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The John von Neumann Institute for Computing (NIC) at the Research Centre Jülich, Germany, is one of the leading supercomputing centres in Europe. Founded as a national centre in the mid-eighties it now provides more and more resources to European scientists. This happens within EU-funded projects (I3HP, DEISA) or Europe-wide scientific collaborations. Beyond these activities NIC started an initiative towards the new EU member states in summer 2004. Outstanding research groups are offered to exploit the supercomputers at NIC to accelerate their investigations on leading-edge technology. The article gives an overview of the organisational structure of NIC, its current supercomputer systems, and its user support. Transnational Access (TA) within I3HP is described as well as access by the initiative for new EU member states. The volume of these offers and the procedure of how to apply for supercomputer resources is introduced in detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Features devices developed to improve the accessibility, ease of use and price of computers in Europe. Experiments conducted with consumer-friendly computing devices embedded in cafe tables, school desks, park benches and billboards; Focus on finding useful local information people are interested in; Devices developed with computing features include telephones and other home networking tools.

Examines the growth of the European multimedia personal computer (PC) market. Multimedia PC market in 1996; Growth in telecommunications worldwide due to growth in Europe and the United States; European cable television subscribers; Number of European homes online; Deregulation programs in the industry.

Discusses the arrival of a single European currency, the European Monetary Union currency, called the euro. Effects of the planned change to information system managers working in European and United States companies; Reason for the companies' delay of assessing the cost and difficulty of converting their financial systems; Impact of the adoption of the euro on the computer technology industry. INSET: Euro help on the way, by Bob Violino, et al.

Explores current trends and the short-term future of European research and innovation in the computer industry. European Community's (EC) efforts to fight off external competition; Advantages of inward investment; European innovation in the C language; Major areas of growth in European computer research; Opportunities in Eastern Europe; Hard currency problems; Licensing problems; Other challenges. INSET: What is the Colom agreement?.

Discusses the role computer technology may play in the rebuilding process going on now in Eastern European countries. Current status of computer industry; Primitive secondary technology; Manufacturing problems; Political problems; Computer trends in Hungary, East Germany and Romania; Economics and computer trends.

The article reports that the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) will be opening an office in Europe. The ACM European service center in Brussels, Belgium begins operations on October 1, 1992. Both ACM headquarters and Special interest groups are learning that a great deal can be accomplished in Europe without spending a fortune on postage, phone bills, and airfare, thanks to the potency of electronic mail. ACM's international plan was developed with our leadership in Europe, and without email we would never have been able to work together so quickly and proficiently. The ACM's office in Europe will provide a base for new efforts to contact the computing community in Europe. The synergy between the office and the increased traffic of electronic mail with Europe will generate great demands for action. An additional Members Services Department of the ACM in Europe provides services to its members which includes response to general inquiries about ACM membership; acceptance of publication orders.

In April 2004, the European Commission in Brussels took bold steps to curb Microsoft's control of the computer software market by slapping the company with tough sanctions aimed at its treasured "bundling" strategy and crafted to influence its future behavior in the market. In the landmark ruling drafted by Mario Monti, the European Union's competition commissioner, Monti called Microsoft an abusive monopolist and issued a set of far-reaching penalties. If the decision stands up to appeal, Microsoft will be required to offer a version of its desktop Windows operating system software without the Media Player application built into it. It must also share "interface documentation" so that competitors can more readily design servers to interact with the company's software, and it must pay the European Commission a 600 million U.S. dollar fine, the biggest fine ever imposed by EU competition regulators.

Reports about MPEG-4 standard which is building up steam in Europe through a European Union project called Emphasis experiment. How Philips and SGS-Thomson demonstrate applications, hardware-reference designs and multiple codecs for MPEG-4 standard; Companies that supported and involved in Emphasis project; MPEG-4 as a key weapon to expand European electronics companies' technology arsenal. INSET: Compression standard sets no limits..

Highlights a February 1991 panel discussion among European scientists on the need for the European Community to invest in the development of high-performance supercomputers. Supercomputer manufacturers' move from serial processors to parallel processing; Europe's share of the world market for supercomputers; Europe's need for a funding program similar to that in the U.S. and for a high-performance telecommunications link between users and central supercomputers.

Reveals that European companies which build and use supercomputers have formed a consortium to develop powerful new supercomputers based on parallel processing. Launched by Carlo Rubbia, head of CERN, the European center for particle physics; The consortium's aims; What the consortium includes.

Reports that Europe's three largest computer makers have set up a consortium to develop compatible computer systems for governments and other public authorities in Europe. Companies involved; Disadvantages that exist in the computer systems now.

