rI~DI~

~and rentice ~at~ p~ e~ evisited e~ JANUARY 1991 ~~~ 1990 PCC Opens Doors to

Underg rad uates • • • ... With the PC Lab

On 1 October last year, the Prentice Computer Centre opened its new PC Laboratory housing 60 computers for use in University teaching. Its aim is to provide a computing and printing service for students and staff. The opening of the lab was the result of months of work by the Centre's staff, in particular john Currie and Denis Antonellie and the staff of the PC Support Group. Wilfred Brimblecombe has now assumed operational responsibility for the lab. Initial funding for the lab was received from the University, but the lab aims to be self funding over time. Interest in the Printing in the lab is on high quality computers. Attached to the lab are two laboratory has exceeded expectations. laser printers. Laser printed assignments teaching rooms; a PC room and a Macintosh Students can use a computer including can replace handwritten cines! A binding room. Departments can book either of these software for $ 2 per hour. Popular service is available for assignments and rooms for lectures or tutorials. software such as WordPerfect, Microsoft reports. PC Lab hours are Monday to Friday, Word, Works, and Excel is installed on the The lab contains a mix of state-of-the- art 8.30 am to 10.30 pm during semester, and computers . IBM compatible and Macintosh LC colour 8.30 am to 4.30 pm during breaks. .. . And Other Student Services

The introduction of the PC Lab is The word processing package used in University library'S catalog via the only one service the Prentice undergraduate courses is one element of campu s computer network, UQnet. Computer Centre is offering to Microsoft Works. Works is a popular, easy Students a lso have the capability of undergraduate students. to learn package which students can use accessing other tertiary institu tions 'in the PC Lab or purchase for their home throughout the world using UQnet. In July last year, the Prentice computer. The courses are held in the PC 1991 will see the introduction of more Computer Center offered its first Lab. student services from The Prentice wordprocessing course for undergraduate Students with home computers and a Centre. students. modem now have access to the Prentice Revisited

From the Director. • • A Centre such as ours must fulfill two being the next stage of this type of key roles within the University. development. In fact, because of its The first is to provide services to meet adances in this area, the Centre has been the developing needs of the staff and commissioned to provide the Directory students. In this regard 1990 has really Selvices for the whole AARNet. been a vintage year with an extensive January 1991 also sees the range of new services released. These are amalgamation of the Prentice Computer detailed in this review. In particular I Centre and the Division of Audio-Visual believe that the new PC Lab will quickly Services into a single organisation "The become a key resource of the University. PC". This is an exciting change for both Our second role is to introduce new groups and one which will promote the technologies and innovative services to merging of technologies. the campus to help maintain the pOSition The Central Video Replay System, of this University as the leading now installed in many lecture theatres is University in the State and one of the but the first example of such a merge; a Most importantly, however, the foremost in Australia. The Centre's work major project commencing this year is the management philosophy w ill apply in computer networks epitomizes this development of remote video teaching across the new organisation to bring new, role, with the release of Directory services requiring both vido and advanced integrated services to the Services on the network in January 1991 communications technologies. UniverSity. Housekeeping

