In order to meet changing curricular needs, an electric motor and generator laboratory experience was designed, implemented, and assessed. The experiment is unusual in its early placement in the curriculum and in that it focuses on modeling electric motors, predicting their performance, and measuring efficiency of energy conversion. While…

Since libraries first used RFID systems in the late 1990s, more and more libraries have identified the advantages of the technology. With advances in HF and UHF RFID, both alternatives are now viable in library applications. While some librarians are still skeptical towards UHF RFID as unproven in the library arena, the City University of Hong…

Thirty-five youth with visual impairments (13.5 plus or minus 2.1 yrs, 13 girls and 22 boys) walked four 100-meter distances while wearing two units (right and left placement) of three brands of voice-announcement (VA) pedometers (Centrios[TM] Talking Pedometer, TALKiNG Pedometer, and Sportline Talking Calorie Pedometer 343) and a reference…

The purpose of the study was to examine the accuracy of pedometer steps and activity time (Walk4Life, WL) for youth with developmental disabilities. Eighteen youth (11 girls, 7 boys) 4-14 years completed six 80-meter self-paced walking trials while wearing a pedometer at five waist locations (front right, front left, back right, back left, middle…

This product review describes and evaluates the features of the TI 99/4 (including its speech synthesizer), its costs, peripherals, and software. (SJL)

Presents product characteristics, costs, and a personal evaluation of Radio Shack's three new personal computers: the TRS-80 Model III; the TRS-80 Color Computer; and the TRS-80 Pocket Computer. (SJL)

Looks at microcomputers manufactured by Altos Computer Systems, Cromemco, Exidy, Intelligent Systems, Intertec Data Systems, Mattel, Nippon Electronics, Northstar, Personal Micro Computers, and Sinclair. (Part I of this article, examining other computers, appeared in the May 1981 issue.) Journal availability: Hayden Publishing Company, 50 Essex…

Begins a two-part look at some of the personal computers now on the market. Discusses microcomputers being offered by Apple, Atari, Commodore (PET), Heath, Hewlett-Packard, Ohio Scientific, Osborne, Radio Shack (TRS-80), and Texas Instruments. Journal availability: Hayden Publishing Company, 50 Essex Street, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662. (Author/SJL)

Input-output (I/O) functions of hearing aids were measured in response to a 2000 Hz tone burst, having 0.5 ms rise/fall time and 10 ms duration. Findings indicated that the steady-state output limitation characteristics of hearing aids cannot be estimated from their onset responses. (Author/DB)

Systematically developing methods of reinforcement for persons with severe and profound mental retardation has only recently received a good deal of attention. This topic is important since professionals in the field often have difficulty identifying sufficient numbers of positive stimuli. Snoezelen equipment as reinforcement for individuals with…

Discusses factors, such as frequency response and impedance, that need to be considered when purchasing a microphone for interviewing purposes. Examines the various applications and placement of microphones and provides a list of U.S. addresses for the major U.S., European, and Japanese microphone manufacturers. (GEA)

The author compares four formatting programs which run under CP/M: Script-80, Text Processing System (TPS), TEX, and Textwriter III. He summarizes his experience with these programs and his detailed report on 154 program characteristics. (Author/SJL)

Summarizes the current status of laser printers in terms of cost, hardware and software requirements, measurement and operational considerations, ease of use, and maintenance. The cost effectiveness of laser printing in libraries for applications such as spine labels, purchase orders, and reports, is explored. (9 notes with references) (CLB)

Comparison of two electronic braille notetakers found that the Braille 'n Speak was less expensive, easier to learn, and easier for both experienced users and beginners to operate than the BrailleMate, though the BrailleMate offers a unique alternative by including a braille display and a Random Access Memory card storage system. (JDD)

As part of an ongoing evaluation of the Tactile Vocoder, a device that allows the acoustic waveform to be felt as a vibrational pattern on the skin, two prelingually profoundly deaf teenagers reached criterion on a 50-word vocabulary (live voice, single speaker) after 28.5 and 24.0 hours of training. (Author/DB)