software offered by the Centre for Special Needs The more general discussions on com- library with over 1,000 approved titles. Technology, please contact CSNT, 14 munication, software development, and Here carers can assess and compare several The Gardens, Fentham Road, Erdington, the use of networks in various curriculum packages before one is selected for Birmingham B23 6AG; tel: 021350 6188. areas are also expected to be popular. purchase.

Seminar and open-forum sessions will examine the ways in which networking can enhance the use of information tech- nology in education across the whole cur- Excellence flourishes riculum. The conference will analyse Nearly 80 schools were shortlisted from faced by the left-handed, through a wild current trends and also look further ahead the several hundreds which entered the garden scheme in a nursery school, to the to predict pathways for the future. Excellence '89 competition to find the design of a technologically advanced elec- best examples of good teaching practice in tric vehicle. An exhibition of the latest networking the UK. The winner of the competition, products, organized by software and hard- which is organized by Teacher Magazine When assessing the projects the judges ware manufacturers, will run throughout and sponsored by Acorn Computers, will will take into account how resources have the conference. receive £10,000 worth of Acorn equip- been found and used, the ability of the ment. The standard of entries has been children involved and the enduring effects Full details and booking forms are avail- exceptionally good, and the judges are of the work. The six judges will be able from the Econet '89 Office, Acorn facing a difficult task to select the best. visiting finalists by the end of June. The Computers Ltd, Fulbourn Road, final meeting to decide the winner looks Cambridge CB1 4JN. Completed forms Schools at all levels — from nursery to as if it will be long and arduous. But should be returned as soon as possible to secondary, including many special schools the judges are pledged to find a winner by guarantee a place at the conference. entered. Topics range from research into the end of the summer term. the physical and psychological problems

Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this leaflet is true and correct at the time of printing. However, the products described in this leaflet are subject to continuous development and improvement and Acorn Computers Limited reserves the right to change their specifications at any time. Acorn Computers Limited cannot accept liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any information or particulars in this leaflet.

ACORN, ARCHIMEDES, ACORN DESKTOP PUBLISHER and ECONET are trademarks of Acorn Computers Limited. ETHERNET is a trademark of Xerox Corporation. MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a trademark of AT&T.

In this leaflet, the initials BBC refer to the British Broadcasting Corporation. Acorn Computers Limited Telephone (0223)245200 Fulbourn Road Telex 817875 ACORN G Copyright © Acorn Computers 1989. Cherry Hinton Fax (0223) 210685 Cambridge4JN CB1 Viewdata (0223) 243642 APP229 SIXTH EDITION JUNE 1989 England