The Prentice Computer Centre had out of the huts which TED! now occupies Director...... Level 3 some housekeeping changes last behind the Physics building. The huts Deputy Director...... Level 5 year. housed the Centre's training rooms. Finance and Administration ...... Level 4 With the completion of the new These training rooms are now located on User liaison and Marketing...... Level 4 Hawken Building, the Engineering Level 3 of the Prentice Building. Network Central Computing Services Faculty moved out of its old home and Engineering also vacated the huts, and is Accounts ...... Level 2 now situated on Level 5. Help Desk ...... Level 2 into its new one, leaving the Prentice Operations ...... Level 2 Computer Center the main occupant of The PC Support Group was moved to PC Lab ...... Level 2 Building 42. With the move, the Hawken Level 2 (Ground floor) to provide easier Program Library...... Level 4 Systems Software ...... Level 4 building was renamed the Prentice access especially for those clients bringing their computers to the group for Information Technology Services Building. Applications Development ...... Level 4 repair. The PC Support Group's position The Prentice Computer Centre moved Data Entry ...... Level 4 is also convenient to the PC Lab. Training Rooms ', ' ...... LeveI3 The Program Library and Systems Media Production Software staff are now located on Level 4. Graphic Design...... Level 5 With the amalgamation of the Prentice Photography ...... Physics Building Computer Centre and the Division of TV Production ...... Avalon Theatre Network Engineering Audio-Visual Services (DAVS), many Central Maintenance ...... Level 1 DAVS staff relocated to the Prentice Communications ...... Levcl 5 Building. CON ...... Level 1 The following is a summary of where Technical Services each of The Prentice Centre sections is PC Maintenance ...... Level 2 located as at the start of 1991, but this TV Maintenance ...... Avalon Theatre Audio-Visual Pool...... Level 1 may change during the year with the Central Video Replay System ...... Level 2 restructuring of The Prentice Centre: Lecture Room and Conference Services .. Level 1 In this Issue ... PCC Opens Doors to Undergraduates New Services from Expo-Uni Involvement...... 10 Central Computing Services With the PC Lab...... 1 Looking to 1991 ...... 11 Typesetting...... 6 And Other Student Services ...... 1 Amalgamation with DAVS .11 Scanning ...... 7 PC Lab for Students...... 11 From the Director .. 2 The Big Computers DirectOlY Services Introduced...... 11 KL Days are Numbered...... 8 AARNet National Directory Services Project .. 11 Housekeeping ...... 2 Goodbye VAX 111780, Hello Sun ...... 8 Farewell Card Reader ...... 8 Medical School Interactive Video Teaching System .. 11 PCC Amalgamates The little Computers Wordprocessing courses with Audio-Visual Services ..... 3 The PC Support Group Team. ...9 for undergraduates ...... 11 Software Discounts ...... 9 Network News . .. 4 New Computers installed early in 1991...... 12 The University'S Networks...... 4 What we've done in Information Technology Services ...... 10 The Prentice Centre Shop ...... 12 Access to UQ Library Catalog ...... 5 Leo Howard Involvement ...... 11 Directory Services Introduced ...... 5 Training Courses in 1990 ...... 10 Orientation Week Plans ...... 11 2 JAN '91 Prentice Computer Centre amalgamates with Audio-Visual Services

The last quarter of 1990 was a busy same. Other sections have been created will establish a computer graphics time for the Prentice Computer or modified. From 1 January 1991, the laboratory for academic use, it will set up Centre and the Division of Audio­ initial Prentice Centre sections are: the remote video teaching trial for the Visual Services. We have merged to • Central Computing Services, medkal faculty, and it will develop and trial electronic presentation systems for form The Prentice Centre. • Finance and Administration, lecture theatre use. The official date for us to become one • Information Technology Services, The Prentice Centre will be housed in big happy family was 1 JanualY 1991, but • Media Production, the Prentice Building (building much preparatory work was needed. number 42 on University maps). The • Network Engineering, The Prentice Centre unites users of Graphic Design Unit, and the Audio­ similar technology previously separated • Technical Services. Visual Equipment Pool were moved into by organisational boundaries. The Centre The Specialist Medical and Dental the building prior to Christmas. Plans are is the focus for computing and allied Photographers have been transferred to undelway to move the Photography Unit, technology on and off the St Lucia the control of the Health Sciences Group TV Production staff and Television campus. A wide range of services is and are not part of The Prentice Centre. Maintenance staff in the future. available to staff and students, as well as As services are examined, there will The amalgamation will introduce a Corporate Services such as Network be some restructuring of the organisation move to real money charging for many infrastructures and Lecture Room to rationalise functions and improve the services previously available on a "no services. The total amalgamation will be efficiency of our services. There are charge" basis. This means The Prentice gradual but there are some immediate already plans for another section, Centre will have to recover the money it changes. Multimedia Technologies. costs to provide services. Services The Division of Audio-Visual Services A small group of staff will be drawn previously free or subsidised w ill has four sections which amalgamate with from both the computing and audio­ gradually move to full cost recovery. the Prentice Computer Centre to form the visual areas into this new section to The Prentice Centre will strive for new organisation. There are areas of develop skills and new services in advanced technology and increased overlap so they have required computer graphics and multimedia efficiency to provide new and better restructuring. Some sections remain the presentations. Multimedia Technologies services for the University.

The Central Video Replay System in the Undergraduate Library-the first jOint development between the Division ofAudio- Visual Services and the Prentice Computer Centre 3 Prentice Revisited U1["""""" Net rk Ne

Network facilities being shared by departments at the University of Queensland are managed by the Network Management Group within the Prentice Computer Centre. The group is responsible for day-to-day operation of the network, expansion work and providing information for long term planning. This story looks at the performance of the network during last year and examines some trends that have developed.

