The author discusses how to select microcomputer software for an accounting program and what types of instructional modes to use. The following modes are examined: problem solving, decision making, automated accounting functions, learning new accounting concepts, reinforcing concepts already learned, developing independent learning skills, and…

A laboratory for undergraduate physical education students was designed to apply academic theory to practical questions concerning the selection, quality, and performance of sport equipment. Various tests were conducted in an attempt to evaluate the performance of leather v synthetic basketballs. (JN)

Presented is a set of procedures designed to check the design, ergonomics, illumination, function, optics, accessory equipment, and image quality of a microscope being considered for purchase. Functions for use in a petrology or mineralogy laboratory are stressed. (CW)

Discussion of human engineering factors of using online catalogs offers guidelines for selection and placement of terminals and furniture. (eight references) (MES)

Eight subjects participated in a comparison of the multipeak (MPEAK) and spectral peak (SPEAK) speech coding strategies of the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant system. Overall, speech recognition performance was significantly higher with the SPEAK strategy than with the MPEAK strategy on all speech tests. (Author)

TALK (Talk Aid using pre-Loaded Knowledge) is a computer system linked to a speech synthesizer which enables nonspeaking people to engage in real-time social conversation. TALK provides categories of general comments that can be used whenever a suitable specific response is unavailable. Results are reported of a study evaluating effectiveness of…

The efficacy of the IBM SpeechViewer's Vowel Accuracy Module for the improvement of vowel productions was evaluated in five preschool children with hearing impairment. Treatment effects were observed for four subjects on one vowel, for two subjects on a second vowel, and for one subject on a third vowel. Difficulties with the equipment were…

Common effectiveness qualities for consideration in formal evaluation of rehabilitation devices and equipment are cost, user-friendliness, and compliance with local standards. This article identifies variables related to these attributes and suggests strategies for data collection and analysis. A comparative evaluation of two products illustrates…

Pressure-flow characteristics were determined for four different one-way valves (Kisner, Montgomery, Olympic, and Passy-Muir) used for speech production in tracheotomy patients. Results indicated significant differences in resistance among the valves, with the resistance of one valve substantially greater than that of the normal upper airways.…

This study, involving 11 older males with mild or moderate sensorineural loss, tested whether speech gain that results from a hearing aid fitting is predictable on the basis of unaided performance intensity curve, unaided narrow-band sound field thresholds, hearing aid insertion gain as a function of frequency, ambient noise, and internal hearing…

Deregulation of the Australian telecommunications industry requires university managers who understand telephone system operations and maintenance and careful selection among various telecommunications options. Required are an institutional telecommunications policy and comprehensive records of the technical performance of a telecommunications…

Discusses the pros and cons of selecting Apple Macintosh computers versus a personal computer that runs the Windows platform. Graphical user interfaces, current and future support, and aesthetics are considered, as well as personal preferences. (LRW)

Digital Video Disc (DVD), now known as digital versatile disc, is a high-capacity storage medium. This article examines and evaluates DVD-Video, for storing digitized movies, and DVD-ROM for storing computer-readable text, graphics, audio, and video files. Describes and reviews selected DVD-Video and DVD-ROM titles and discusses potential hardware…

Two brief guides offer suggestions for persons with physical disabilities who are considering the purchase of adaptive driving equipment, battery-powered scooters, or three wheelers. The first guide offers guidelines for individuals considering purchase of special hand controls or other modifications or a van lift to enhance their independence in…

Suggestions are offered to help disabled persons who need a communication system or computer to select the appropriate equipment. The importance of conducting a product evaluation during the process of selecting and adapting a computer is stressed. The role of various evaluation team members in performing product evaluations is described,…