myers@uwvax.ARPA (Jeff Myers) (09/08/84)
Microcomputers in Nicaragua
[The following article came across my desk last month...]
As readers of the [CPSR; Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility] newsletter know, last year a CPSR group went to
Nicaragua to help that besieged country.
this is a report on observations and experiences in Nicaragua
during a short three-week stay in July of 1984, following the
delivery of an Apple ][e. This computer was donated by Friends
of Nicaraguan Culture, San Diego (with help from the Orange
County Committee on Central America), to the English-language
weekly Barricada Internacional.
As of July 19 at leas six microcomputers have been donated to
Nicaragua -- four by KayPro, two by friends of Nica. The KayPros
are being used at INIES (Instituto Nicaraguense de Investiga-
ciones Economicas y Sociales), a Jesuit research institute.
INIES also has an Osborne. The statistical work there was
developed by the Canadian Jos P Kennedy, a brilliant ambidextrous
(hard-soft) engineer. Among other programs, he has rewritten
WordStar to print out two columns and to do true proportional
printing. Unfortunately for Nica, he is now back home in
Toronto.
When Kennedy left Managua, he left behind him a vacuum of techni-
cal know-how at INIES -- and everywhere else in Nica. Here is a
once-in-a-lifetime chance to work for peace by filling the
vacancy. As they say in the adds -- long hours, low pay, meager
working conditions, challenging experience.
It is difficult to say what know-how or goods Nica needs more --
software or hardware. There appears to be no know-how around on
microcomputer hardware. There is some hardware there, albeit
minimal -- it has been contributed by peace interests, or pur-
chased at double price from Panama. (This despite the acute
shortage of dollars).
However, there appears to be hardly any repair know-how. Mal-
functioning computers and peripherals are sent back to Canada,
Panama or the US for repair.
As to software, there is some strength flowing from mainframe
computers, but this is spotty. Some organizations badly in need
of specialized software have none, nor do they have programmers
to write programs for them.
For instance, INDE, Instituto Nicaraguense de Energia, needs pro-
grams for stress analysis, piping design and electrical transmis-
sion. For such they have HP97, HP41CV, TRS-80 and HP125 immedi-
ately available; other machines possible but not as available.
The best equipped organization we saw there was the land reform
ministry MIDINRA, Ministerio de Desarollo Agropecuario y Reforma
Agraria. They have four Apple ][e's, three Apple III's, and two
Osbornes. They also have a strong team of French and Nicaraguan
programmers. However, one of the Frenchmen, Pascal Serres, after
living there for eight years is going to France to finish his
PhD, and will return in two years. Unfortunately, he is the one
person there who has learned a great deal about the hardware.
And so the Director, Orlando Nun~ez, has written us an appeal for
someone with a little knowledge of Spanish and a lot of knowledge
of Apple ][e and III to go there for a few months and train them
in maintenance and repair; write application programs such as
internal administration control systems and some public opinion
poll analyses; and train them to program in dBASE II. If such a
person is found, he would have to bring with him some repair
equipment and a couple of Z-80 cards for the Apples. (By the
way, Z-80 cards are $50 in Canada; please let us know if anyone
can match that price here). The best way to reach Nun~ez is by
phoning Managua 7-49-90 and asking for Compan~era Ena Rivera.
She is the one more likely to be around, and she will locate
Nun~ez.
In addition to the Apples and Osbornes there are said to be some
15 IBM PC's in Nica, and they are negotiating with an ex-IBM
employee to sign a contract to maintain them.
There are also some TRS-80's there, one a Model 12 (CP/M and 8"
disks). At present they are looking for a CP/M Basic compiler
disk.
The one very necessary piece of equipment that they don't seem to
have anywhere is an uninterruptible power supply. We purchased
($285) a 250-watt backup supply made in Korea, and it failed in
one week of testing. We are currently awaiting a replacement
unit.
According to our informants, no microprocessor courses appear to
be offered at any of the universities -- UCA, UPOLI, or UNAM. At
this writing a CPSR member may be going to Nica soon to teach a
hardware course at the Jesuit University (UCA), and at the DNI,
Direccion Nacional de Informatica. The latter organization has
the function of bureaucratic mainframe-oriented organization that
has given no support to the spontaneous proliferation of micro-
computers taking place in Nica. Their course catalog for 1984
lists 24 courses, with no mention of microcomputers.
Speaking of proliferation of microcomputers, it appears that some
organizations are buying them for word processing only, thus
jumping from mechanical typewriters over electric and electronic
typewriters directly to microcomputers.
It is hoped that the information above will be of value. We are
keeping in touch with our new friends in Nica, but we would also
appreciate any other updates on the status of microcomputers in
Nicaragua. We will be glad to be of assistance to those trying
to make a microcomputer contact in Nica.
Bernard Winter
Friends of Nicaraguan Culture
Box 8305
La Jolla, CA 92038
(619) 459-4650