The University's Networks University-there are no fees charged to the network. users for accessing these networks. QUESTnet gives all the tertiary For the benefit of readers who are not institutions in Queensland ready access familiar with the technical details of the QUESTnet to computer facilities at each other's sites. University's computer networks, let's start The UQnet netw9rk has connections to For example, administrative staff at James by taking a brief look at ;what ·netWorks~ other tertiary institutions in Queensland. Cook University in Townsville can are used· at The University of . The network formed by these interrogate the QTAC database which Queensland .. connections is caHed QUESfn'et: The' resides at The University of Queensland. mflp of Queensland.'below shows the At the bottom of the diagram is an UQnet arrow pointing to Melbourne. This arrow QUESTnet 'connections .aro~nd· The name UQnet is used to refer to all the Queensland, to Townsville, represents a line that connects QUESTnet network facilities at The University of Rockhampton and Toowoomba. to the Australia-wide network, AARNet. Queensland. Use of UQnet, QUESTnet QUESTnet also has lines in Brisbane and AARNet is funded· by the linking QUT and Griffith University to AARNet

In May last year the Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet) was commissioned. AARNet connects tertiary institutions in all Australian states to form a national network, as can be seen in the QUESTnet Map AARNet map on the next page. The centre of AARNet is Melbourne with lines connected to each state capital city. QUESTnet connects Queensland tertiary institutions to AARNet. The AARNet connects to other international networks via a permanently leased satellite link from Melbourne to the west coast of the USA. From here, other parts of the world are accessible. This large international network (of which AARNet is a part) is called The Internet. James Cook University

Network Growth during 1990

The network grew during 1990. Two factors indicated growth of the University's network: • growth in the physical network o growth in the traffic over a network. The Prentice Computer Center performs much of the network installation work for University departments. Records show a 38% increase this year on 1989 spending. It Queensland University University College of can be assumed that the physical network Southern Queensland of Technology

~-~'4-- University of Queensland has experienced a similar level of growth in 1990. I . Griffith University Traffic over the network is measured on a monthly basis. It has experienced an exponential rise throughout 1990. This trend is expected to continue into 1991. This emphasises the need for To Melbourne the installation of faster physical networks and higher performance computers. 4 JAN '91

AARNetMap

Help Desk pee, Prentice Bdg Access to UQ The U of Q 4072 cchelp@UQVAX Library Catalog 3654116 ,....----...,r--- Directory Services Introduced From January 1991, the University community have access to a directory Central computer users are able to will access the University Library's on-line containing information on thousands of tertiary employees throughout the catalog via the campus network, world. UQnet. This information will include postal Here's How ... Anyone on a UNIX system (e.g., address, telephone and facsimile Brolga), on a VMS system (e.g., numbers, electronic mail addresses, and Start Directory Services by entering: UQVAX), or on UQVM can access the perhaps some hobbies, interests and ds Library by entering: skills. A photograph can even be (Note: all commands on Brolga should tel net library included! be typed in lower case .) (Note: All commands on Brolga Never before has all this information If at any time you require help, press should be typed in lower case .) been available in the one place. If you H to access the help menu. The easiest If you are experience trouble wanted to find out your colleague's way to find information is getting through, it may be because of electronic mail address, you had to :1. Press S for search; followed by the the Library's limited capacity. Wait a telephone or write to the person name of the person to search for; few minutes, then try again. When you requesting it. then press enter (i.e., S name are ready to disconnect from the Directory Services at The University

IIlII C ntral Com utin ~orvi e

The Phototypesetter and the Optical Character Reader (OCR) 1I: were purchased on the recommendations of the Typesetting Working Party. 1 es tter .' > In September the Prentice Computer Centre installed its new APS-6 laser phototypesetter.

