Producer: Technol Computing
Retail Price: £5.95 for tape, £7.95 for Microdrive
Age Range: under 7 years

Scotsmaths is a simple addition and subtraction program for the under 7's, using sound, animation and full colour to attract a young child's attention. On one half of the screen is used to display a sum using shapes -squares, circles and triangles - instead of figures. The sum itself is written out on the right hand side eg. 'there are 4 triangles and 2 squares. How many shapes?' When the child keys in the correct response, a piece is added to a picture of a space rocket which is gradually built up, taking off when the series of questions is completed. If the player puts in the wrong response, a sum appears showing the correct answer.

All the sums have an answer in the range 0 to 20, and after the rocket has taken off, the child is told how many questions it took to launch it. The major advantage of this program is the flexibility it allows. By pressing T when the title page is displayed, it is possible to select either addition or subtraction sums, together with the maximum value of the answer. All in all, this is a pleasant little program which children should enjoy.

COMMENTS

Control keys: number keys only
Keyboard play: responsive
Use of colour: bright and attractive
Graphics: good