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Orono Weeldy Times, Wednesday, Janmary 11, 1984-5 Ontalo educational microcomputer available to schools moon Winter The first Canadiani- designed educational micro- omputer will be available ý1_o Ontario school boards within weeks, according to Ministry of Education offi- ciaIs. The machine, known as ICON, is an advanced 16-bit microcomputer based on some of the most up-to-date electronic components available. It provides ad- vanced high resolution graphics capabiLities and the hardware required to support sophisticated ed- ucations software. de ICON is specialîy dsgned to accommodate the physical characterîstics of children. The keyboard bas been sculpted to suit their hands, and the screen is mounted on a pedestal which adjusts to the proper angle for any learner, adult or child.* The ICON's raw proces- sing power far exceecfs that of current standalonie micro- computers now used in school. This power is heeded to provide the fast delivery of graphics, the effective animation of images, the simultaneous operation of programs and the flexibility to upgrade features in the future. "Software developers who wish to create educa- tional programs will be able to add detailed coloured diagrams to enhance the traditional text presenta- tion of lessons," said Lorne Smith, chairman of the ministry's computers-in- education proj ect. "A chemistry experiment, for example, could be illustra- ted in colour and animated in stages to demonstrate each step in the process." Smith added that the ICON bas a voice syni- thesizer which can be programmed to speak let- ters. numnbers. words and phrases. "tThis feature will be particularly useful for stud en ts with learning difficulties," hie said. "We can also connect Braille, BLISS symbol, and over- sized keyboards to the ICON as they become avail- able. " The ICON's name is, based on one of its "friend- liest" features, the use of graphic images, or "icons", to control the computer. Young pupîls can ask ques- tions and give answers by pointing at the screen, using a "trackball". This hand-controlled device moves a cursor to various locations on the video screen as a mneansb of com munica- tion with the microcompu- ter. By spinning the track - bal, chldren who are not yet capable of handling a keyboard can still use the computer for learning. The ICON's operating system will allow the use of several software programs at the same time. Each program will be displayed on the video screen in seg- ments called "windows". This will allow a student who is working on a physics problem, for example, t. use a mathemnatical help program in one windowý, a language help program in another window, while con- tinuing to use the physica program appearing in the main wndow of the screeni. Until now, this feature has only been available on the Most expensive business comnputers, not those comn- monly used in classrooms. To assure an abundant supply of software pro. grams for the [CON and other approved educational microcomputers, the Minis- try of Education bas allo- cated $5 million fromBILD to stimulate software devel- THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAY IMPRQVEMENT ACT ROAD CLOSING TAKE NOTICE THAT the Ontario Municipal Board has approved the closing of certain roads intersecting the Controlled-Access Highway known as the King's Highway 35/115 in the Town of Newcastle, Regional Municipality of Durham, as a result of an ap- plication by the Minister of Transportation and Communications at a Public Hearing on January 17th, 1983 at Bowmanville. Claims for compensation for injurious affec- tion with particulars of the dlaim shall be made wvithin one year after the physical clos- ing of the road and if not so made, the right to said compensation wiII be forever barred in accordance with Section 22 of The Ex- propriation Act. Copy of Board Order with Plan attached was registered in the Land Registry Office for the Registry Division of Newcastle on December 151h, 1983, as numiber 115215. opiment during 1984 - 85. This funding is expected to grow to $10 million annually by 1986. To mieet the need for software until these new programns are developed, the ministry bas arranged to convert 30 of the best software programs now available to the operating requirements of the ICON. In addition, another 57 pro- grams which exemplify high standards in educa- tional software and meet the ministry's curriculum guidelines, will be conver- ted for use on the ICON. The ICON can use seven of the most important com- puter programming !an- guages available - COBOL, Fortran, APL, Pascal, BASIC, Logo and C. Most of these versions were de- veloped at the University of Waterloo, and were chosen because they are easily "portable" f'rom one ma- chine to another. This portability factor means that software writ- ten in any of these lang- uages can be used on al microcomputers which may be developed by other manufacturers, if they meet the ministry's functional requirements. In this way, the governmnent's growing investment in educational software will be protected as new and more advanced machines are developed. The ICON was developed by CEM[Corp, a Canadian company specially created to design and market micro- computers and software for the educational market. The Ministryv of Education worked losely wvith the Ministry of Trade and In- dustry to help establish the privately-owned company through funding f'rom On- tario's Board of Industrial Leadership (BILD). The ministry's contract with CEMCorp is expected to result in the production of between 2,000 and 3,000 workstations. The ministry will then selI the machines to Ontario school boards for 25 per cent of its cost. Later, school boards will purchase additional ICONs at CEMCorp's regular com- mercial price, a price that will bc competitive with those of equipment-of simi- lar quality from other man- ufactvrers. The contract provides assistance on a "one-time-only" basis to help the new company esta- blish itself and to introduce the new generations of more powerful microcom- puters to Ontario schools. As an incentive for sehool boards, however, the min- istry will recognize pur- chases of microcomputers meeting its functional re- quirements as, "extraordin- ary expenditure". This commlitnient means that purchases of the ICON will flot faîl within the ceiling established for the board's ordinary expenditures, and will receive a grant rate Fun Day Enniskillen (Continued fromn page 3) Other activities will include cross-country skiing on 3 km. of trails, tobogganing and skating. Skiers can brush up on their techniques by jomning a ski instruction session. For hockey buffs (age 12 and under), a puck-shooting con- test will be held at the north pond from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Winners will receive a bottle of mnaple syrup. The main pond will be available for pleasure skating, with music provided by CKAR radio. In averaging about 75 per cent. This additional grant assistance will also be pro- vided for purchases of microcomputers from other manufacturers which meet the ministrY 's functional requirements. The ICON is a state-of- the-art microcomputer de- signed specifically for use in schools. Ontario students will soon have access to a safe, reliable, highly so- phisticated yet easy-to-use tool which will help them to keep pace with the many challenges and opportuni- ties of the technological revolution. the evening, this pond will be floodlit (and hopefully moonlit) until 10:00 p.m. At the barn, the Enniskillen Church Women will operate a food concession. AndI for children, sleigh rides will be available at a cost of 50 cents each. Parking and admission to the area are free. For further information, contact the Central Lake Ontario Con- servation Authority at (416) 579-0411. FLORIDA MARCH BREAK ORLANDO 10 DAY - DEPART MAR 9 Evenîng Departure. Night raveýi INcLUDES. SEA WORLD * WALT DISNEY WORLD INCLUOING EPCOT (2 DAYS) * CAPE CANAVERAL * CYPRESS GARDENS $580 RROB1. ORMOND BEACH (E)AYTONA BEACH) (Evening DepartUre. Nlght Travel 10 DAY - DEPART MAR9 1S495 P.P.DBL Go Motorcoacb! 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