According to general manager of Kodak Inc. Andre Nahas it is to mention that CD-ROM drive users will more than double in the next two years.

Market sources indicate that some 13 million users will have access to CD-ROM drives by 1995. Presently, an estimated six million users have access to a CD reader.

“We feel the growth potential for the Middle East is encouraging,” said Jon Barber, Kodak’s manager for marketing support operations. The company believes that a high percentage of users with access to CD-ROM drives will turn to Writable-CD as the solution to safe and eco­nomic data storage. “The need to access stored information quickly and to share it broadly will spark a consider a considerable demand for high capacity, cost-effective storage facilities,” he added.

gladly inform their valued clients for World famous UNISYS Computer for marketing in Bangladesh. Re­cently Multilink Ltd. has been ap­pointed as Authorised Dealer for UNISYS Computer and its Peripher­als.

Multilink Co-ordially invite UNISYS Users for Support and Serv­ices.

President— Mr. Sajjad Hossain of IBM World Trade Corp.

Vice President— Mr. Moin Khan of Computer Solution Ltd.

General Secretary— Mr. Abdullah H. Kafi of JAN Associates

Jt. Secretary— Mr. Ghulam Mohiuddin of CITech Company Ltd.

Treasurer— Mr. Mustafa Jabbar of Ananda Computers

Member EC— 1. Mr. M. Sabir Ahmed of Computer Services Ltd. 2. Mr. M.H. Rana of Access Pvt. Ltd.

This is particularly true for re­tail, hotel, manufacturing, distri­bution, hospital and banking appli­cations. Although the PC connectiv­ity industry has been well estab­lished for some years, the serial connectivity is continuing to grow— particularly in the areas of direct connect, server/LAN, distributed connectivity and wide-area network (WAN) communications. Devices that users need to connect include terminals, modems, printers, POS terminals, DOS PC, and the like.

Need for connectivity

The development of OS/2, NetWare and NT networks, has brought about a need for connectiv­ity solutions for serial devices such as printers and modems that are attached to the servers on a LAN.

Today’s PCs have become im­mensely powerful with the advent of 486 and Pentium processors and the ability to have multiple proces­sors in one single system to in­crease performance. Coupled with ’shrink-wrapped’ Unix operating system software, these servers are fuelling the downsizing trend. In many cases they have more process­ing power than some mainframes.

Workgroup computing

To achieve and support hundreds of users connected via terminals, these PC-based Unix servers start exploring the use of cluster control­lers, a specialised front-end computer for controlling distributed groups of serial devices beyond the imme­diate vicinity of the server. Workgroup functionality and cen­tral control and monitoring are im­portant for such a solution. For example, Stallion’s Easyreach prod­uct, which alone supports over 2,000 serial devices, transparently pro­vides both local (within a building or campus) and remote users (in branch offices) connectivity to a Unix server.

Server/LAN-based serial

connectivty

The advantages of server/LAN-based serial connectivity, such as access to multiple hosts, better re­source sharing and the ability to locate serial devices anywhere on the network has also led to substan­tial growth in this segment.

Originally the domain of LAT-based DEC systems, TCP/IP-based Unix LANs are now popular in multi­system installations. Many termi­nal servers are available for users of such LANs, but not many are de­signed to harness the functionality of Unix networks.

Entry-level Unix solution

Frequently, a user may need to connect a small user group (eight or more and normally using low-cost terminals) performing some simple functions like inputing data or con­trolling industrial equipment.

Ideally any new or extended group can be connected directly to the host and become transparent, so that information is available in­stantly. Installing a PC-base LAN is not feasible and costly. Under such circumstances, investing in a Unix host and using serial connections will be practical and cost-effective.

Graphical interface and system management

Investing in low-cost Unix solu­tions used to mean sacrificing user-friendlines. Also, troubleshooting was more difficult. [In a PC environ­ment, it can be easily done using utilities such as those from Norton. Unix system management, however,

was by character management and was frequently left to 'experts', with the result that it is usually costly and time consuming]. This was true a few years ago, but now, vendors have started to incorporate user-friendly and graphical base system management tools for Unix system tuning and performance analysis. PC LANs may be becoming more popular, but low-cost Unix solu­tions, with their increasing ease of use, low entry cost, and the ability to take advantage of open, multi­tasking and multi-user functionalities, are still worth a sec­ond look.

It is still light years away from HAL, the computer with the killer personality in the movie “2001″. But an advanced technology is now being developed that will allow computers to learn in a similar way to humans.

The experimental neural network computer developed by Bellcore, a research organization owned by US regional telephone companies, learns in a manner similar to the way school students learn to write by copying letters from a textbook or blackboard.

It catches on by following simple examples, coded in the form of electronic signals, which are provided by an electronic ‘teacher’.

The computer then processors these signals ‘much like the way a person learns to add two numbers together and then generalizes that knowledge to solve other addition problems,” said Josh Alspector, director of neutral network research at Bellcore.

