"Software for somebody who doesn't want to know too much about how a computer works." That's how Triptych Publishing describes its "Brainpower" range, launched last week.

The company's first six products each include a training and an applications tape. The training is in how the application works, not how the computer does. Most of the titles are straight business functions and the range overall becomes a guide to good business practice.

"Application through learning", Triptych calls it. The approach is unusual, the relevant host micros - Spectrum, BBC, Commodore 64 and soon the Amstrad - are not the most expensive business machines, and Triptych's background is encouraging. The company and its products have been born out of the London Business School.

Entrepreneur shows you what to look out for when setting up a business; Decision Maker, Project Planner and Forecaster and self-explanatory but they aren't restricted to business applications. Numbers at Work is an exercise in numeracy with business aspects in compound interest, VAT, PAYE and the like. Star Watcher teaches indentification of various objects in the heavens.

In demonstrations the programs looked impressive and the documentation was equally so. Stuart Armstrong, managing editor of Triptych, said: "I don't believe the screen is the place for large amounts of text." Each pair of tapes comes with a ring-bound booklet with can be propped up and used like a flip-chart as you go through the program. It's a small point but a thoughtful touch.

Not all the programs run on all the machines. Project Planner and Forecaster are available for the BBC at £19.95 on tape and £24.95 on disk; these two, plus Entrepreneur, Numbers At Work and Decision Maker for the C64 cost the same; and the last three, plus Star Watcher, cost £14.95 on the Spectrum.

Triptych Publishing is on Camberley (0276) 62144.