------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT THE AUTHOR - JIM HOOD PO BOX 1506, Mercer Island, WA 98040 (206) 236-0470 CIS: 72020,2176 ------------------------------------------------------------ I am commercial photographer by training and a computer hobbyist by preference. An odd combination of skills, but technology has always been a fascination. I live about 3 miles from Seattle, Washington on Mercer Island, a city of about 24,000 people in the middle of Lake Washington. As former coordinator for the Mercer Island Computer Club, I divide my time between computer related hobby activities and the operation of Seattle Scientific Photography which produces 35mm lecture/presentation slides for a variety of commercial clients. This disk, Back Relief Now, evolved as a project to learn about the source of my own back pain which is probably a consequence of long hours spent at a computer keyboard. The project also evolved from a feeling that common sense, a little medical research and exercise were probably the best course to follow. What unfolded was a surprising amount of information which could be shared with others who also suffer from backaches. The result is this software program which is written from a layman's point of view for the average layman to read. I attended the University of Sophia in Tokyo, Japan and Seattle University in Seattle. I have taught classes at the University of Washington Experimental College. Following are descriptions of other shareware packages I have published. Most are available from popular shareware sources such as computer clubs and shareware disk vendors, or you may contact me directly for further information at the address listed above.... PC-LEARN was selected a recommended beginner's choice by 21 computer clubs and has been featured in two national computer magazines. PC-Learn is a computer training system for beginners which includes chapters on buying and using a computer, an entertaining history of computers, DOS lessons, hard disk drives, tech tips how to use shareware tutorial and virus protection. It also includes information on word processing, a suggested reading list, software selection, mailing list of computer clubs, batch files, spreadsheets, databases, and even a glossary! PC-LEARN features high speed color or monochrome menus, tutorial printing, information searching capabilities and more. The SSP Directory of Computer Clubs. Every computer owner, from novice to advanced, can use this comprehensive directory of over 1,000 computer clubs and users groups to locate and benefit from the vast offerings which computer clubs and users groups offer. Edited by a former computer club coordinator, the SSP Directory of Computer Clubs is a comprehensive listing of major computer clubs and users groups which focus on the MSDOS and PCDOS family of personal computers. Includes a mailing list of computer clubs plus brief tutorial on the support services, newsletters, monthly meeting agenda and special interest groups of computer clubs. The mailing list and contact directory is provided in both plaintext ASCII which you can read and revise with your word processing software and also in dBase format so you can generate mailing labels or use your database program to effectively search and sort this large resource list. The SHAREWARE USER'S TUTORIAL is a detailed presentation on how to use and enjoy shareware! Topics include: eight easy steps to using shareware FAST, determining what is on a disk, how to run a program, how to unpack and unarchive, commonly asked questions, a short DOS review course, shortcuts, using filenames and extensions, locating documentation on disk. Even includes a short pop quiz to test your "shareware survival skills!" Chapter titles of this excellent tutorial are as follows: What is shareware, public domain, freeware and commercial software? Eight easy steps to using shareware FAST! Minimum DOS commands for using shareware. Copying the master disk. The directory listing of a shareware disk. File names and extensions - the keys to the kingdom. A turbocharged shortcut! Finding, reading and understanding documentation within a file. Unpacking and installing, including ARCS, ZIPS, LZH and more! Configuring the program if necessary. Running the program. Feedback: either register or send your regrets! Common questions and answers. Recommended reading list for shareware users and authors. Shareware vendors should consider adding this to their catalog as a reprint or at least sending this file with every order to customers! The $HAREWARE MARKETING $YSTEM received the Public Brand Software Trophy award in 1991 and 1992. It is a top seller at over 800 vendors. It is a quarterly updated marketing newsletter and complete mailing list of over 4,200 major shareware disk distributors, large computer clubs, key magazine editors, recommended BBS systems and more! Software programmers, disk vendors, agents and authors can use the detailed mailing list to mail software in an effective, highly successful manner. Also contains a massive marketing newsletter which has been prepared by an established shareware author and contains dozens of creative tips, tricks and traps every author and disk vendor should review. The database file mailing list is rated so you can mail shareware to key vendors ranked A, B or C. The database file is supplied in dBase III (DBF) file format. Program does NOT require color or special graphics. Requires database program such as PC-File, dBase or any database which can import dBase III format (DBF) files. Hard drive suggested. Single issue registration available as well as subscriptions - 4 quarterly issues per year. This tutorial is merely a starting point! For further information on back care and back pain, be sure to register this software ($25.00) which brings by prompt postal delivery a printed, illustrated guide to back pain written by a physician plus two software disks. From the main menu select "Print Registration Form." Or from the DOS prompt type the command ORDER. Mail to Seattle Scientific Photography (Dept. BRN), PO Box 1506, Mercer Island, WA 98040. If you cannot print the order form, send $25.00 to the above address and a short letter requesting these materials. End of chapter.