The new neural network technology was inspired by structures in the human brain, he said.

“The prototype computer can process information at significantly high speed because it works in parallel, similar to the brain,” he said.

In comparison, most standalone computer and simulated neural networks process information serially, one step at a time.

This new computer can learn and process patterns in more than 100,000 individual signals per second, a speed about 10,000 times faster than what is possible with a sophisticated workstation.

The experimental computer may eventually provide a new generation of neural learning computers that will be able to solve some classes of complex problems faster and more efficiently than conventional machines.

And one day, these computers may also be to identify spoken words,  read handwriting,   identify

fingerprints and recognize a smell.

The Bellcore computer relies on an experimental computer chip which the research centre first brought out in 1988.

Like that chip, the more advanced version contains interconnected circuits which were inspired by the neural processes of the human brain.

Scientists believe that in the brain several billion cells called ‘neurons’ transmit motor, sensory and other impulses across gaps called ’synapses.’

Smaller scale

On a much smaller scale, the advanced chip processes information by using electronic versions of 496 synapses and 32 neurons.

This computerized collection of interconnected circuits provides the neural computer with the processes to learn and make decisions.

In order to prevent the chip from getting ’stuck’ during the decision making process, special electronic structures on the chip prod neurons with electronic ‘noise,’ encouraging the chip to make a good decision.

The experimental chip is ‘cas-cadable,’ allowing it to be linked with similar chips. Eventually, this could allow a computer to be linked into a larger system so that it can process information faster.

Bellcore researchers will add additional chips to their prototype computer to create an experimental neural learning computer that will help solve problem faced in telecommunications network management and operation systems.

These include assigning frequencies to wireless equipment, routing telephone calls, compressing telephone company business data for storage and transmission, and recognizing speech.

Commercial applications would be hard to predict and Bellcore must first demonstrate the technology’s usefulness in practical applications, Alspector said.

“We’re not making any plans for the commercial market,” he said, but it promises a lot of potential for the future.

“It’s a very generic technology,” he said, “It can be used for a lot of things.”

For example, it can be used for pattern recognition systems for lace, speech patterns and voice. It will be especially practical in optimisation type problems such as assessing frequencies in cellular telephone systems.

Another area where it can used in is signal processing for the equalisation of regular telephone and fiber optic lines.

It can also can eventually be incorporated into expert systems by giving training examples and sets of rules for handling load applications, he said.

A Californian company has already brought out the first product that uses neural network technology-Last monty, VeriFone unveiled its Gemstone Onyx cheque reader which it considers the first commercial application of neural network chip technology.

Onyx uses an integrated electronic ‘retina’ and electronic neurons to instantly recognise the magnetic ink character recognition characters printed on the bottom of checks, even if the MICR print quality is poor.

The neural network chip used in Onyx was developed by Synaptics.

This new computer can learn and process patterns in more than 100,000 individual signals per second, a speed about 10,000 times faster than what is possible with a sophisticated workstation.

MARTIN CHEEK

The T1800 comes standard with a 20-MHz 386SX CPU, 60 MB hard disk drive, 2 MB RAM, (expandable to 10 MB), while theTl850 features a 25-MHz 386sx with a choice of 80 MB or 120 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM (expandable to 12 MB). Both 6.8 lbs notebooks have a 9.5 inch VGA compatible black and white LCD screen with 64 gray scales.

Kazi Sayeda Momtaz (Sharmin)

dBASE IV is the latest addition of the dBASE series. dBASE IV is de­signed with a totally different archi­tecture from its predecessors. Many new functions, commands, and op­tions have been added to almost all previous features, such as reports, labels, screen forms, application generation, etc. Actually, dBASE IV is more powerful and user friendly.

The Control Centre replaces the dBASE III+Assistant mode which is the entry point in dBASE IV. Con­trol Centre provides access to most of the DOS command i.e., without leaving dBASE IV.

We know that the maximum 128 fields can be used in dBASE III+ but in dBASE IV a database file can have up to 255 fields and up to 99 fields of all types including 10 database files can have up to 47 index files.

Another advantage is automatic program compilation. If we want to compile the dBASE III+ programs we have to use some other software such as clipper. dBASE IV includes a built-in compiler which automati­cally compiles our programs to speed up programs execution. All object codes created when we design our reports, customs screens, labels etc. are converted into the dBASE IV source code. So that we can com­bine all these into a ’single program’ if we want to market our programs as a package. For this reason pro­grammers like dBASE IV over dBASE III+.

Instead of several separate index files for a database file, dBASE IV maintains a single production in­dex file which has the same name as the database file but which- a file extension ‘mdx’. All index files are stored in the production index file, and any time when we want to open a database file, the corresponding production index file is automati­cally opened and we can add, delete, change data in any record of the file without hesitating about the index files. So it is a great advantage to us.

