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Subject: tech Mon, Apr 27 1992
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 92 05:41:46 EDT
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04-27 0000
DECISIONLINE: Technology
USA TODAY Update
April 27, 1992
Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network
    
INTEL INTRODUCES MEMORY CARDS:
   Intel has introduced "flash" memory cards, credit-card-size 
devices that are an alternative to bulky disk drives. The card 
costs $600 and can store 20 megabytes of data, enough space for 
several novels. The card also makes it possible for a new 
generation of two-pound PCs, which will hit the market in 12 
months, to operate programs like Lotus 1-2-3.
    
CARDS ALLOW PCS TO USE LESS POWER:
   Unlike conventional hard disk drives, Intel's "flash" memory 
cards have no moving parts, enabling PCs to use less power. "Our 
first flash card, announced about a year and a half ago, was kind 
of like a Model T," says Richard Pashley of Intel's memory 
components division. "People liked it, but they said, `Gee, it 
would be wonderful if it had at least 20 megabytes."'
    
NEC BIDS FOR NASA CONTRACT:
   Aviation Week & Space Technology reports Monday that NEC, the 
Japanese supercomputer maker, is bidding to supply NASA with the 
next generation of super fast processors. If successful, NEC would 
capture a prestigious customer from Cray Research, which has 
enjoyed a near monopoly in providing state-of-the-art 
supercomputers to the U.S. scientific research community.
    
MONITOR ACTS AS MOUSE:
   MonitorMouse, from Elographics, is a new combination of 
software and computer monitor. All normal mouse functions, such as 
resizing screen symbols, moving objects and using pull-down menus, 
can be performed by touching the screen. The software costs about 
$50. The touch-sensitive screens can cost anywhere from $500 to 
$1,200.
    
AT&T DEVELOPS FASTAR:
   AT&T has found a faster way of locating and restoring phone 
service after a fiber optic cable cut. The new service, called 
FASTAR, automatically routes traffic around a cable cut after 
sensing a break. It can restore more than 67,000 circuits in 
minutes, compared to a conventional process that takes up to 
several hours. 
    
SYSTEM TO BE IN PLACE THIS YEAR:
   A system to locate fiber optic cable cuts, developed by AT&T 
Bell Laboratories and AT&T Network Services division, was tested 
in the laboratory and in Florida for two years, AT&T said. FASTAR 
will be put in other locations throughout the year. All of the 
AT&T domestic fiber network is expected to use the system by the 
end of this year.
    
WATCH PICKS UP RADIO SIGNALS:
   Citizen Watch Co. says it has developed a watch that keeps 
exact time by automatically setting itself to special radio time 
signals. Citizen says the watch is the first with a built-in radio 
that tunes to time broadcasts in different parts of the world that 
are linked to highly accurate atomic clocks. The coded time 
signals are available in Japan, Europe and the USA, Citizen says.
    
LAID-OFF WORKERS FILE CHARGES:
   The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says 157 complaints 
have been lodged against McDonnell Douglas for age, sex and race 
discrimination during the layoff of 20,000 workers that began in 
the fall of 1990. Half of them are for age discrimination. "We do 
not believe that we have discriminated against any individual with 
the layoffs," says Chairman John McDonnell.
    
HACKERS STEALING CARD NUMBERS:
   San Diego police say they are investigated charges a ring of 
computer hackers have broken into several financial data bases, 
including the files of Equifax, one of the nation's largest 
credit-reporting agencies. Police say the hackers have stolen 
consumers' credit-card numbers and racked up millions of dollars 
of unauthorized charges. The suspects range in age from 14 to 25.
    
SOFTWARE GIVES THERAPY:
   From Malibu Artifactual Intelligence Works of Malibu comes a 
software program called "Overcoming Depression," which administers 
cognitive therapy for mild to moderate depression. Included in the 
program are seven lessons that help the user understand his or her 
depression and how to overcome it. A single user version costs 
$199; a version for doctors costs $499.
    
SEGA INJUNCTION UPHELD:
   Sega Enterprises Ltd. of Tokyo and its subsidiary, Sega of 
America Inc., Friday announced that the Court of Appeals for the 
Ninth Circuit in San Francisco has largely upheld its initial 
injunction against Accolade Inc. The injunction bans the 
manufacturing and sale of products Sega claims infringe its 
copyrights and patents. Accolade has appealed the ruling.
    
U.S. FIRMS SOLD TO IRAQ:
   Leading American computer companies were named as suppliers of 
high-technology equipment for nuclear and other military programs 
in Iraq. The list of companies, including Hewlett-Packard Co., 
Unisys Corp. and Honeywell Inc., was compiled from Commerce 
Department documents from 1985-90 by a private group seeking to 
slow the worldwide arms race.
    
Technology Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of 
USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution 
violates federal law.
    

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