All previous tapes from Scisoft have been good value for money, and well-written to boot! This is no exception.

Designed for 9 to 14-year-olds, this suite of programs contains a simple countries of the world database based on population, capital city, and area, a simulation of the spread of Dutch Elm disease, Around Britain in 48 hours, a names, places and distances game, and Treasure Hunt, which teaches and tests map skills. Each deserves a review all to itself, which is a measure of its quality and depth. All the programs are designed to get the most of the available data, and as a result, can be used in two or three ways.

Happily for the user, they are well documented in a useful manual, and are full error-trapped. It's clear that whoever wrote them is used to inquisitive fingers and silly responses.

Above all, the programs are interesting to use, either because they are so well presented, or because they take the form of a game. The games aren't thinly disguised teaching programs but as good as many commercial entertainment offerings. In using them, however, you or your child will undoubtedly gain in skill and knowledge. What more can you ask?

D.M.