Mailbox - "Empire Spectrum".

       Empire Spectrum.

(C) Nemo


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   "Foundations of Education

    our society at present

    Time blurs wave Village
    redstvennosti that threat
    zhaet our very future

    both countries and people.

    If some - that the subsoil
    divine alien force priests
    talas America to impose that

    mass mediocrity, which
    Paradise is observed in our system
    theme of education now,

    we would have been entitled to consider
    vat that act as an act of howling
    Ny.


  "An Open Letter to American
the public. "National
Commission to improve
education system. Electronics, Vol 56, N10, dated May 19, 1983.



  What will be discussed - it
Computer Spectrum. It is a living
apocrypha of the computer world. You
can not find about it in publications
open press, about it not say in the Russian headquarters
Missions (dealers) Western Computer Corporation,
do not talk about it and the new
Russian. But ask any
Schoolchildren, students and technical
University and you'll discover a surprising awareness. Secret
simple - it is difficult to Spectrum'e
make big money, so
and there is no characteristic noise
media.
This is the case when the business is not confined to the unit
reselling at a massive
advertising support for overseas
patron. Nevertheless, the number of
Spectrum users compares with a similar number of IBM.
Spectrum - a computer plebs,
plebs same and produced. This
the computer, which was
really popular.


  In our time, when all things are not, thank God, there is a 
problem and the platform Spectrum. The average citizen today 
does not go more food stalls, if

He certainly has the strength and
funds to go. For Sale
computers has plummeted, and many people mistakenly regard this 
as crisis platforms. So, this

not so. The average buyer is not transferred to the platform, 
IBM, as many believe, and the potatoes. Many people are happy 
to buy or Dendy Sega - teleigrovye consoles

designed for preschool children, which for some reason - that
computer name. K
computers, these fruits of the Western
technical genius have approximately the same ratio as for
combine harvesters. We
consider these lost souls
as future potential buyers.


  Nevertheless, for the user
Spectrum has been and remains the most
available, cheap and well-known machine. Despite all
marketing machinations and different
there promotions at home
user - still missing
common sense not to buy imported aircraft carrier for Sunday
fishing. There is extensive
infrastructure. Price per edition
is such that it can be regarded as a commodity category B,
ie oriented to the mass consumer. This Spectrum and
differs from the platform IBM, which is focused primarily
commercial and industrial applications, ie product category A.


  For the platform manufacturer
Spectrum is simple enough to
development of production and meet the existing technological 
level of domestic enterprises. The market is naturally 
protected because similar products in the West

not available, and verified to work on the poor eastern
Western market maker is not
become. This also differs from the Spectrum platform IBM, for
which domestic producers are not competitive, and currently 
competes with the trash tank of the above firm, which is 
humiliating. 


  For the public education system only accessible mass Spectrum 
computer that can not afford school for material reasons.

Despite the obvious disadvantages of
part of the technical characteristics
compared with the platform IBM,
Spectrum precisely because of its
Simplicity can be a good
methodological tool for students. This is consistent with the 
typical Russian principle of fundamental (of academic) 
education, where the emphasis is not on the receipt of 
utilitarian skills, and to study of fundamental principles, ie 
foundations of information systems in this case, unlike IBM. 
Teens often to Spectrum'u some interest, since complexity of 
the system does not exceed the level available to them. User 
density is sufficient great to any interested teen was in

field of view of the reference group,
which is able to provide him
necessary assistance. Price Spectrum allows you to have it at 
home as a personal computer to almost any teenager, regardless 
of family financial position. This can seriously deepen and 
extend learning subject in school.



  Municipal authorities can also be extracted from Spectrum for
the city a lot of useful information. I want to
confided to Mr. Sobchak, that work in this direction may 
provide the benefits the city, comparable with the Olympic 
games, and play a role in the campaign. Employment problems for 
democracies is known, since the era of Pericles in Athens.

For the metropolis is very profitable
job creation in most
crisis-prone industry
industry - namely,
Electronics - which are known to be among the most
labor-intensive industries. Obvious and
social advantages as well as partly solving the problem of 
leisure adolescents, increased credibility "Nerds" in the teen 
bands. The solution of social Problems of this type are highly 
inefficient spending taxpayers' money.



