Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.tech From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: tech Mon, Jul 20 1992 Date: Mon, 20 Jul 92 04:12:10 EDT Message-ID: 07-20 0000 DECISIONLINE: Technology USA TODAY Update July 20, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network QUAKE INFO PROVIDED INSTANTLY: Within 10 minutes of an earthquake that shook the Palm Springs, Calif., area at 5:06 PT Friday afternoon, its magnitude and location were relayed to California Institute of Technology researchers. A few years ago, it could have taken at least an hour to assess the quake. But now, Southern California Seismographic Network and Cal Tech computers provide almost instant information. (For more, see special Quake package below.) COMPUTER PIONEER NEWELL DIES: Allen Newell, one of the founders in the fields of artificial intelligence and cognitive science, died Sunday at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was 65. Newell was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Bush last month. Since early 1980, his work centered on developing "Soar," a software system capable of solving problems and learning in ways similar to human beings. ASK'S FOUNDER TO STEP DOWN: Sandra Kurtzig, CEO of software maker ASK, will step down Sept. 1. She will be succeeded by Pier Carlo Falotti, head of Digital Equipment Corp.'s European operations. Kurtzig founded ASK, one of the 10 largest software companies in the world, in 1972 with $2,000 from her savings. ASK sales for fiscal 1991, which ended June 30, topped $400 million. IBM STOCK FALLS: IBM said Friday its restructuring is bearing fruit with larger-than-expected voluntary staff reductions and a fivefold increase in second quarter operating profits to $714 million. The news, already anticipated on Wall Street, turned out to be less positive than expected. IBM stock plunged $5 1:4 a share Friday, closing at $95. 20,000 EXPECTED TO TAKE DEAL: IBM spokesman Jim Clippard said Friday more than 20,000 IBM employees are expected to take severance packages this year. Steve Cohen of Soundview Financial Group in Stamford, Conn., said the latest estimate of staffing cuts fits in with his earlier projection. He also said IBM's restructuring is beginning to show results on the side of cost controls. JAPANESE FIRMS TO BE TARGETED: The U.S. Business Software Association, which is comprised of major software developers, will soon start investigating the use of U.S. software by major Japanese computer users to discourage illegal copying, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said. The association may file suits against Japanese copyright violators, the paper said. U.S. FIRM TO GET FUJITSU DEAL: Fujitsu Ltd., a major computer maker in Japan, will license its software to Strategic Management Group, a Philadelphia-based management consulting firm, Bloomberg Business News reports. The software, designed to train software developers, will be used for business training programs the U.S. company operates. `SHAREWARE 500' IS ONLINE: America Online says it is offering the "Shareware 500" library on its consumer online service. It is a companion to the newly-released book of the same name from Ventana Press. The library features the 500 Macintosh shareware software products profiled in the book, "Mac Shareware 500," as well as online forums and message boards for subscribers to exchange comments. AT&T PARADYNE OFFERS MANAGEMENT: AT&T Paradyne has introduced new network management and planning services. With NetCare Project Management Services, customers will receive planning and management of their network projects by certified project managers. Services include network relocation and redesign and multivendor management. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON QUAKE: INFORMATION COMES INTO CENTER: Southern California literally is wired to provide information on earthquakes. The information comes into an office-sized room stacked to the ceiling with humming computers and other electronic equipment at the California Institute of Technology. It is the nerve center of the Southern California Seismographic Network, operated jointly by Cal Tech and the U. S. Geological Survey. COMPUTERA ANALYZE SIGNALS: From throughout the southern half of the state, 220 standard seismometers and 16 more advanced motion sensors beam signals by phone line or radio waves into the Cal Tech center. By analyzing the length of the signals broadcast by the seismometers and sensors, the computers automatically calculate a preliminary magnitude and location of each quake. INFORMATION AVAILABLE QUICKLY: The computers broadcast earthquake information to researchers by using ordinary Pac Tel beepers. Dr. Egill Hauksson, senior research fellow in geophysics at Cal Tech, said the computers determine the location and measurement of smaller quakes in five to seven minutes. "Once you get up to magnitude 5 it may go up to 15 minutes." (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. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM