Press Cuttings: March 1995

Corporate

• Several reports highlighted the 1 for 3 rights issue aimed at raising £17.2m. Of this, £13m would be used for development work within Online Media. Although Olivetti will not be taking up their option, thus reducing their shareholding to 59%, they have made it very clear that they do not intend to reduce this any further for the forseeable future as they still see great potential for Acorn.

Products

• Northwest SEMERC have published a new book on Acorn networking called 'Network Acorn'.
• Cumana have launched a RiscPC CD-ROM system suitable for both home and school. Range of different configurations available and prices start at £1599 (ex VAT).
• Bob Coates was reported as saying how seriously Acorn took into account environmental issues related to its products, for example, all packaging used today is made from recycled materials.
• RiscPC with Sibelius 7 software has been used by the Royal Academy of Music to perform on a modern day pianola a piece of music by the Hungarian composer, Ligeti, which was apparently too difficult for any human pianist to perform!
• Beebug launched the 'PC Survival Guide', an 80 page book which explains how to use DOS/Windows and OS/2 Warp on Acorn systems.
• Scene Double have launched an 8-port video-splitter for connecting a large number of high-res monitors to the same computer.
• Responsive Systems have launched Power Secretary, new speech recognition software giving 90% accuracy after 4 hours of input from a speaker.
• PC Home favourably reviewed the performance of a RiscPC fitted with the new PC card against a standard 486 system.
• Under the heading "What have Acorn got to offer?", PCN reviewed what Acorn systems and their peripherals can offer today and, amongst many comments, concluded that "Acorn machines continue to multitask and still manage to do it better than Windows or MacOS".
• Computer Shopper extolled the performance of the new PC card
• Camcorder and Video Editing reviewed the new non-linear video editor, Eidoscope, from Eidos
• Good review of the Acorn Pocket Book - in Amiga International Education
• VAR World reviewed impact of LMS and Grant Maintained status on IT sales to education market.
• Hants Microtechnology Centre launched Special Needs Organiser - software for tracking procedures to comply with new Code of Practice for Special Needs in schools.
• Le Computer launched Menu - a front-end suite for hard disc users particularly useful for schools computerising the new procedures for Special Education Needs.
• Supreme Software demonstrating Archiboard - bulletin board, email and internet system for schools.
• Northern Micromedia announced Dataframe - introductory spreadsheet and database.
• Educational Computing and Technology (ECT) and Castle Technology launch joint offer to A3010 users allowing them to upgrade their systems (increase RAM, hard discs, etc).
• ECT - selecting software for Internet
• ECT - reviews My World, framework software used as a tool for special needs in schools.
• ECT - reports on BETT '95 where Acorn won the Gold Award for the RiscPC in the Secondary schools category
• Bit Computer Magazine - the importance of IT in schools for today's children.
• Acorn donates 15 systems for NCET project - report on 1 of 3 schools involved to evaluate an integrated computer learning system for pupils to work through an entire course at their own pace.
• Acorn, Cambridge Evening News and Marshalls - report on joint scheme encouraging parents to collect Advantage vouchers to help local schools buy a range of equipment.
• AFASIC (an organisation supporting those with speech and language difficulties) donated A4000 to West Horndon Primary school in Essex - the governors were "tickled pink"!
• Cambridgeshire Software House launches "The World of Robert Burns" - a CD ROM containing all his poems and songs, hundreds of pictures and worksheets for pupils.
• Government survey of number of computers in schools - average in secondary schools now 85, whilst in primary schools it is now 10.
• Max and the Machines, a new CD ROM form Nelson Multimedia aimed at improving reading skills.
• ILS techniques (Integrated Learning Systems) extols the virtues of 10 out of 10's software range
• Computer Retail News - letter from a software house pointing out that the best educational software runs on Acorn systems, and is only ported onto the PC platform later on.
• Postmen Paignton raised £300 to help primary school buy A4000.
• PTA buys 3 Acorn systems for Reeding's Junior School in Sawbridgeworth.
• Micro Computer Mart - reviews of a range of products including Clicker from Crick Computing and Informatrix/Informax from Northwest SEMERC
• Broughton Junior School in Wales will use an A4000 donated to them by the PTA to show a group of French pupils how powerful UK technology in schools has become.
• Mayor opens new computer room at Datchet's Churchmead School; 14 Acorn systems have been bought to introduce pupils to information super highway and help with National Curriculum work.
• Acorn announces Acorn Intertalk - part of AUN portfolio to allow pupils access to Internet.
• Sherston Software launches Plantwise which allows pupils to look at all aspects of plants.
• British Library have launched a new CD ROM which give pupils rich resource to explore the history of science and technology.
• Kidderminster teacher devises scheme for getting local businesses to help schools buy equipment - including new computers; his idea came from adapting the Tesco scheme for schools.
• TES (Times Educational Supplement) - Chris Drage explains how an Acorn computer can come to the rescue of pupils for whom remedial reading work has failed.
• NCET announces phase 2 of funding scheme (£5m) for putting CD ROM systems in schools.
• TES - reviews Music Box from Topilogika Software; conclusion - "no school should be without this one".
• TES - reviews inkjet printers from Computer Concepts and Calligraph
• TES - reviews Usborne Exploring Nature CD ROM; "Explore no further - this CD ROM will enthral children for hours on end".
• TES - compares use of computers in UK schools with those used in European schools.
• TES - compares Acorn and Research Machines as suppliers of IT to education.
• TES - reviews new CD ROM from Northwest SEMERC called Technology and Design.
• TES - explains reasons for apparent apathy of publishers to produce educational CD ROMS, there being insufficient drives in schools and different formats required (Acorn/Apple/PC).
• Financial Times - looks at introduction of multimedia teaching methods in schools.
• Guardian - recommends use of a spreadsheet when calculating the annual school budget.
• Annual TESCO scheme gets started - "trollies off in techno trot"
• Sawston Business & Traders Association donate £500 to school towards buying new A4000.
• DTI and private industry (including Acorn) sponsor pilot scheme to link more than 50 secondary schools to Internet
• Technology for Secondary Mathematics Conference, to be held in October at Oundle School, Peterborough, will explore the use of relevant software.
• Report on appointment of new marketing managers at Acorn for secondary, primary and consumer sectors.
• Widget launches Make It Happen 2 and 3 - software for those with severe learning difficulties.
• ECT - how to plan classroom work using content free software and the use of IT to enhance the work of children with severe learning difficulties.
• ECT - reviews appropriate spreadsheets for use at different Key Stages in National Curriculum.
• ECT - reports on use of IT in Design & Technology coursework.
• Junior Education - high praise for Around the World in 80 days from Sherston Software
• TES Newspaper Day
  16 reports from around the country on the TES Newspaper Day sponsored jointly by the TES and Acorn Computers. The aim was to produce a newspaper to a strict deadline, including some local news and some national news items (supplied by the organisers).

Home / Enthusiast

• CTW - Leeds branch of The Computer Store to be relocated elsewhere in city.
• TV celebrities Dominik Diamond and Violet Berlin star at Acorn User Exhibition in Harrogate.
• 2 boys (15 and 16) launch flight simulator game of Battle of Britain
• Computer whiz-kid, Thomas Down (17), launches TableCalc, an innovative accounting package.
• Acorn joins forces with P&O Ferries to provide techno-cruises for children on the crossings from Portsmouth to Le Havre.
• Daily Express and Acorn run competition for readers offering 10 A3010 Early Years systems
• Computer 'archaeologist', Stephen Walter collects 'classic computers' - one being the Acorn Atom
• The Times - reviews computer version of Scrabble with its 134,000 word bank.

Professional

• Acorn can now supply NovaJet III large format inkjet printer offering professional poster printing for less than £11,000.

Australia

• National Excellence in Teaching Awards - the winner of this competition receives A$5,000, the winning school receives a RiscPC.
• Year 6 girls in Canterbury Grammar school trialling Acorn Pocket Books Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School prefers Acorn systems to laptops - "We can do so much more".
• The Age - considers at what age children can start using computers and concludes - "when they are still in nappies"!
• The Australian - reviews activities of Online Media and its interactive TV trial.
• PC Week - reviews how StrongARM chip from ARM Ltd might be incorporated into products.
• The Australian - letter extolling virtues of the RiscPC for making music.