In dBASE IV report now includes a “header” and a “Footer”. It permits an unlimited number of subtotal-ling operations whereas in dBASE III+ there were only two but in dBASE IV unlimited. So nice. The report design screen permits use of special print features, such as bold, under­line, different pitch i.e., compressed printing etc. So from dBASE report file we can design our text like wordProcessor. So it is another ad­vantage for the programmer. Simi­larly the label design permit us to design any kind of label what we want. The important new features that have been added include a facility to use the graphics charac­ters in the screen; several new pic­ture functions such as centering or right aligning data in field removing leading and trailing blank spaces and multiple choice display and selection; massages to be displayed while entering data in fields; carry forward or default values for se­lected fields; coloring of selected area of forms etc.

In dBASE IV a new loop Scan-Endscan has been introduced, which can be an efficient alternative to Do while.not.eofQ—Enddo loop in several cases. For example,

Clear

Use marks

Do while .not. eof()

If name = ‘Nasima’

List roll, name, marks

Endif

Skip

Enddo

We can use the Scan-Endscan loop

Clear

Use marks

Scan for name = ‘Nasima’

List roll, name, marks

Endscan

Query By Example (QBE) is an easy method of retrieving the re­quired information from a database file. It is a significant improvement over dBASE III+. In dBASE IV we can install up to four printers. One of them is the default printer and the others may be selected as and when required. In dBASE IV we can select a default data format such as American, ANSI, British, French, German, Italian, Japanese, USA and others. Similarly we can also define the currency symbol as Cent, Pound, Yen, Peseta or Franc. We can also change the clock format. Again in

case of date we don’t have to write a date as a character. If we simply enclose a date type data in braces like {10/10/931 to tell that it is a date and then Dion automatically converts a date-type field into a character string in the format “1993/10/10″. This function is also useful for indexing a database file on a date field.

In dBASE IV, we can define our required function. Once defined, these functions can be used any­where in a program. User defined functions are similar to a procedure and are stored in the procedure file and begin with Function <function name> and end with Return com­mand. Again in dBASE IV, it can hold up to 1,092 procedures and user defined functions whereas in dBASE III+ we can use only 32 procedure file. So it is a more advan­tage.

dBASE IV has added Windows. A window is basically a Pop-up screen which is temporarily shown super­imposed on an existing screen dis­play. Later, when dBASE IV wants to remove it, the original screen is restored within no time. Windows are also used for displaying memo fields.

In dBASE IV Rollback is another command permits a database file to be restored in a previous stage. This is actually useful in case of power failure. Again keyboard macro is a new facility which can be used to enter a lengthy sequence of depres­sions of keystrokes required for cer­tain dBASE IV operations just by pressing a single key. In dBASE IV array is used. An array is nothing but subscripted memory variables.

New four financial functions have been introduced in dBASE IV. They are: FVO, PVO, PAYMENTO, NPVfJ. Again for improving searching an­other newfunctions have been added like SoundexfJ. SoundexfJ function permits searching for words which may have different spellings but sound alike.

There are several other new com­mands and functions. These com­mands and functions makes dBASE IV and extremely powerful language. But if we really want to know dBASE IV we have to actually use dBASE IV to really know how powerful it is.

Reference :

dBASE III PLUS MADE SIMPLE

WITH dBASE IV and FoxBASE+

Market Watch is intended to com­plement the existing family of FIST dealing room products and incorpo­rates all the features of FIST’s pow­erful data delivery platform, ensur­ing that dealers always have access to reliable, resilient data. The integrity of the data, either real-time or ’snapshot’, is guaran­teed by the load balancing, failover and automatic recovery mechanisms residing within the FIST architec­ture.

Market Watch is well suited for use in dealing rooms handling a wide range of traded instruments, as well as by off-flor managers, ana­lysts and operations staff.

For further information contact Kapiti Ltd, P.O. Box 4326, Dubai, Tel 237901, Fax 283430.

It cooperates with and extends IBM PC-DOS, MS-DOS and DR-DOS function to implement a distribu­tive LAN. Topware is a registered trademark of Grand Computer Corp.

The Topware operating system equips the users with a centralised database management program which has been proven to be highly dependable, reliable and very user friendly.

Topware is designed to operate on a 10 megabit per second Ethernet card (Novell NE-1000, NE-2000, NE/ 2 or compatible, or western digital 8003 or compatibles), on the 2.5 megabit per second ARCnet (SMC ARCnet card of compatible). Topware includes software utilities for shar­ing an assortment of database and a complete spectrum of other soft­ware programs.

It also provides total office or classroom communication which includes functions for sending mes­sages to remote workstation user on the system, screen file broadcast­ing, monitoring workstations, and taking control or functioning telex server and overseeing complete net­work activities.

Topware guarantees system and data integrity by providing three levels of security system: User Login Passwords, File/Sub-Directory pro­tection attributes, and DOS share record lock/unlock support. And unlike the product from Novell, ad­ditional servers can be added to Topware networks at no extra cost.

Topware is distributed in the UAE by American Computer Systems, P.O. Box 3265, Sharjah. Tel 06-356575, Fax 06-368964.