OVER 2 YOU, 008 (07/12/00)

FLIGHTS OF FANCY

I am 60 years old and have a Macintosh Performa 6400/200 computer on which I enjoy writing things, e-mailing friends and playing around with a scanner. What I really want to do is fly! I don't care what I fly but it must not be too difficult. Can you recommend software that will get me up in the air?

David J. Hartshorn,

Like David Hartshorn, I am in my sixties (nearer 70) I learnt to fly real aircraft over 50 years ago and have more than 15,000 hours in my logbook on aircraft ranging from Tiger Moths to Lockheed Tri-Stars. Whilst I am unable to recommend any computer software flying machine programmes, I would caution him that the ones I have tried are infinitely more difficult than the real things. I would far rather fly a real Tri-Star with one engine on fire in a thunderstorm than the best of any computer-generated flying machines that I've had a go at so far. Have fun with your computer, but please don't think it's like the real thing.

Norman Price,

Transair (www.transair.co.uk) have a wide range of flight simulator software, ranging from the fun-of-flying type to the more serious (and less fun) instrument trainers.

Robin E.W.

SUM ANSWERS

I am a maths teacher trying to create worksheets for class use. While it can be done using MS Word, it's a difficult task at best due to the diagrams and mathematical symbols. Are there any programs out there that would make the job easier?

Jim Catterson,

MS Word comes with a built-in Equation Editor (Insert > Object > Create New > Microsoft Equation 3.0) but if this doesn't do the job for you, the same people who wrote this utility for Microsoft do a far more powerful add-on called MathType, available in the UK from Adept Scientific:
http://www.adeptscience.co.uk. This adds over 500 symbols and editable templates into MS Word. The next step up is one of the full-strength maths programs such as Mathcad, Maple, Mathematica or Matlab; in education, the most suitable (and widely-used) of these is Mathcad with "live" equations, diagrams and graphs.

Chris Rand Editor, "Technical Computing" magazine,

Having recently enrolled on an OU course, I have a similar problem but believe that "Derive 5 - the Mathematical Assistant for your PC" will resolve this problem. I found it through, www.oxford-educational.co.uk.

Sue Andrews,

It is many years since I used it but there is a programme called TeX. This was initially a DTP programme developed by a mathematician for mathematicians to facilitate the production of PhD theses. It has a fairly steep learning curve but is/was freeware.   Originally a DOS programme, I believe it is now available for Windows. It can be obtained on CD from the Public Domain Software Library and I am sure can be downloaded from the web.  

Jim Clark,

ROSTER SOFTWARE

I am looking for an application, which would assist me in the management, and scheduling of a staffing roster of volunteers. The roster is required to cover the staffing of 20 different duties/locations for a 5-week month and a 7-day week. The staff pool would comprise approximately 80 persons, mostly part time, and usually on a regular day or days of the week. The program must be able to take into account scheduled leave, that certain staff may be able to cover only certain duties, provide a rotation of persons to duties and a short list of reserve staff who might provide cover on any day in an emergency, such as illness.

Scott Baker,

I have to run the rota for the medical staff of a surgical department and use "Visual Staff Scheduler Pro". It may fulfil your requirements, but I think you may be rather optimistic in what you hope a computer program can do! The software is produced by: Atlas Business Solutions Inc., Fargo, North Dakota, US telephone number: +1-352-373-7878. www.atlasbsi.com

Geoffrey Miller,

TRAVELS WITH MY LAPTOP

I have recently bought a laptop, which I intend using when on holiday either in Europe, the States or in the Far East. Can readers suggest the best way of accessing the Internet in these parts of the world? Initial investigations with the big providers suggest outrageous surcharges.
Chris Allen,

I suggest Chris Allen leaves his laptop at home when he goes on holiday. In addition of finding an ISP he will also have the problem of different telephone points to try and connect his lead to. The kits are all very well but one can’t guarantee success. He can pick up his mail from a local Internet café, which tend to be everywhere these days. Get a hotmail account and you can even pick up your new mail from your own ISP and software (if it supports POP 3).

Desmond Waight,

I travel internationally and have used U-Net for a couple of years. They pointed me to GRIC-Dial, which I downloaded over the net. It enables me to access local providers in most cities in the world so I can access the Internet and receive my emails for the cost of a local call wherever I am. This saves a fortune especially when calling from hotels abroad. I use efax to turn my faxes into email when away so I can download them with my email. Additionally, I have Nokia Data Suite so I can access the net via my mobile phone when I do not have access to a landline.
Mark Ziprin,

Access to the Internet from a laptop whilst travelling can be provided by getting an iPass powered Internet account. iPass provides 8,000 Points of Presence in 151 countries with 'local call' access rates so there is a fair chance that you will be able to get a connection at your destination location.  Check out the iPass website for more information about the service at www.ipass.com 

Tim Gain,

CAN YOU HELP?

As a multi-discipline artist, I often need the services of a life model from which to work. There are problems with human models. They cost at least £5 per hour (it’s cheaper if you are part of a group but then pose selection is a committee decision). Sculptures need many hours, even weeks, of work, even the best models find it difficult to resume an exact pose after a break and capturing dynamic poses is impossible, even using several photographs. Is there such a thing as a computer generated human form, governed by the limitations of joint movement so that unreal articulations would be inhibited? Ideally it could be viewed from all angles, have a print facility and it would have children as well as adults of all shapes and sizes.

Rod Mitchell,

Is there a website which gives details of British Television Films (TVMs)?

Joseph Holden

I want a program that will enable me to index books that I read and print them out in alphabetical order. I am sure the clue lies in a spreadsheet

Can Anyone help?

Ian Higgins,

I am trying to make some simple arithmetical quizzes, using Excel, for my grandchildren, and as they enter an answer to one of 20 possible questions, I want a counter to record and display the number of 'goes' they have had.  Any suggestions most welcome.

James Bailey,