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Saying that Tree Of Knowledge, the new program from Acornsoft, is an educational game could be the kiss of death. I mean, who wants to buy something that's educational? It sounds like an impossibility - a contradiction in terms! However, Tree Of Knowledge is both.

It's a program that shows how computers can organise facts, which must be educational. But it makes it all so interesting that you don't realise that you're involved in learning.

Taken at its simplest level it's just a question-and-answer guessing game. Either you decide to "be" an object and the Electron must guess what it is or the micro is "it" and you must ask the questions until you can guess. Of course, there has to be a list of objects to pick from, and the game supplies you with two.

On another level, you're learning how to set up lists of facts, or databases, and then using them to get the information that you want. At first, no doubt, you'll use the databases the game gives you but soon you'll want to create your own.

The program allows you to do this, simply and easily. It also lets you adjust the ones you already have, so you can throw in the odd unexpected object to catch out a know-it-all.

It's fascinating to use and can be anything from an intriguing game to an educational tool. The range is enormous. The Acornsoft cassette gives a database that can be used for A-Level Biology students. I'm working on one using words from my daughter's school books. You're only limited by your imagination.

The instructions you get are complete and easy to follow and the whole package professionally produced. If you're looking for a program that's both different and enjoyable then this is worth considering. Even if it's educational!

Eileen Young