A computerized transfer credit evaluation system designed for the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Boston campuses is described, focusing on system operation. The application software was designed for a local area network permitting multiple-user access but can run on a personal computer. Technical aspects of the hardware and software are…

Kent State University's College of Education implemented a computer-controlled advising system for undergraduate education students, providing information including program descriptions, deadlines and applications, student teaching, and other topics. Preliminary evaluation shows the system able to answer most-asked questions. (MSE)

Boston College's student public-access record-keeping system provides students access to their own academic, account, and financial aid information. The system was first made available on computer terminals and then on a Consumer Transaction Terminal. (MSE)

Issues surrounding the cost of Internet usage to individuals and institutions are addressed, including who currently pays for Internet use in colleges and universities, long-distance costs, how policy is set for institutional use, cost of transition to a larger system, and difficult issues to be faced in system expansion. (MSE)

This article describes assistive technologies for persons with learning disabilities, including word processing, spell checking, proofreading programs, outlining/"brainstorming" programs, abbreviation expanders, speech recognition, speech synthesis/screen review, optical character recognition systems, personal data managers, free-form databases,…

Presents potential uses of cinegrams for self-directed learning; shows how these interactive animated diagrams for technical documentation and training serve as browsing tools for the exploration of interrelated engine subsystems. Describes the development of a cinegram prototype implemented in HyperCard that shows the oil system of a Rolls Royce…

In 1988, Indiana University's separate academic and administrative computing units were not responding to changing user demands. In merging and reorganizing the systems, the university tackled problems shared by many institutions and gathered information that can encourage and forewarn others in similar efforts. The project's history, process, and…

The ways in which the Medical College of Pennsylvania has coped with exceptional growth in its externally funded research in the last seven years are discussed. Management has used commercially available computer software and two personal computers to establish five databases and facilitate provision of services. (Author/MSE)

Hofstra University (New York) contracted with a vendor to provide a student information kiosk system on a campus computer network that would improve and enhance delivery of student services. Installed in under two months, the system has quickly addressed some persistent challenges, including easy access to information and security. (MSE)

This article describes potential use of new technological products and services by blind/visually impaired people. Items discussed include computer input devices, public telephones, automatic teller machines, airline and rail arrival/departure displays, ticketing machines, information retrieval systems, order-entry terminals, optical character…

Describes campuswide computer network at Lafayette College and how it has allowed career services to help students search for, find, and secure careers. Describes use of computer network for interview sign-ups and on-line resumes, and plans to develop on-line services and alumni directories. (NB)

Discussion of CD (compact disc) recorders describes recording applications, including storing large graphic files, creating audio CDs, and storing material downloaded from the Internet; backing up files; lifespan; CD recording formats; continuous recording; recording software; recorder media; vulnerability of CDs; basic computer requirements; and…

Describes the development of the VV-BOS (Visualizer/Verbalizer Behavior Observation Scale), a computer-based instrument for direct observation of students' preferences for visual or verbal learning material. Results of a study with second-language learners indicated a high degree of reliability as an alternative to conventional questionnaires.…

Discusses ways to apply traditional search strategies to online information seeking. Highlights include explore and browse search features; hierarchical features (knowledge/topic/subject trees, categories, distribution lists); analytical search features; and the process approach. (AEF)

Presents adaptations and tests undertaken to allow an information retrieval system to forecast the likelihood of avalanches on a particular day; the forecasting process uses historical data of the weather and avalanche conditions for a large number of days. Describes a method for adapting these data into a form usable by a text-based IR system and…