JCE Software, 3B2: Editorial

Three Years of JCE: Software

John W. Moore
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1396

Note:
This issue is out of print.

This issue marks the end of the third year of publication of JCE: Software. It seems to me that it was only yesterday that we produced the first issue, but in fact it was two and a half years ago, in July 1988. A great many changes have occurred in that time, and we have learned a lot; in this editorial it seems appropriate to consider some of what we have learned and done.
First of all, we have set up a system that is generating submissions and processing submitted programs for publication. The Output Queue indicates the extent to which the manuscript pipeline has been established. Next year's two MS-DOS issues will contain six programs as well as annual author indexes to the Journal of Chemical Education. Submissions, especially for Series B, are coming in steadily, and most of them are excellent programs that will improve chemistry learning in high school and college classrooms and laboratories.
Programs selected for inclusion in next year's MS-DOS issues are: Notebook Column Calculator and Plotter, which is as simple to use as a pocket calculator but provides spreadsheet-like calculation and graphing capabilities; Spectronic 20: An Instrument Simulator, which helps train students to use this ubiquitous instrument; NO2/N2O4 Equilibrium Experiment, which provides for automated calibration and collection of data from a simple, inexpensive colorimeter, the Blocktronic II; Mass Spectrometer Simulator, which requires careful operation and produces accurate simulated spectra; Rutherford, a simulated experiment on alpha-particle scattering by metal foils; and Computer-Based Laboratory, an MS-DOS version of an earlier program that appeared in an Apple II issue.
Several technical issues have been addressed during this year. For example, Volume IV A, Number 2 will consist of programs for the Apple IIGS that require the ProDOS operating system. The number of IIGSs, as well as the sophistication that we would like to see in Apple II programs, have grown to the point where a IIGS issue seems appropriate and necessary. In the MS-DOS world we have a number of new programs that address the proliferation of graphics standards (CGA, EGA, VGA) by detecting what kind of adapter is present and adjusting the graphics part of the program accordingly. This issue contains another technical first: an example of a program that is memory resident and can be popped up at any time by using a hot key; the previous MS-DOS issue this year contained a program that was larger than the disk on which it was delivered. We have also been experimenting to find useful ways in which computerized versions of the indexes to the (print) Journal can be provided to subscribers on all three kinds of computers that JCE: Software supports. This began with HyperCard on the Macintosh and has spread to MS-DOS and Apple II as well.
All these technical matters lead to another aspect of our operation that has turned out to be more complicated and time consuming than we had expected, based on the print Journal model that we have used to develop JCE: Software. This is what is referred to in the computer software industry as support. Technical Editor Jon Holmes and Manager for Subscriptions and Publicity Lin Morris spend a great deal of time answering questions that range over subjects from, "What software do you have for what kinds of computers?" through "What software and hardware do I need to use the Periodic Table Videodisc?" through "Why does a program that worked with an earlier version of a disk operating system no longer run?" to "How do I fix this program bug?". Readers of a print journal do not need this kind of information--everyone has been taught to read and use journal references and indexes as part of their general education. In the computer area there has been little such education, and even if there had been things are changing so rapidly that it would become obsolete in a few years. More importantly there is a fundamental difference between the print medium and a computer program. A typo in the former may obscure meaning or even mislead, but it will not stop one from reading an article. A bug in a computer program may stop it entirely and must be corrected if the reader is to be able to use it effectively. At this point our experience makes it obvious (as it ought to have been from the beginning) that a great deal of support for subscribers is essential, and that we will have to factor that into the costs of publishing.
Our three years of experience have allowed us to begin to understand the real costs of providing a peer-reviewed software journal to subscribers. Recently we have been able to take stock and assess our costs for printing documentation, reproducing disks, shipping issues, supporting users, and carrying on the editorial functions needed to maintain and improve upon the high quality we believe we have already achieved. What we find is that subscription and single-issue prices, which were established on the basis of estimates done almost three years ago, are inadequate to continue to support our operation we are currently supplying software below cost, and this year will run a deficit. Consequently we recommended to the Board of Publication of the Journal of Chemical Education a new schedule of prices, and the Board has adopted them. The new 1991 subscription costs are listed on the Subscription Order Form inserted in this issue. New prices for single issues ($50 each) will take effect January 7, 1991.
I believe that these new rates represent a bargain, especially considering the number of programs included in each issue. Next year's MS-DOS subscription contains six programs and a machine-readable index to the Journal all for $75. This works out to $12.50 per program. Considering the effort on the part of program authors, the written materials supporting use of the programs, the fact that five backup copies can be made and used, and the extensive improvements these programs can make in classrooms and laboratories, this is an excellent buy.
JCE: Software and its authors are making major contributions to chemical education at all levels-contributions that ought to be recognized, especially in the case of authors who expect and need professional recognition for their efforts. I hope that all of you who read this editorial and use JCE: Software will express your support by continuing to subscribe to and use the materials we produce.

First Published: October 1990
Citation: Moore, J. W. Three Years of JCE: Software J. Chem. Educ. Software 3B2
Keywords:

News | Issues | CD-ROM / Video | Find It! | Technical Support | For Authors

JCE Online | Journal | Software | Internet | Happenings | About JCE | Contact JCE

Last Updated: April 26, 2001
Created: December 3, 1996 Created by: J. L. Holmes
Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.



