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Show Magic under review Kathy Jarvis (left) and Roletta Fowler (right) examine hard copy printouts that may be used during briefings on an overhead projector. Directorate solving computer problems with MAGIC 200 public domain packages available C. Jensen by Ralph ALC Ogden Thanks to the computer age there is magic, magic everywhere. A grand opening complete with all the sideshows opened up the newest phase to help computer users in the Directorate of Maintenance Wednesday. The systems and small computer section of the systems and analysis branch in the directorate is open for business and their plans are to help anyone who is having difficulty with a computer system or setting that fllllB mm, lit for use. Public Affairs Office mm - v system up. mm , .V. The opening of the Microcomputer and Graphics Information Center gives maintenance persons an opportunity to bring problems to the experts, rather than trying to solve the twisted knot over the phone lines. Center workers will provide the capability to assist users with e programming problems, guidance in hardware and software configuration, Autocad and Cadkey graphic capabilities and artificial intelligence assistance. "Sometimes it is hard to tell someone over the phone how to solve their particular problem," said Roletta Fowler, a management analyst in the center. "Our center is also excellent for getting a hands-osolution where can more learn people by doing. We also help with set-u- p and configuon-lin- Computer help Robert Whetstone (top photo), a technical analyst, uses MAGIC to develop and design a logo for a base organization. Tom Schultz n (right), an industrial sys- ration. tems specialist, stores and recalls information from the memory of the computers at the walk-I- n center. If "If you get people's attention, you can teach them. It's more fun the way we have our learning center set up. I have some very creative people here," she said. Along with teaching computer users problem solving, persons at the center are into bigger and better ' things. According to Mrs. Fowler, MAGIC is the only section within a directorate on base that does application development. And the office has a huge repository of free software that is available to the user. According to Mrs. Fowler, there are a minimum of While teaching computer use is in the forefront of attention, other packages of information will be available as the user learns how to better use their system. The center supports a Hewlett-Packar- d work station which has the capability of making overhead transparencies for briefings and meetings. The directorate has five such stations with two more on order. "There is a large file of art that people can use to enhance their presentations such as briefings and training quickly," said Kathy Jar-via management analyst. "To make something from scratch takes only about 20 minutes and to update the files already stored in the machine takes less than five minutes." Artificial intelligence is playing a key role in the Air Force mission and experts are taking a broader look at capturing the experiences of ems, ployees. According to Tom Shultz, a management analyst, getting the and formknowledge from long-terer employees on the data banks of the center will aid not only the Air Force, but also novice employees who have taken over a retired person's duties. "MAGIC is getting strong support for AI programs from commanders throughout Air Force Logistics Command," said Mr. Schultz. "Gaining and keeping knowledge aids the focal point of our mission and that is to answer questions of the computer user. We're here to help the user." Mrs. Fowler said that 60 percent of the daily business is technical assistance, 10 percent is tutorial and 20 percent is program development. "We have a lot of government dollars invested in the small computer," said Mrs. Fowler. "To better utilize this resource, better training and understanding of the computer is our goal. We have barely tapped the surface. We would like to get up to speed to use the system better. We have to offer such technical support to help the user keep pace with the system." m |