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Show Thursday November Education: 22. 1979. THE HERALD. What is happening With ...... pHuratinn UV4VS in I'toh ViUll and across the nation BftK WWM W9 tfA U Communications Satellites J. Frederick National ueographie News Service WASHINGTON The benefits bestowed by those "talking birds ' overhead are coming home to roost Thev include first-ru- n televised movies without commercials, business conferences between executives hundreds of miles apart and electronic mail that spans continents in seconds. Thses are some of the things being made possible by commincations satellites, or "the talking birds," as they're called by some in the space industry. And although the spacecraft are fst coming into their own, they portend changes in everything from home television viewing habits to health care. - face-to-fac- e More on Way There are eight communications satellites in orbit serving the United States exclusively, and at least 11 more stand a good chance of being launched in the next four or five years. Home television via satellite is, of course, nothing new. It's been going on since the 1960s. What has changed, however, is the growing volume of offerings. In a marriage literally made in the heavens, cable and TV satellite technology have combined to trasn-fora viewing menu into a smorgasbord that includes once-meag- er everything from coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives to sports events gavel-to-gav- el beamed directly from Madison Square Garden. Incredibly versatile, communications satellites can receive video, voice, facsimile, and data "signals sent from transmitting centers on earth, and retransmit them back to earth stations as television pictures, radio programs, pieces of mail, even com puter printouts. Basically, an earth station is a dish antenna that recieves the information sent to earth from the orbiting satellite Cable TV operators link an earth station with traditional land lines to reach remote areas and for the widest geographic distribution. WTBS, a "superstation" in Atlanta, reahces households in 48 states. The cost and size of earth stations have been sharply reduced in the last few years, and antennas are sprouting like mushrooms throughout the land. At last count there were almost 2,000 , and the number is expected to soar in the next few years. Earth stations could soon become as common as present-da- y television antennas. Under a plan proposed by COMSAT, the Communications Satellite Corporation, homes would be equipped with small earth stations leased for a few hundred dollars. These would pick up as many as six separate television programs without commercial interruption. Target Is 1983 "We would like to start as early as 1983," said Judith S. Elnicki, a COMSAT information specialist. "There would be a flat monthly fee for the service, probably in the $15 to $22.50 range." But television has no media monopoly on the talking birds. Radio networks, news wire services and many publications are getting their broadcasts, picutres and copy to the public via satellite. Using its own earth stations, The Wall Street Journal, for instance, transmits entire pages of the paper from the East Coast to 12 locations for regional printing and distribution. And this fall, color photographs for magazine reproduction will be relayed by satellite for the first time when Time magazine transmits copies of pages from its editorial offices in New l ork to reeional printing plants in Chicago and Los Angeles. Regular satellite mail service is scheduled this fall Under the Intelpost system, letters or documents can be sent by computer form the U.S. Postal Service headquarters in Washington, DC, or a facility in New York City's World Trade Center via satellite to an Intelpost office in the center of London. At destination the digital message is converted into printed words and placed in a specially designed envelope for normal delivery. By the end of the year, France, West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium. Argentina and Iran probably will be connected by Intelpost, ?nd satellite mail will be flowing between them as well as to and from the United States. First-clas- s delivery is expected to take two days or less. Corner "Mail Booths" All this is just a tentative beginning, said Helmo Raag, COMSAT'S director of electronic mail systems. He thinks more countries will be tied to Intelpost in the 1980s and that service costs will drop sharply. "There probably will be an extensive domestic system then, too," predicted mail Raag. "Electronic will flow directly to and from major companies or users. And by the 1990s, the public may either by able to send and recive mail in their homes by computer or be able to post letters electronically at corner facilities that may resemble public phone booths." Faster mail service is just one of the many ways satellites will affect the business community in the immediate future. "Full economic impact of communications satellits first will be realized through boons to industry such as instant transfer of computer data and company recores, the speedy ex long-distan- of change material vast amounts of printed SALT and graphics and Board agreee companies arc cont- emplating "teleconferencing" centers. Located at a corporation's headquarters and in regional branches, the centers, equipped with TV cameras and screen monitors, will enable home office executives to talk face to face with employees in the field. "Think of the potential savings in of time, money and the business trips," said one travel-wearexecutive. "I'm looking forward to being on the air instead of in it." Teleconferencing and reliable voice comminciations by satellite could benefit more than the tired businessman. Joseph A. Mahon, Western Union's assistant vice president for broadcast services, foresees a special nationwide public service network in the next few years that will deal with a wide variety of things among them emergency relief, health care, and courses for college credit. Personalized Doctor Show A group of hospitals expected to grow to 500 by the end of 1980 is tied TV hookup that is