Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.tech From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: tech Mon, Mar 16 1992 Date: Mon, 16 Mar 92 05:48:19 EST Message-ID: 03-16 0000 DECISIONLINE: Technology USA TODAY Update March 16, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PUBLIC SEES USA LOSING EDGE: A public opinion survey commissioned by the Semiconductor Industry Association and the Semiconductor Research Corporation found that 96% of the people in the USA regard high technology industries as strategic to the nation's future. But just 12% believe the USA will lead the world in technology 10 years from now. The survey was conducted by the Roper Organization. (For more, see special Survey package below.) IBM DENIES REPORT: IBM Sunday denied a report in The New York Times that it asked Sun Microsystems to join its alliance with Apple Computer. But a spokeswoman for the Apple-IBM venture, called Taligent, says software the venture is developing will be available to other companies under license. Taligent was formed to counter software maker Microsoft's dominance of the desktop-computer industry. ROCKET MOTOR TO BE TESTED: The first full-scale night-time test of Thiokol Corp.'s shuttle rocket motor will light up Northern Utah sky at 8:30 p.m. MST Thursday. The test, to be held at Brigham City, will allow a government satellite to make an ultraviolet scan of the exhaust plume during firing. BOAT WORKERS PROTEST: Nearly 1,000 Electric Boat workers protested Saturday in Washington, D.C. The workers are afraid of losing their jobs because of President Bush's decision to eliminate the Seawolf attack submarine from the defense budget. The administration says the Seawolf, designed to be the most sophisticated sub ever made, has been made obsolete by the disintegration of the Soviet Union. VIRUS BOOKLET AVAILABLE: Michelangelo Day has come and gone, with more hype than hits. The fact remains that viruses are with us to stay. The Computer Security Institute has updated its booklet called A Manager's Guide to Computer Viruses. To get a copy, send a self-addressed No. 10 business envelope with 58 cents of postage on it to Computer Security Institute, 600 Harrison St., San Francisco, Calif. 94107. REPORTS UPSET ISRAEL: Israeli officials where upset Sunday about reports alleging that Israel illegally re-sold U.S. military technology to third countries, including China. "We haven't sold any U.S. technology to any third party," said Health Minister Ehud Olmert. "This is a smear campaign." Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's spokesman in Mideast peace talks called the reports "a slander." TAT-9 HANDLES 80,000 CALLS: The Trans-Atlantic Telecommunications-9 can now handle 80,000 voice calls simultaneously, Network magazine reports. TAT-9 is owned by a consortium of companies, including AT&T, British Telecommunications and France Telecom. TAT-10 will is scheduled to go into operation later this year. GALAXY V SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED: A General Dynamics Atlas I launch vehicle successfully deployed the Hughes Galaxy V communications satellite Friday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Successful separation of the spacecraft occurred approximately 30 minutes after liftoff as planned. It is the second satellite to be launched for the U.S. Air Force's Defense Satellite Communications System. MCI AWARDED LINCS CONTRACT: The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it has awarded the Leased Interfacility National Airspace Communications Systems (LINCS) contract to MCI Telecommunications Corp. LINCS is FAA's new air traffic control network. The deal is worth about $558 million. With the exercise of all options, it will provide the FAA with leased communications for the next 10 years. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON SURVEY: 1,000 ADULTS ARE SURVEYED: The Semiconductor Industry Association and the Semiconductor Research Corporation commissioned a public opinion survey. It polled 1,000 adults regarding their perceptions of the importance of technology, and measured potential support for a national technology strategy to ensure American competitiveness in high technology industries. TECHNOLOGY IMPORTANT FOR GROWTH: The survey found there is strong support among the public for the conclusion that high technology is important to the nation's future. Specifically, 85% contend high technology is important to America's economic growth, 82% believe it is important to military security, and 75% assert that high tech is important to the nation's overall industrial productivity. GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ACTIVE: More than three-fourths of Americans surveyed credit technology with contributing at least a fair amount to their own personal economic well-being. A majority of the public from both major political parties believe government should take a more active role to assist American high tech competitiveness in the world market. EDUCATION SHOULD BE SUPPORTED: The survey asked what actions the government should take if it were to play a more active role in technology policy. The strongest support was given to providing higher education with more financial support for research (58% strongly support) and pursuing a trade policy that would preserve American interests in high technology (54% strongly support). (End of package.) Technology Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. 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