The United States, running second to Japan in the robot race, is employing 19 percent of the world's robots. This article presents six classes of robots that were defined by the Japanese trade association. All are multifunctional, equipped with a memory device, capable of rotation, and able to replace human workers. (SSH)

Discusses grammar and spelling instruction in The Netherlands for students aged 10-15 and describes an intelligent computer-assisted instructional environment consisting of a linguistic expert system, a didactic module, and a student interface. Three prototypes are described: BOUWSTEEN and COGO for analyzing sentences, and TDTDT for conjugating…

Describes 12 constraints imposed by culture on educational software portability. Nielsen's seven-level virtual protocol model of human-computer interaction is discussed as a framework for considering the constraints, a hypothetical example of adapting software for Mexico is included, and suggestions for overcoming constraints and making software…

Intended to identify and encourage research, development, and applications of information retrieval, the principal objective of this conference was to provide an international forum to promote an understanding of current research and to stimulate the exchange of ideas and experiences in information retrieval systems. Introductory material for…

Reports the development of a classification system for microcomputer-based software according to the depth and type of involvement of the user with the software. Three studies are discussed that used the facet approach, multivariate statistical procedures, and questionnaires to investigate types of involvement produced by computer programs. (18…

Describes design principles followed in developing an interactive microcomputer-based simulation to study financial and economic aspects of the Dutch social security system. The main goals are to improve participants' insights into the formal simulation model, and to improve policy development skills. Plans for future research are also discussed.…

The 1981 design specifications for the Egyptian National Scientific and Technical Information Network (ENSTINET) stipulated that major end-user facilities of the system should be bilingual in English and Arabic. Many characteristics of the Arabic alphabet and language impact computer applications, and there exists no universally accepted character…

The theme of this conference was "Libraries and the Communication Process" and topics of the conference papers ranged from the technology of communication to the importance of linguistics and the human factors involved in the communication process. Papers and communications presented at the conference and included here are: (1)…

Controversies involving science, technology, and society are explored in 15 articles written by historians, social scientists, management consultants, engineers, and experts in the history of science. Technological development in an historical context is the central theme of the booklet. Major issues discussed include effects, preconditions, and…

Questions of technology and change are explored in approximately 70 essays written by university and research scholars, consumer advocates, political philosophers, engineers, and bureaucrats. The book is part of a multimedia series developed to present college level course material to the general public through cooperation of newspapers, public…