Three Years of JCE: Software
John W. Moore University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1396

Note:	This issue is out of print.

This issue marks the end of the third year of publication of JCE: Software. It seems to me that it was only yesterday that we produced the first issue, but in fact it was two and a half years ago, in July 1988. A great many changes have occurred in that time, and we have learned a lot; in this editorial it seems appropriate to consider some of what we have learned and done. First of all, we have set up a system that is generating submissions and processing submitted programs for publication. The Output Queue indicates the extent to which the manuscript pipeline has been established. Next year's two MS-DOS issues will contain six programs as well as annual author indexes to the Journal of Chemical Education. Submissions, especially for Series B, are coming in steadily, and most of them are excellent programs that will improve chemistry learning in high school and college classrooms and laboratories. Programs selected for inclusion in next year's MS-DOS issues are: Notebook Column Calculator and Plotter, which is as simple to use as a pocket calculator but provides spreadsheet-like calculation and graphing capabilities; Spectronic 20: An Instrument Simulator, which helps train students to use this ubiquitous instrument; NO2/N2O4 Equilibrium Experiment, which provides for automated calibration and collection of data from a simple, inexpensive colorimeter, the Blocktronic II; Mass Spectrometer Simulator, which requires careful operation and produces accurate simulated spectra; Rutherford, a simulated experiment on alpha-particle scattering by metal foils; and Computer-Based Laboratory, an MS-DOS version of an earlier program that appeared in an Apple II issue. Several technical issues have been addressed during this year. For example, Volume IV A, Number 2 will consist of programs for the Apple IIGS that require the ProDOS operating system. The number of IIGSs, as well as the sophistication that we would like to see in Apple II programs, have grown to the point where a IIGS issue seems appropriate and necessary. In the MS-DOS world we have a number of new programs that address the proliferation of graphics standards (CGA, EGA, VGA) by detecting what kind of adapter is present and adjusting the graphics part of the program accordingly. This issue contains another technical first: an example of a program that is memory resident and can be popped up at any time by using a hot key; the previous MS-DOS issue this year contained a program that was larger than the disk on which it was delivered. We have also been experimenting to find useful ways in which computerized versions of the indexes to the (print) Journal can be provided to subscribers on all three kinds of computers that JCE: Software supports. This began with HyperCard on the Macintosh and has spread to MS-DOS and Apple II as well. All these technical matters lead to another aspect of our operation that has turned out to be more complicated and time consuming than we had expected, based on the print Journal model that we have used to develop JCE: Software. This is what is referred to in the computer software industry as support. Technical Editor Jon Holmes and Manager for Subscriptions and Publicity Lin Morris spend a great deal of time answering questions that range over subjects from, "What software do you have for what kinds of computers?" through "What software and hardware do I need to use the Periodic Table Videodisc?" through "Why does a program that worked with an earlier version of a disk operating system no longer run?" to "How do I fix this program bug?". Readers of a print journal do not need this kind of information--everyone has been taught to read and use journal references and indexes as part of their general education. In the computer area there has been little such education, and even if there had been things are changing so rapidly that it would become obsolete in a few years. More importantly there is a fundamental difference between the print medium and a computer program. A typo in the former may obscure meaning or even mislead, but it will not stop one from reading an article. A bug in a computer program may stop it entirely and must be corrected if the reader is to be able to use it effectively. At this point our experience makes it obvious (as it ought to have been from the beginning) that a great deal of support for subscribers is essential, and that we will have to factor that into the costs of publishing. Our three years of experience have allowed us to begin to understand the real costs of providing a peer-reviewed software journal to subscribers. Recently we have been able to take stock and assess our costs for printing documentation, reproducing disks, shipping issues, supporting users, and carrying on the editorial functions needed to maintain and improve upon the high quality we believe we have already achieved. What we find is that subscription and single-issue prices, which were established on the basis of estimates done almost three years ago, are inadequate to continue to support our operation we are currently supplying software below cost, and this year will run a deficit. Consequently we recommended to the Board of Publication of the Journal of Chemical Education a new schedule of prices, and the Board has adopted them. The new 1991 subscription costs are listed on the Subscription Order Form inserted in this issue. New prices for single issues ($50 each) will take effect January 7, 1991. I believe that these new rates represent a bargain, especially considering the number of programs included in each issue. Next year's MS-DOS subscription contains six programs and a machine-readable index to the Journal all for $75. This works out to $12.50 per program. Considering the effort on the part of program authors, the written materials supporting use of the programs, the fact that five backup copies can be made and used, and the extensive improvements these programs can make in classrooms and laboratories, this is an excellent buy. JCE: Software and its authors are making major contributions to chemical education at all levels-contributions that ought to be recognized, especially in the case of authors who expect and need professional recognition for their efforts. I hope that all of you who read this editorial and use JCE: Software will express your support by continuing to subscribe to and use the materials we produce.


News \| Issues \| CD-ROM / Video \| Find It! \| Technical Support \| For Authors
JCE Online \| Journal \| Software \| Internet \| Happenings \| About JCE \| Contact JCE

Last Updated: April 26, 2001 Created: December 3, 1996	Created by: J. L. Holmes Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.