In This Issue:
The Caliper V14 #1 Cover
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
CBL™ News
Workshops & Contests
Bits & Bytes
Science Humor

New Products:
New Motion Detector
Lower Priced Sensors
Exercise Heart Rate Monitor
Instrumentation Amplifier
Ion Selective Electrodes
Rechargeable Battery Pack
Logger Pro Books
CBR™
TI-86

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The Caliper

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Data Collection using new eMate® Computer from Apple
Apple has a new, portable computer called the eMate. We are pleased that our Serial Box Interface and probes are being used for data collection with the eMate. A data collection package called eProbe, which consists of eMate software, a Serial Box Interface, and Direct-Connect Temperature Probe, Light Sensor, and Voltage Probe, is marketed by Knowledge Revolution. The software was developed entirely by Knowledge Revolution. For information, contact:

Knowledge Revolution
66 Bovet Rd. Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94402
800-766-6615
info@krev.com
www.krev.com/ed/eprobe

Balloon Trip
David and Christine Vernier had their first hot-air balloon ride this summer. They couldn't resist taking a CBL™ and a Barometer along to monitor the air pressure changes with altitude. Here are the results. They also monitored the air temperature, but it was not as interesting.

Gene Steinruck, Bloomsburg HS, Bloomsburg, PA reports that for safety reasons his district required that all items containing mercury (including thermometers) be removed from the schools. To quote Gene: "Out came the Apple IIe computers with our Vernier Direct-Connect Temperature Probes. They worked super and my calorimetry experiments went better than with the old thermometers!"

Vernier Software is a distinguished member of the BRAG (Businesses Recycling Awards Group) in our county for our efforts on recycling and using recycled products.

Alan Cromer, Northeastern University, has a new book entitled Connected Knowledge: Science, Philosophy, and Education. Dr. Cromer has been involved with using computers for science education since the earliest days. Chapter 7 of the book, "Of Chalk and Chips," gives his personal perspective on the ever-changing role of computers in education. He tells of purchasing Apple II+ computers with 0.048 Megabyte of RAM memory and 0.12 Megabyte floppy disk drives in 1980 for $2000. Compare this to what you can purchase today for $2000. He argues for a simple low-cost student computer that every eighth grader can carry in a book bag. He recognizes that, for the purpose of scientific calculations, data acquisition, and analysis, the graphics calculator is just such a machine.
(Oxford University Press, 1997)
ISBN 0-19-510240-1 $25.00

Ten Years Ago in this Newsletter . . .
In our Fall 1987 newsletter, we announced our first real chemistry probe pH. We sold the pH Amplifier in both an assembled version and a parts kit for teachers or students to assemble. Our pH System is still one of our most popular sensors. That newsletter also featured a comparison of the game ports on the various models of Apple IIs and the Laser 128 computer. (Remember that one?)

We Want Your Ideas!
We welcome all your ideas for labs and demonstrations using Vernier Software products. You may mail or e-mail your ideas to the following Vernier Software technical support people:

Biology:

sholman@vernier.com

dholmquist@vernier.com

dvernier@vernier.com
jhopkins@vernier.com

rsorensen@vernier.com
zpartridge@vernier.com
sholman@vernier.com