The value of this sort of program is in the tirelessness of the computer and the instant feedback to answers, plus, of course, positive motivation by presenting a "reward" for a series of correct answers.

Of its kind, this is a very good cassette, containing four drill-type programs covering the basic rules of number. The numbers of each sum are presented clearly and in large type, and there are three levels for each program - units, tens and hundreds.

The child's name is requested at the start and used frequently, along with simple but pleasant prompts, making the whole program very user-friendly.

The "motivation" is a balloon whose facial features increase or decrease on correct/incorrect answers, finally taking off. Colour and sound are used effectively.

Although this is a useful and valuable program, it could have been improved. When an incorrect answer is entered you are given a "try again" message - some form of hint would have been nice, and an analysis of error followed by corrective text would have been perfect.

Answers to all sums are entered in logical order, digit by digit, remainders are included in division and subtraction is by the decomposition method. The tape loaded after several attempts.

R.E.