When completed, the photosetter's IBM 3081: Script (DCF) Macintosh overall configuration will involve two UQVAK VaxDocument Macintosh users can print directly to the associated image-processors: typesetter, by selecting Typesetter Queue (a) an APS-PS processor for managing How is the PostScript file sent to in the Chooser. Users will need a files in PostScript format (such as the typesetter? connection to the campus Appletalk those produced by popular word­ Once the output file has been produced network and a UQVAX account. Your processing and desktop publishing by the typesetting (wordprocessing) UQVAX user name must be selected in packages), and package, the technique for passing this the Chooser. (b) an APS 55/250 processor for handling file for typesetting depends on the IBM PC (and compatibles) output in an alternative form suitable machine on which it is produced. IBM PC users should upload the for the photosetter. Access the typesetter from the postscript file to the UQVAX via PCSA or Currently, only the PostScript imager is University's mainframe computers Kermit and print it from there as normal. available. (UQVAX, BROLGA, and UQVM), or a The only change will be the name of the Macintosh or IBM Pc. Here are a few What is produced? printer queue. All users are required to hints to start off. have a UQVAX account. The final output from the photosetter is a UQVAX (VAX 6510, VMS operating system) high-quality 'bromide' (chemically­ On UQVAX, either the PRINT or PSPRINT How much? treated paper) which may be used as a commands can be used. The queue A4 (210 x 297mm) (default) $2.93/page master copy by a printer to produce needs to be specified as PSC$PRINT A5 (148 x 210mm) $2.20/ page prestigious printed material, for example, On-line help for PSPRINT is available books, stationery (letterheads, business if you are ever unsure. A3 (297 x 420mm) $5.45 page cards), and publications on more Overhead $1.08/job expensive paper. A bromide is also Brolga (SUN 4/470, UNIX operating system) frequently used directly for impressive The typesetter is accessed from Brolga by When available? poster displays at conferences. (Where entering the command relevant to the lesser quality only is expected, or for type of file you have. The commands are: You will be able to access the typesetter proof-reading purposes, the same file queue 24 hours every day. However, Postscript files: may be directed to a laser printer.) bromide needs to be developed (like a Your typeset image will be the default $ Ipr -Paps myfile.ps photograph) by the Computer Operators A4 size unless you specify a page size in ASCIIfiles: before it is available for collection. This your file, or a form-type in your print $ enscript -Paps myfile.txt will be done regularly throughout the day between 8.30 am and 10.00 pm, so request. Trofffiles: The A4 and A5 pages are rotated 90 you should never have to wait too long $ tbl myfile.trfleqnlptroff -t -mellpr -Paps degrees, as their length is less than the· for your output. bromide's width (12 inches or 304.8mm). Latex files: This saves on paper and is more $ latex myfile.tex Note: Current users of the typesetting economical for you. $ dvips myfile.dvillpr -Paps program JUSTIF on the KLlO must Caps' denotes the typesetter queue, and continue to output to the Compugraphic What is available? may be substituted by 'alw' or 'lps40' to 8400 CRT typesetter, since this program A variety of packages for producing files select other laser printers.) does not produce output files suitable for which might be directed finally to the either image-processor in the new set-up. UQVM (IBM 3081, VM/CMS operating system) photo setter exist on campus,for example, In early 1991, a new typesetting UQVM users can invoke the PSPRINT package (TopText/TopSet/TopForm) will Micro-systems' Pagemaker, QuarkXpress, command to obtain their typeset output. be installed on Brolga. This package can Ventura, Latex, Word, Note that you will have to add a queue output to both the APS-PS processor and WordPerfect, etc. switch ClQUEUE=PSC$PRINT), to div~rt the APS 55/250 processor, and will become Brolga: troff (with eqn and tbl, your job to the typesetter. All users are the public system to replace JUSTrF. More but not pic), TEX required to have a UQVAX account. news about this after installation ... 6 JAN '91 Scanning In November last year, the Prentice Computer Centre began an Optical Character Reading service. This service may save you hours of re-entering previously typed documents.

The Optical Character Reader (OCR) Documents printed on a dot matrix not leave questions unanswered. Bring scans a typed document and enters the printer are not rec'ommended as the the form and your document or image to characters into the computer to produce a characters are not read well by the OCR. the Help Desk in Room 212 (ground wordprocessing file or text file. Once As for pictures, black and white floor) of the Prentice Building, and leave imported into a wordprocessing package, images produce the best results. it with us. the document can be edited and The optimum sized paper is A4, but formatted, just as you do for any other the scanner will also accept AS and legal. Scanning Charge wordprocessing file . Avoid A3 paper. Scanning for University departments will The OCR can also scan pictures such Remember, the better the quality of be $45/hour for operator time plus 25 as photographs or graphs for you to the document, the higher the accuracy cents per page. Other users will be include in your documents. Images can will be when scanning. If in doubt about charged $65/hour plus 35 cents per page. then be edited and resized for inclusion the quality of your document, bring it to This price includes setup time, in your document. us and we'll let you know. scanning, and transfer to output This new service may save you destination. Printing is not included. valuable time in re-typing if your Output Scanning may be expensive for a document is not available on disk (on PC small amounts of text, but it is certainly or mainframe) or if your disk storing the We can output your scanned document economical for big ones and cheaper or picture to many formats on several document has been lost or corrupted, than re-enteringl and a hard copy version is availablel destinations. Charging will be via a Request for Formats for scanning text include Interdepartmental Services form (Store Hints for best results ASCII, WordPerfect, Word, plus many catalogue no. 12076) and must more. Picture formats can be TIF, The speed and accuracy of the scanner accompany the Run Request form. Cash Paintbrush, GEM and many others. depends on the quality of your is also accepted and payment is expected The destination can be to any document. Better quality documents will on collection of work. mainframe account or floppy disk. scan more quickly and accurately. Spell checking will be your responsibility. Rough Guide Where to bring your document For best results, your document A 20 page document may cost you should have no crossing out or any stray You will need to complete a Run Request around $20. This allows 20 minutes to marks. Avoid folding the document. form for the OCR available at the Help setup the scanner for your oocument and The scanner will not read underlining Desk. We need to have detailed transfer the file to your output format and when characters are in lower case, but instructions of what you want scanned. destination, and 25 cents for each of the reading the upper case characters is The form gives us information to enable 20 pages. This is not a hard and fast rule, usually successful. Scanning italics, us to provide exactly what you want. Ask only a rough guide. Remember, the speed bolding, columns and tables works if staff to help you complete the form if you and accuracy of the scanner depend on columns are well spaced. do not understand what it is asking. Do the quality of your document.

This photograph of Kelli, our PC Lab Receptionist, was scanned using the Centre's OCR. The page was printed to the Centre's new typesetter. 7 Prentice Revisited The Big Computers II II KL Days are numbered

1990 was the last full year of service for the University's oldest mainframe, the KLlO. The KLlO (a DEC KLl099 dual processor mainframe computer) was installed at the then Prentice Computer Centre in 1978. The KLlO was always a popular machine. Packages like VG and SPSS George Michaelson working at a multi-window station gained immediate acceptance in the attached to UQnet, the campus network University community and contributed to the KLlO's economic success. Some twelve years later, the KLlO has Goodbye VAX 11/780, been well and truly overtaken by advances in computing technology. As a result, the KLlO's maintenance, operation Hello Sun and software costs can no longer be supported. The Prentice Computer In August 1990, the Prentice Computer Centre replaced the VAX 11/780 Centre is retiring this machine in 1991. known as Brolga, with a new Sun 4/470 computer. During 1990, users of the KLlO have The VAX 11/780 computer had been Services staff Allan Woodland, had to consider and plan alternative in service at the University since 1982. It Marek Krawus, Anthony Murdoch, and computing for 1991. was the original of the VAX series of DEC ex-staff member Greg Lehmann, the The Prentice Computer Centre has computers. choice was made to purchase the alternative mainframe computers such as When first introduced, the VAX 11/780 Sun 4/ 470. In comparison to the VAX the newly installed VAX 6510, the new ran the VMS operating system, but more 11/780, the Sun is faster, more powerful Sun 4/470, or the IBM 3081. We also have recently has been running under the more and the physical computer is much popular software such as SPSS-X, Oracle, popular UNIX operating system. smaller and costs less to run. The Sun and SAS to facilitate moving user In moving into more advanced operates the Sun OS 4.1 UNIX system. applications. technology and to provide a better central The replacement should prove to be Many users have made the choice of computing service, the Prentice Computer a popular computing tool on and off the moving to PC-based computing, an Centre decided to replace Brolga. After St Lucia campus. indication of the continuing popularity of thorough investigations of alternate UNIX The Sun is still referred to as Brolga to microcomputers into the 1990s. based computers by Central Computing facilitate a smooth changeover for users.

The End of an Era~Farewell to the Card Reader

Perhaps you remember dropping a connected to the KA mainframe because there are very few card readers box of punched cards, then spending computer in the early 1970s when left in Australia. Punched cards were used hours collecting the cards and sorting punched cards were the main form of at the Centre for a quarter of a century so them into order. input to computers. In 1978, the KL the removal of this selvice marks the end Mainframe was installed to replace the of an era in computing technology. Maybe this hasn't happened to you, KA and the Card Reader was transferred So what happened to the Card but you have probably heard stories of to the new mainframe. Reader? others doing this. Well, this is unlikely to The Card Reader allowed the reading The Prentice Computer Centre is happen ever again at the Prentice of both punched and mark sense cards, creating a computer museum where the Computer Centre. primarily for batch processing jobs. Card Reader will be on display. If you or The punched card reading service The advent of interactive computing, your department have any old computing provided by the Prentice Computer first via terminals to timesharing systems equipment you would like to donate to Centre has been discontinued. The Card and later to standalone PCs, has made the the museum, contact Maralyn on Reader which reads punched cards was punched card an item of historical 3654307. unplugged on 31 May 1990. interest. Watch The Prentice Bulletin for more The Card Reader was originally We say this is the end of an era information on the computer museum. 8 JAN '91 T Littl c mput rs ThePCSu rtGro p Te m The Personal Computer Support Group is a team of people who assist the University community in the use of PCs and Macs. They are the first point of call for personal computer problems.