  Initialize the appropriate
project, based on a platform of Spectrum because of its 
multifaceted nature has sufficient critical mass to avoid 
receive financial support outside, because will switch 
mechanisms self-financing. Upon successful

project, even if
not be able to eliminate the common
maintenance backlog in
information technology,
St. Petersburg is put forward to
leading position in this direction in Russia. Can be
created the preconditions for export
technologies, intellectual and
the final product in CIS countries.
St. Petersburg has some advantages in this regard.


  Now what is needed.


  Municipal authorities need to legitimize the fact that
Course of Informatics of high school
will be based on the platform
Spectrum. Needed to unequivocally
make it clear to producers,
users and commercial
banks (potential investors) that the Spectrum - it seriously
and permanently. This will prevent market collapse and will 
stimulate both demand and production, and funding.



  Ministry of Education should recognize and correct
his stupidity regarding hazard of the screen
Spectrum. This can be done
decrease in the proportion of machine time in teaching plan to
sanitary - acceptable standards. More
time necessary to point out that
fact that the choice is not between
IBM platforms and Spectrum, and
between Dendy (where, incidentally, the degree of harmfulness 
to view more higher because lower resolution

the ability of the screen) and Spectrum'om. It's no secret that
very specific people get
quite specific on the dividends
supply of western technology. Not to be unfounded, will bring
the following passage from advertising,
placed in a mass edition.
Company name and title
edition, for obvious reasons
omitted. I quote verbatim:
"The special program for resellers! Company guarantees payment 
of commissions (1-5% of the amount order) for each transaction 
made with your help. To do this you need to advance to discuss 
with us the terms of cooperation on the phone or send their 
proposals by mail. Provides complete privacy! 


  Perhaps I - that misunderstood, or vice versa understand it
measure of his depravity, but to understand it is - then - else
not possible. Radio, N1, 1996, 38 pages

  Now no money, and therefore
there is no abuse. It seems
it's time to think about Spectrum'e.


  Now how is all implemented.


  1. Coordination of the project. Quite
suitable collective bevozmezdny body type of association with
consultative status. The main task of this body will
no project management and coordination of interested
parties and their consolidation. It
should include "those who accept
solutions ", ie the representatives of
industry, MPs,
Principals, Deans VUZ'ov,
Officials from the municipality and
Observers from the commercial banks. Organizational structure 
and Project management should be absent altogether, as such.

Centuries of experience in Russia shows that the bureaucratic 
world and shortness of breath in the form of overhead

prevented many good beginnings
reach its conclusion.
Project management is possible
only indirectly, through a methodical plan, a number of 
technical standards and credit conditions. This way of 
organizing excludes the possibility of abuse and narrows the 
range of actors really up to the size human dignity and want to 
work. 


  Production was not originally
should concentrate on one
enterprise in the form of government orders.
Appliances must be purchased by end users (ie the principal) 
under their personal responsibility of suppliers,

which they deem most worthy. Should be used in the efforts of 
all firms, manufacturers and individuals capable of make a 
positive contribution to the project, regardless of the legal 
status, size of capital and production method. 


  As the accompanying
structures would be useful to have
producers' associations (they
may, despite the understandable competitive relationships, to 
jointly fund the purchase components, new developments

and advertising) to repair - replacement service (it will
reuse technique, making it accessible even for
poor);
Computer Club users
through which is very convenient to user feedback - the 
manufacturer. 


  Now the purpose of this article.
I would like to find like-minded people both as individuals,
and structures that are directly involved in the project.
If the government unable to solve this kind of
questions, then - apparently to try to move it
off the ground at the level of civil society, employing
immune strength of the social organism at a higher level,
than the state apparatus. The author will be interested in any 
assessment, feedback and specific proposals for

projects submitted.


  And last, the reflexive
score. A reader, apparently for the first time
faced with the publication of this kind. Generally accepted 
practice in the belles-lettres on the events and greater 
distance from his well-known distance so as not to get dirty.

Statement of facts and their analysis is a good thing, but
but such digressions amazing depth to even try and that - to 
change things, though per inch, even for a gram, at least for

second. For half a century before
poor desolate outskirts of Europe - Portugal started to address 
geopolitical issues where there is a saying

(Latin):

  "Navigare necesse est, vivere
non est necesse ", ie, the" Swim
by sea must live not so
really necessary. "

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  From the Editor: As a fully
consonant with Captain Nemo on
all matters contained in this article
issues, we remind you that
we are interested in feedback of any kind, regardless of your
social status and outlook. So - write.
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