into a satellite-cabl- e feeding the latest medical information and techniques to doctors, nurses, and other specialists. In their rooms, patients can watch programs explaining their illnesses and how to cope with them. Communications eventually will help doctors and nurses in relief efforts after disasters such as floods hurricanes, and earthquakes, which can wipe out land communications. Studies by some people indicate that within 10 years it will be possible for everyone to have his own satellite communications center. LAKE of Regents has to allow college credit to be granted for vocational center course work. The Utah State Board of Education is expected to finalize the plan next month. It will allow students at the centers to 31 Co earn school credit which can be post-hig- h transferred to the state's colleges and universities. wear-and-te- The cooperating institutions will have to decide which course creeit can be transferred, said Leon R sioner of higher and universities. However certain colleges would grant the credit for specific centers. Under the plan Sevier Valley Tech credit would be granted by Snow Co- vl llege. " ) v "5 k I OF SCIENTISTS puts the finishing touches on a U.S. Communications satellite. TEAM Doctors, home television viewers, businessmen almost everyone will be affected by the proliferation of the spacecraft. In the next four or five years, at least 11 new communications satellites may join the eight already in orbit. (Copyright by National Geographic) Davis IIAU y"" &i I i3 ; 0 -J) , 3J State University. Bridgerland credit would come from USU as would Uintah ' iLI ' , ' ' ,j lis: The Utah Technical College, both the Provo and the Salt Lake City Campuses, would also grant credit : C Warner Earns Welding Award Roger Warner of Springville has received a Fifth Award of $100 from The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, for his entry in the foundation's annual Arc Welding Awards Program. Warner's entry described a bumper and fit-u- p truck. He is a student at he built for a pick-u- p Utah Technical College at Provo. The foundation grants a total of $10,000 nationally to 67 students and individuals using arc welding for descriptions of projects. A free rules brochure and entry form for 1980 are available by writing to The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44117. " "''v 45 j VGlEsSll Atari video computer came $39 pit your family against this elecwizard. tronic Fascinating action turns your TV into an array of games to sharpen reflexes. Uses add-ocartridge game system. 1 4.99 Reg. 1 9.99 game cartridges Reg. $169, save w from the vocational centers. Offers $250 Scholarships SALT LAKE CITY-T- wo $250 scholarships are avilable from the Independent Insurance Agents of Utah to outstanding high school seniors. The students must show a strong interest in pursuing a career in insurance with an intent to graduate with a degree in business and finance. The scholarship money will be available for higher education studies at any Utah college or school year. university during the 1980-8- 1 Scholarships may De renewable, upon review by the scholarship committee, each year of undergraduate work. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and be in good standing. Applications are available at Independent Insurance Agents of Utah, 780 E. South Temple, Suite B. Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. Applications are due by March 15, 1980. Basin course work credit. IV '' Area Vocational work would be credited through Weber State College and Utah full-tim- - educa- All course work which is transferrable under the plan would be accepted by all the state's colleges - r- , tion. Dean Seeks Own Successor ill McCar-rey- deputs commis- U Dr. William F, Prokasy, SALT. LAKE CITY acting dean of the University of Utah Graduate School of Social Work, has an unusual responsibility. He is searching for his own replacement. Prokasy, who served as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science for the past 13 years, had intended to shed his administrative respone sibilities this year to return to teaching and research in psychology. But unforeseen circumstances changed those plans. When Dr. Edwin G. Brown resigned as dean of social work last spring, Prokasy assumed leadership of the school for a year while the university conducted' a national search for a new dean. According to Prokasy, who is serving as chairman of the search committee, nominations for the position should be in by the end of November, then the screening process will begin, he says. The search committee is made up of four social work faculty members, two students and an alumni representative in addition to Prokasy. They expect to have a recommendation on a new dean by the end of January. "I'm pleased with the quality of applicants we're receiving," Prokasy notes. "I expect that we'll find a top notch candidate because this school has an excellent reputation both locally and nationally. It also has some of the finest facilities in the country and draws from a large geographic area. I'm impressed with the strong ties this school has with the community, its productive and energetic faculty student body." and its solid Other prouects that will require Prokasy' s attention this year include coordination of plans and reports for an accreditation evaluation by the Council on Social Work Education and a review of course structure and student placement and procedures within the college. "There have been major curriculum reforms in the college during the past few years," Prokasy notes. "The content of our courses has been closely examined, but we need to take a look at some mechanics such as credit hours and course sequencing. We also need to review the way we evaluate students' undergraduate experience in order to assure that they receive an equitable and appropriate program." 19D ge - The Utah CITY State (ITU teleconferencing." said Richard B. Ellis, director of business marketing for the American Telephone & Telegraph Several Utah-Pa- Regents To Allow Credit 'Talking Birds' Find Many Productive Nests By DONALD Provo. 4yS n Atari . . . wow on Sale in stationery |