We can help you in 1991 ... Buy this kit from the group for $20 to look' after your own hard and floppy Fault Reporting disks or bring your floppy to us to check The PC Support Group has a telephone ($3 for each floppy disk). specifically for reporting hardware faults. The telephone is attended by an Shareware answering machine. Ring the number, A PC is set up specifically for leave a message about your faulty Shareware in the PC Lab. ~• Customers can select from computer equipment, and we'll attend to S you quickly. The number is 365 3938 2121 Shareware programs. Bring your own disk, or buy one in the Consulting Computer Virus Checking PC Lab and copy programs to take back You think you may have a to your department or home. The group's consulting team in 1990 was rJIh. virus? You don't know what to You will only be charged $3 for each made up of Alan Langdon, Bradley ~ do? The PC Support Group has disk you copy, plus $2 for each hour you Vaughan, and Robert Verstandig. Viruscan, an anti~virus program to detect are in the PC lab for use of the shareware Together, they supported many software and remove 241 viruses on your Pc. computer. packages all over campus. They helped solve problems, answered queries and gave advice. The team answered between 30 to 40 enquiries each day, both over the A l~nC,;R~~~~~e~t~!~o~p~~~~~~~[~t~~!'~~;d software to staff and students. telephone and to clients who walked~in. ~ They also looked after clients' projects. The PC Support Group's strong buying power attracts good deals with For example, the team can give you software suppliers. This means we can offer software discounts for our advice on implementing a computer clients. Both staff and students can take advantage of this service. system including possible sources of Discounted software is supplied from Sourceware (suppliers of WordPerfect), and suppliers. Microsoft. Both supply various wordprocessing, graphics, database, spreadsheet, utility Call the PC Support Group with any and communication products. We also subscribe to PC~SIG Shareware. More than one computing enquiry on 365 4018. thousand software packages are available for both IBM compatible and Macintosh Personal Computers. Below is a selection of popular products you can buy from the Prentice Computer Centre. Telephone 365 4018 if you are interested. For IBM PC & Compatibles For Apple Macintosh WordPerfect ...... ,...... $170 Microsoft Word 4.0 ...... $133 DrawPerfect ...... $170 Microsoft Excel ...... $210 Maintenance Microsoft Word 5.0 ...... $150 Microsoft Works ...... $143 The group's maintenance team in 1990 Microsoft Word for Windows ...... $210 Microsoft Powerpoint ...... $165 was made up of Chris McCorley, Microsoft Excel for Windows ...... $210 Borland Turbo Pascal Mac 1.1...... $95 Derek Browning, Trevor Brennan, and Robert Verstandig. These four guys Microsoft Works ...... $90 Borland Turbo Pascal Tutor Mac ...... $76 worked head down all day long repairing Microsoft QuickBASIC ...... $60 Borland Pascal Database faulty computer equipment. They mainly Microsoft QuickC ...... $70 Toolbox Mac ...... $100 repaired personal computers, printers, Borland Pascal Numeric terminals, and modems. More than 500 Borland Quattro Pro ...... $175 Toolbox Mac ...... $100 pieces of equipment were repaired during Borland Turbo Pascal 5.5 ...... $120 1990. Borland Sidekick Mac Borland Turbo C++ ...... $160 (desk management) ...... $100 Borland Paradox Many of these packages are available Academic Edition (database) ...... $195 in Lab Packs (for group users). If you are interested in these, please telephone for Borland Sidekick prices. Enquiries about discounted (desk management) ...... $105 --- software may be directed to the PC Borland Sprint (wordprocessing) ...... $160 Support Group on 365 4018. 9 Prentice Revisited hat 've d nelnIII Inf ati n III! Techn I yS r I es