New Zealand

• New World "Computers for Schools" promotion puts NZ$3.5m of Acorn equipment in schools.
• Social Club of Dairy factory (closed 3 years ago) donates NZ$7000 to local school to buy 3 Acorn systems.
• New Acorn Education Centre opens at Palmerston North College of Education.
• Customer at pharmacy wins Acorn system as part of 10 systems offered as prizes in 10 week national draw.
• Acorn looks to set up interactive TV trial similar to that being done at Online Media
• Acorn and Foodstuffs Auckland put NZ$4.5m of Acorn equipment in NZ schools via voucher scheme similar to UK Tesco scheme.
• RiscPC dual compatibility - article praises ability to run Acorn as well as PC software.
• IBM launches "Computers for Classrooms scheme" to try to increase market share in schools.
• RISC for science - explains why Acorn better than PC platform for science teaching.
• Professional publishing - comparison of 4 systems showing that Acorn comes out above the rest both in terms of price and performance.
• Education market share - IBM and Apple are seeking to increase their share, but Acorn increased its education business by 32% last year.
• New Zealand Principal Federation - Acorn announces 3 year sponsorship deal to fund travelling fellowship, workshops, seminars and the annual conference.
• Race for interactive TV - article reviews part being played by Online Media.
• BETT '95 - report by teacher sponsored by Acorn to visit exhibition; her reaction - "Now to take us still further, all we need are RiscPC's . . ."

South Africa

• Bob Coates says: "Our research suggest enormous potential in South African education in a market that could be worth tens of millions of pounds worth of trade".
• Acorn hosts reception on Royal Yacht Britannia for key South Africans.

ARM Ltd

• DEC and ARM link up to develop StrongARM processor for palm top computers and set top boxes.
• Thumb trick improves ARM's code density - by up to 30%.
• Robin Saxby to head Open Micro Systems Initiative - EC's effort to strengthen uptake of European electronics worldwide.
• Sunday Times carries major interview with Robin Saxby
• 1994 results show turnover up 177% to £7.2m with pre-tax profits of £3.1m
• A Plus replaces MMC as PR agency for ARM in a deal estimated at around £100K.
• Profile of ARM Ltd sees it as place of fun environment coupled with key projects, self development budgets . . . and hard work.

Online Media

• Report on 2-day conference on The Digital Information Revolution - the 'hot topic' of the 1990's.
• Digital and OM in partnership to develop and exchange digital technologies for interactive TV.
• TV puts you in driving seat - major interview with Geoff Vincent and others about work at OM
• Letter to Teletext points out that OM are ahead of Microsoft/ Sony in producing a set top box for 1997.
• OM signs deal with Viewcall - OM will provide up to 125,000 set top boxes when Viewcall's TV shopping catalogue hopefully goes on line in 1996.
• Electronics Weekly reviews pricing requirements for set top boxes - OM approach is there must be a range offering different functions.
• Electronics Weekly suggests that it may be the software which holds back the commercial launch of video on demand.
• Some of UK's largest companies are sceptical about benefits that multimedia and interactive TV could bring, but others, like OM, are seeing its possibilities open up through industry partnerships.
• Microscope quotes John Redford of OM as saying that the important point about their system, compared to other trials, is that the OM system "actually works".
• Britain's first TV home banking system to be launched to 250 homes in Cambridge this summer with National Westminster Bank using the OM set top box.
• Second generation set top box launched by OM reduces size and cost by factor of three.
• ICL providing video server technology to OM trials.
• Tesco joins Cambridge consortium in second phase of trials.
• OM launches phase 2 of trials to 250 homes, but warns that a lack of standards may delay service providers.
• OM looking for business opportunities in digital broadcast TV market while it waits for its core interactive TV business to move into volume.
• OM system demonstrated at G7 summit conference - 3 of the 7 participating countries hoped to impress the rest of the world with the Cambridge system.
• OM contributes at this year's conference run in conjunction with the Cable & Satellite Exhibition at Olympia
• Macromedia, OM and Olivetti announce joint development and marketing policy in authoring for interactive TV.
• OM first European set top platform to support Oracle New Media software products.

© 1995 Acorn Computer Group plc.
Design: © 1995 Cave Rock Software Ltd.