COMPUTER NEEDS ANALYSIS Systematic method for buying a computer described in new publication A new guide, Computerization Needs Analysis provides the information one needs to conduct a needs analysis-a systematic examination of the functions an organization wishes to computerize, and the identification of needs within each function. The tangible result of the analysis as described in the guidebook is a list of specifications for software and hardware that may be used for obtaining bids for computer systems from vendors. One section details the overall process, and another section goes into more detail about word processing, database management, spreadsheets, and accounting. Plenty of worksheets make the book more than worth the $10.00 price. For More Information: Computerization Needs Analysis, Computer Help and Information Program, Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management, 1052 West Si:Xth St., Ste. 500, Los Angeles, CA 90017, 1986, $10.00 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPUTER NETWORKS Environmental groups are communicating via computer The Environmental Task Force has published a brief resource list of electronic bulletin boards, electronic mail, conferencing systems and online databases of interest to environmental groups. The list of small bulletin board systems is especially intriging. Bulletin board systems include the Arms Control Computer Network, AMNET, a bulletin board system for animal rights activitsts, and other bulletin boards operated by the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, the Western Natural Resources Law Clinic, and the Center for Biology of Natural Systems at Queens College. The resource list is free of charge. For More Information: Environmental Task Force, 1012 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20005, 202-842-222 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOFTWARE EXCHANGE Office of Software Development tracks federally-sponsored software development The Office of Software Development and Information Technology attempts to keep track of federally sponsored software development, and promotes interagency sharing of software and other information resources. The IRM Forum is a free quarterly bulletin on policy issues related to federal use of information technology. The Federal Software Exchange Catalog contains abstracts of federally owned software programs and systems. The subscription rate is $75 per year. For more information: Office of Software Development and Information Technology, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 1100, Falls Church, VA 224013467, 703-756-6156 PLANTING BUGS IN THE GARDEN Software programs developed to lighten one's work day in the computer age Macintosh computer hackers have created some wonderful public domain, mostly gentle and innocent, software bugs. Meltdown is a program that casues the Macintosh screen to collapse as if it were made of wax and was over heating! The Bugs program puts crawling ladybugs on the screen-and you can just continue to work normally. The Push program causes a little walking man to come from the left and push your screen display slowly off to the right into never-never land. Crabs is a frightening little program that makes small crabs jump out across the screen that begin to nibble away at information displayed on the screen. And last but not least there is the Talking Moose, who just appears now and then with something to say. You can program it to say what you want. It comes with some built-in comments like /1 Hey, buddy, might if I smoke" , or /1 Go ahead, make my day." (From New Jersey Macintosh Users Group Newsletter) _ Fall/Winter 1986 RAIN Page 39
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