Information Technology Services has a team of analysts and programmers who design and develop software packages for specific needs. It also provides data Expo ... Uni entry and typesetting services. Here are some of our achievements in 1990: .. We've completed the development of a .. We've continued to provide the Involvement PC-based touch screen higher education Queensland Tertiary Administration The Prentice Computer Centre was information system for the International Centre (QTAC) with support for their one of the many departments Development Program of Australian computer system. Universities and Colleges (!DP). The ., We've bought 60 personal computers involved in Expo-Uni from system is now operational in several of for the PC Lab after a long process of 31 August to 1 September 1990. IDP's Asian offices and is being used analysing the lab's needs and choosing The Centre's theme was Computers in enthusiastically by potential overseas from what is on the market to suit these Support, to reflect the computing service students. needs. provided by the Prentice Computer Centre ., We've provided ongoing programming for teaching and research at The University .. We've developed a postscript based support for University departments and of Queensland, on and off the St Lucia computer system for IDP which Administration. campus. produces an information booklet listing .. We've analysed results of survey Computer Centre staff planned several tertiary courses offered in Australia. questionnaires using statistical analysis exhibits for Expo-Uni and gave their time Courses are grouped by area of interest packages. in preparing and staffing the event. Here's and institution with graphical symbols e We've provided a data entry service to what visitors saw at the Prentice Computer used to represent the various levels at the University community both on and off Centre: which courses are offered. the St Lucia campus. Virus Checker. Visitors brought • We were involved as consultants to .. We produced 12 issues of The Prentice along their diskettes to have them scanned several Government and quasi­ Bulletin. for a computer virus. Most people breathed government departments, for example, .. We've continued to provide a a sign of relief to find their disk was clear, for tender evaluations and information typesetting service to the University but yes-we did find the odd virus and technology planning and reviews. community. successfully killed it. PC Repair. So what does go on when your computer goes in for repair? Visitors were able to see diagnostic equipment Traini urses analysing faulty computers. Maintenance staff were at the scene repairing computers with explanations to interested onlookers. 1990 High-speed Plotters. Personal computers were plotting colour During 1990, almost 100 courses were offered. geometrical representations of More than 1000 participants indicates the popularity of these courses. mathematical equations. This was a The Prentice Computer Centre has two Two new courses were introduced in fascinating display to see the plotting pens full-time staff members devoted to 1990 whilst others were revised. , moving so quickly over the huge sheets of presenting computer training courses and Participants gain hands-on experience paper. At the end of each day, the plots proViding post-course support. in all courses. Enrolments are limited to were snapped up by visitors eager to retain These two positions are centrally ensure this, but courses are held a memento of their visit to Expo-Uni. funded by the University so this enables frequently to minimise waiting time. Life expectancy. Visitors were the Prentice Computer Centre to provide Training saw a new venue during the invited to provide personal details so that a free training courses to staff and year. The teaching rooms were moved computer could predict their likely life postgraduate students in 1990. from the huts behind the Physics building expectancy. Some courses are introductory and to refurbished rooms on Level 3 of the Historical display_ A record of early are aimed at participants with little or no Prentice Building. computing through to modern day computing experience. Such courses are Course schedules are distributed in technology was on display. Visitors were offered for the mainframe operating advance to departments; they are interested to see how computers have systems (VAX/VMS, VM/CMS and UNIX) advertised in The Prentice Bulletin; and become smaller, faster: and smarter over and PC/MSDOS for personal computers. they are kept on-line on the mainframe the years. Other courses are in the use of computers. To view a course schedule The exhibits were very well attended, packages which are popular with on-line enter one of the following with many people still visiting the Prentice researchers and administrators in areas commands: Computer Centre at 9.00 pm on the last such as statistics, text-processing and for UQVAX users: COURSE night. database management. Examples of the for UQVM users: COURSES Interest stemmed from people of all packages taught in these kind of courses for BROLGA users: MAN COURSES' ages. Computing seems to retain its appeal are SPSS-X, WordPerfect, and DBase III. for UQKL10 users: HELP COURSE to almost everyone year after year.

10 JAN '91 Looki to 1 1 The Centre will concentrate on the challenge to produce valuable student oriented services during 1991. Many plans are already underway for 1991 at The Prentice Centre.

Alan Coulter returns as Director of the other contains Macintosh computers. The Prentice Centre on 1 February 1991 after PC Lab is now taking bookings for 1991. two years of secondment at The Users will have access to popular University of Queensland Downtown. wordprocessing, graphics and Read on to see what we're planning spreadsheet software. Output is available for 19911 to laser printers. The PC Lab is open during semester between 8.30 am and 10.30 pm Monday to Friday. During semester breaks, hours Medical School Interactive are 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Video Teaching System

