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optical reasons, a projection tube should be as small as possible yet must be driven hard to achieve a bright projected image. The problems of cooling to prevent phosphor damage are severe in a conventional tube, but, since the image is viewed from the side of the phosphor struck by the electrons in the Sinclair CRT, the other side of the screen can be connected directly to a heat sink.

The high brightness obtainable with the thin CRTs enhances their use in projection systems, and Sinclair fore- sees a three-tube projection TV with a 127 cm diagonal full colour display. The optics and electronics could f i t into a shoe box-size unit projecting onto a wall-mounted screen.

Sinclair Research I_td, 6 King's Parade, Cambridge CB2 lSN, UK

Speech analysis for the deaf

Display of speech patterns is being used by the UK Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) to aid the education of the hard of hearing. The Institute has developed a computer-based display system and new training methods to complement the equipment. The training, they feel, is often omitted in other systems which could otherwise be complete educational packages.

People deaf from childhood may have had their spoken language develop- ment hindered due to their inabil ity to hear their own speech. The RNID's speech analysis display system comes to the rescue by providing informa- tion about problems such as timing and pitch of the voice. The computer's advantage is that data can be called up relating to the particular patient

Separation of the speech analysis equipment from the display in the RNID's speech education equipment is important in making the system 'user friendly'

being treated. Using a microphone, the voice patterns of both therapist and pupil can be displayed on a screen so comparisons can readily be made.

The complete system is considerably cheaper than comparable equipment, using mainly 'off-the-shelf' compo- nents. An Apple microcomputer manages the storage and output of information, and pitch and energy boards are supplied from earlier RNID systems. A standard television provides the display.

Extension of the memory currently available wil l lead to the inclusion of patient record storage and retrieval, hard copy output and other display arrangements. Additional hardware will mean that the system can check hearing aid performance or subtitle video shown on the screen. A high resolution colour graphics package is being assessed for the possibility of giving real time frequency analysis of speech.

Royal National Institute for~he Deaf, 105 Gower Street, London WCIE 6AH, UK

Better weather on the way

Plane crashes and loss of life could be avoided if weather reports and forecasts were better relayed to aircraft pilots, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Meteorologists are not at fault; rather it is the lack of adequate communication methods that prevent pilots from receiving the information as soon as it is available.

The FAA technical centre is trying to remedy this problem with an experi- mental Centre Weather Service Unit engineering model. The system is the fore-runner of a quasi-independent weather unit which will replace slow, poor resolution print-outs currently in use. Although weather data is good, ~mproved weather radar and graphics displays are needed according to the system's programme manager.

Plans are to use 'off-the-shelf' equip- ment -- TV monitors, keyboard, plan view displays, printers, plotters and graphics inputs - in conjunction with existing human resources and proce- dural changes. After a programme of

318 DISPLAYS. JULY 1981