The current use of microcomputers in the British educational system seems dogged by a mainframe philosophy. As a consequence, the educational potential of microcomputer peripherals has not been carefully considered. Research is urgently needed in this area so that decisions are made on strong educational and technical grounds. (Author/LLS)

Discusses microcomputer-based graphics and describes software for Windows and other operating systems. Highlights include file formats for painting and drawing; sources of artwork, including clip art, scanning, and public domain images; examples; and graphics toolkits. A review of 26 recent articles on personal computers, other hardware, and…

Arguing that mathematics is a form of communication that students need help in understanding, this article describes a set of seven simple interactive LogoWriter tools that can be used to help children explore the language of multiplication. Examples of the use of graphics in responding to children's commands are provided and several exercises are…

This study assesses the relationship of student performance using two microcomputer instructional application software designs, one with graphics and the other without graphics, as a teaching aid in comma usage. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in performance between the graphic and nongraphic treatment groups. (CT)

Discusses basic features and functions of spreadsheet programs and describes additional capabilities (editing, windowing, graphics, and word processing) of two second-generation spreadsheet programs: Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony. (MBR)

Discusses the hardware and software necessary to generate charts and graphs to illustrate numeric data using a microcomputer. The manufacturer, price, operating system, memory requirements, and types of graphs they can produce are given for nine graphics software packages and seven inexpensive plotters. (MBR)

Comparison of dot matrix impact printers details price, matrix density, speed, print sizes, feed width, interface connectors, and true descender characteristics. Dot matrix versus preformed characters, maintenance and repair, installing printers at microcomputer workstations, value comparisons, and descriptions of specific printers are…

Provides Logo activities designed for adults and children to use together. Although activities are designed for Terrapin/Krell Logo, modifications are provided for use with Apple Logo or TI Logo (Texas Instruments). "Bugs" are introduced in one activity to demonstrate how they can lead to unexpected results. (JN)

An evaluation of a personal computer was conducted to determine its potential for applications normally assumed to require higher resolution, higher cost graphics devices. Its resolution, stand-alone computing power, and capability to function as a distributed computing element in a time-sharing system are discussed. Six references are listed.…

Discussion of the factors that should be considered when purchasing or upgrading a microcomputer focuses on the MS-DOS and OS/2 operating systems. Macintosh purchasing decisions are discussed in a sidebar. A glossary is provided. (CLB)

Describes implementation, support, and evaluation of computer assisted learning (CAL) projects at three universities: Project Athena at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Andrew network at Carnegie Mellon University; and a project at Stanford University. Topics discussed include work stations, microcomputers, computer networks, graphics,…

Graphical User Interface (GUI)--and its variant, pen computing--is rapidly replacing older types of operating environments. Despite its heavier demand for processing power, GUI has many advantages. (SK)

This paper presents a discussion of the use of microcomputers and computer graphics programs as basic design experiences which relate as much to the right as to the left side of the brain. It reviews selected research in art education that shows the importance of the right brain in various areas of creative behavior and in developing drawing…

This paper lists the commands for three programs in Logo: Peppy and the Maze, Caterpillars and Butterflies, and the Robot Arm. (EW)

This paper is addressed to librarians and information managers who, as one of the many activities they routinely perform, frequently publish information in such formats as newsletters, manuals, brochures, forms, presentations, or reports. It is argued that desktop publishing--a personal computer-based software package used to generate documents of…