The Prentice Centre is involved in a pilot Amaigamation with DAVS project to set up a video teaching system for the Medical School in 1991. The biggest change will be from the Funding of $25,000 was given to the Prentice Computer Centre to The Prentice Medical School for the project. Nothing Centre. o like this has ever been set up at The The Prentice Computer Centre has I University of Queensland. amalgamated with the Division of Audio­ The pilot project will consist of a link Visual Services. The organisation will be AARNet National between two lecture rooms on campus. known as The Prentice Centre from Directory Services Project At each end will be a camera, a television 1 January 1991. monitor, a computer, and a control unit. Many changes will be internal to the Directory Services is now in place at Students can be in either lecture room organisation and will be transparent to The University of Queensland. Users can and receive the one lecture. outsiders. However, the University access information about colleagues such Both lecturer and students will be on community will observe many changes. as postal address, telephone and camera. The lecturer will be visible by Hopefully clients will find The Prentice facsimile numbers, and personal students in the remote lecture room on a Centre to be a valuable technological information including hobbies and television monitor. Remote students will resource centre during 1991. memberships. be visible by the lecturer also on a Turn to Page 3 for a more information However, users can only access other television monitor. on the amalgamation. institutes also with a directory. There are Presentation material such as teaching This issue of Prentice Revisited will be many institutes in Australia yet to set up a slides (text, pictures, X-rays) will be the last publication produced by the directory. transferred to the remote lecture theater Prentice Computer Centre. Future The Australian Academic Research over a computer network and displayed newsletters will be produced by The Network (AARNet) has granted $80,000 to on a computer screen. Prentice Centre. The Prentice Centre for a pilot project to The pilot project should be set up directories at other Australian completed mid-1991. institutes. Ultimately, the interactive video The Prentice Centre and AARNet will teaching system will be set up between manage the project with participation lecture theatres at the Royal Brisbane from the University of Adelaide, the Hospital, the Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Sydney, Monash University the Mater Hospital and the Greenslopes and the CSIRO Division of Information Repatriation Hospital. Technology. The interactive video teaching system will allow students to gain more hospital PC lab for Students time through the saving of time spent travelling to central lecture theatres 1991 will be the first new year where around Brisbane. students to the University can come to the PC Lab and use a computer. The lab has 60 personal computers available for use. Forty of these are IBM compatible computers, with the other 20 being Macintosh computers. The pilot project should be Students can hire these computers on completed by the end of 1991. an individual basis. Alternatively, Eventually, all Australian institutes will departments may book either of two have their own directory. Users here at tutorial rooms each with 16 computers on The University of Queensland will be a casual or temporary basis. One tutorial able to then access colleagues at any room houses IBM compatibles, whilst the institute in Australia.

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continued from page 11 ... mainframe computer for teaching and research. Administration's computer, UQADM (VAX 8650) is managed by the Centre. It will be replaced with the VAX 6000 Model 520. The third computer in the cluster is Administration's Microvax 3400, known as UQEVE. This computer will not be Wordprocessing Courses replaced. for undergraduates other computing equipment on display. Buyers will not longer have to run The Prentice Centre will be offering around town to see choose computers. wordprocessing courses to They will be able to see many types and Undergraduate students throughout 1991. models of computers in the shop then go Staff and postgraduate students are also to the supplier of their choice to purchase welcome to attend. the equipment. The aim of these wordprocessing o Plans are underway to have the shop courses will be to show students enough running by Orientation week. wordprocessing commands to produce an assignment and print it on a laser All new computers will continue to be printer. known as UQVAX, UQADM and UQEVE. Leo Howard involvement The package used for these courses In fact, most of the changes involved will will be Microsoft Works. Works is an be transparent to campus users. The Prentice Centre will be proudly easy-to-use and affordable program One transparent change will be the involved with the Leo Howard Vacation students can learn quickly and purchase installation of the latest version of the School in January 1991. Students will for their home computers. operating system. come to the Centre for a presentation Emphasis will be on paragraph styles The change users will notice will be which will introduce students to the for references and quotes, type sizes, the increased speed in computing. Centre's services and facilities. Included faces and styles, endnotes, and tables. UQVAX users may notice almost double will be hands-on experience with a The courses will be held in the PC the speed of processing. UQADM users personal computer followed by a tour of Lab where students will be able to return may notice an increase in processing of the Computer Centre. at a later date to use the same model up to 5 times. Leo Howard created his vacation computer to produce their assignments More good news is two new laser school for secondary students who are and other course work. printers will be installed. Administration high achievers to give students a taste of staff will have access to another LPS-40 University life. laser printer. For general use around campus will be an LPS-20 laser printer. Its attraction is its capability to print on both 111111 ml 11111 1 1111111111111 B sides of the paper. Extra disks and cartridges are also being installed for greater storage and D backup.

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New Computers installed Orientation Week plans early in 1991 D The Prentice Computer Centre has always The Prentice Centre will install new been part of Orientation Week, and 1991 computers to replace two of three will be no exception. In a one hour computers in its VAX cluster by mid­ session, students will discover how The January 1991. The new computers are Prentice Centre services can benefit them. being installed to meet Administration's The Prentice Centre Shop Emphasis will be on the Centre's new PC increased computing needs (e.g., new Lab where students can hire a personal payroll and student system). Processing The Prentice Centre is going to have a computer for their coursework needs. was becoming too slow with the existing shop open to University departments, Students will be given hands-on computers. The new computers will cut staff and students. experience in the PC Lab,to whet their down the time taken to do big processing Audio-Visual supplies will be on sale. appetites. jobs such as the payroll. Photographic supplies, including film, The three computers which make up batteries and bulb will be available. the cluster are UQVAX, UQADM and Audio cassettes and video cassettes may UQEVE. also be purchased. The VAX 8550 affectionately known Computing products will be available. around campus as UQVAX, will be Customers will be able to purchase, replaced with the VAX 6000 Model 510. software and floppy diskettes in the shop. UQVAX is the University's primary Vendors will have computers and

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