Owl
A simple but clear program which displays the symbol of the computer literacy project, an owl. It illustrates how easy it is to change the programs in this pack - with many clear statements which tell the programmer what is happening and how the programs work.

It also shows how the computer creates characters. The picture it creates can be altered by changing clear and straightforward lines at the end of the program. However, it is a somewhat long program considering what it does.

Ball
A program which shows how the computer can be used to simulate events that occur in real life. By changing one of the conditions concerned in bouncing a ball, for instance, we can predict how the ball would bounce. The display first shows a ball bouncing across the screen and leaving a trail of white dots.

This procedure is repeated twice with different velocities and angles. Then, by pressing any key, the balls come bouncing back across the screen erasing the white dots. The action is accompanied by quite realistic sound effects.

Sales
This is a program which shows how a BBC Micro can display information on a graph. The program draws the graph axis and labels them, and asks you to put in your sales figures for each month.

There are a few limitations, in that your sales must be between 0 and 900, and the programmer cannot specify what the units actually are (i.e. £ thousands, etc). But it does show that information, which cannot be extrapolated from a table of figures, can be displayed very clearly in graph form.

Bubble
This program shows how the BBC Micro sorts data (in this case words) into order, using very clear graphics. The words are displayed clearly and they light up when the computer swaps them into alphabetical order.

The words which are put into order can be changed with ease. This program, with its clarity, looks similar to the program in the Welcome Pack caled 'Bubble-sort' and could have been expanded a little.

Cube
This is a program that shows how the computer can animate figures which are drawn on the screen. In this case, a simple cube is put into a spinning motion and, ater colouring in one side, the cube is revolved, using a colour-switching technique which is used in many of the programs to simulate animation. Could do with more colour and sound.

Languages
A program that places names of various computer languages at random positions on the screen. A simple task you may think, but there is an interesting programming routine I can't fathom, which magnifies the letters to double their height. A nice effect but such a very long program!

Flowers
Short and sweet. This program shows how much the plotting facility of the BBC Micro can do with two polar equations. A line is plotted from one side of the screen to the other, with loops and twists, to the accompaniment of a string of notes from the sound command.

A good economical program showing the graphics to good advantage in a clear, short and easy-to-read form.

Anagrams
A program which asks for a word and proceeds to print out all the combinations of it on the screen. The simple clear display helps, but there is a problem with the numbe of anagrams possible with the average word - there are too many!

The words usually take up five or six screenfuls, scrolling when a key is pressed. The program shows another kind of sorting and also demonstrates the possibilities of print formats and display tactics, but you really need to go into the program yourself to find these pearls of wisdom.

Weaving
This is a program that shows how the computer can store such a large amount of numbers and pieces of information.

It also shows the amount of combinations possible with a few threads. It illustrates the principle of binary notation - the numbering system used by the computer. The graphics make this quite pleasing to the eye.

Sideways
A strange program, which shows how versatile the computer is at altering the screen. The program first prints a letter on the screen (Dear Mr Bloggs, etc). But as the screen is shaped like any TV screen, the letter looks a little strange and squat - so the computer goes on to print the same letter on the screen sideways, so it looks more normal (but you have to actually turn your TV on its side!). This program is a little long for the result, but it is quite striking.

Coins
A confusing program which asks you to solve a puzzle, before you turn the computer on! You have to get yourself a pile of coins (of which one is a dud) and a weighing machine, and you have to tell which of them is the dud by weight.

You weigh up the coins and tell the computer the results of each weighing, and the computer tells you which coins to weigh next, to eventually deduct which is the dud. Why can't we get the computer to do all the tedious work of weighing or us to begin with?

Plotter
A superb program, which uses the plotting facility of the computer to great effect by drawing three-dimensional graphs, demonstrating just how clear and beautiful computer graphs can be.

The equations to produce the graphs are displayed at the top of the screen. But what is the basis for these graphs and how do they work? The equations and colours employed can be easily changed at the end of the program listing.

This pack seems to be another 'Welcome Pack'-type and is designed to show off the capabilities of the BBC Micro and teach you more about actual programming. I consider this pack good value at £10. It perhaps could have done with more use of the sound command to display this facility, however, the documentation is very good, in that it has clear program notes and useful suggestions for improvement.