Discusses the editor's view on the politics of science and technology with reference to the relationship between the United States and a number of other countries. Reflection on the areas of principal concern, and the scientific achievements in Europe and elsewhere; Role played by computers and computer science in this situation; Crisis in the field of computer science in European countries; Shortcomings and failures of the European computer industry; Existence of a computer gap between the U.S. and a number of other countries.

Presents a directory of microprocessors and microcontrollers published in the October 2002 issue of the journal 'EDN Europe.' Types of processors include in the directory; List of processor vendors and their processor's specifications.

Focuses on the penetration of United States-based Internet service providers in the European market. Status of Europe's online media businesses; Comments from industry officials; Strategic approach of America Online (AOL); Predictions from New York-based Jupiter Communications.

Reports on the performance of the top information systems (IS) suppliers in Europe in 1989. IBM's sales; Digital's and Apple's plans; Control Data Corp. (CDC) plans to sell computers to the Soviet Union; Restructuring in European computer industry; Prospects at other companies.

Looks at the top information systems performers in Europe. Groupe Bull SpA, Siemens AG, ING. G. Olivetti & Co. SPA, NV Philips GL, Nixdorf Computer AG, STC PLC and more; Brief profiles; Strategies; Revenues by world regions.

Discusses how Western Europe is reshaping itself into a common market. Questions whether European information systems companies such as Siemens, Groupe Bull and Olivetti will be strong enough to keep United States and Japanese suppliers from capturing any more of the market.

Describes the strategy that some large European corporate information system managers are taking to prepare for the single market consolidation of 1992. Using 1989 to review strategy, 1990 to plan and prototype, 1991 to manage and implement and 1992 to consolidate. INSET: 1989: Review and strategy.;1990: Plan and prototype; 1991....

Describes the role that information systems (IS) technology will play in the 12-nation European Commission (EC) single market of 1992. Consequences of a single market for US computer manufacturers and manufacturers abroad. INSET: New regs for anew Europe; Honda welcomes Eurostandards.;Europe's.

The year 1987 likely will signify the end of '80s-style computing in Europe. Key shifts in information system development and purchasing patterns that will affect European vendors in the '90s; Revenues for the top 25 IS firms in Europe were up 26.5 percent. INSET: The Datamation European 25; The 25 leading European-based IS....

A weak dollar and a steady demand for software, minicomputers, and PCs characterized the European dp market in 1986. These factors helped both US and indigenous dp suppliers to maintain revenue growth. Although IBM had a rough time in some of its major markets overall it was a good year for European dp.

The top 25 companies in the European market last year had revenues totaling $34.5 billion, up 21% in dollars over the year before. This and more in the annual Datamation European 25 Survey. INSET: Methodology..

Six top European data processing executives were invited to give their viewpoints on current trends in European data processing, and what future directions may be. Excerpts from the discussion.

Highlights the Software Publishers Association (SPA) European Conference held in Cannes, France on June 11-14, 1995. Europe as America's customer for software and computer products; Sales performance and operating systems of Apple Computer; New development platform of Novell Inc.; PC (personal computer) market according to Microsoft Europe.

Reports on European information technology expected to participate at the at the 1995 CeBIT Computer Fair. Expected number of participating companies from each country; Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme; ICL; Apricot; Acorn; Psion; Micro Focus; British Telecom; Bull Data Systems; Zenith Data Systems.

Reports on the trend toward the shift of personal computer (PC) manufacturers in Europe into retailers. Success story of Vobis Microcomputer AG of Aachen, Germany; Growth of the PC industry in the region; Hardware companies' deals with upstart PC makers; Emergence of down-market phenomenon. INSET: Here's how Vobis struts its stuff..

Reports on the performance of the computer industry in Europe. Increase in European corporations' information technology budget; Increase in the value of computer shipments in the first and second quarters of 1994; Findings of CI/InfoCorp.'s survey on corporate customers in Germany and France.

Reports that as more and more European vendors claim their products promote software portability and seamless interoperability, workstation purveyors are looking increasingly alike. Difficulty for vendors to compete; Attempts to increase share in workstation market; Vertical applications development; More.

Discusses how European countries are more cautious than their American counterparts about investing in new computer-aided software engineering (CASE) technologies. Users in search of improved quality and lower costs are making Europe the world's second largest CASE tool market.

Focuses on European telecommunication companies' efforts to establish themselves in the North American data networks market. French firm Alcatel's agreements to Xylan and Assured Access Technology; Move by Great Britain's General Electric Co. to purchase local loop access products supplier Reltec; Nokia's strategy to direct its data networking expertise into its mobile computing technology. INSET: The bottom line..

Reports on the dominant use of VHDL (Computer hardware description language) in Europe. Comparison of European VHDL users to American Verilog users; Support of European VHDL user groups; Establishment of VHDL as state standard.

Asserts that Europe's indigenous computer makers are in a mess as a result of pampering by governments and protection from the full discipline of the market. Examples of companies, including France's Groupe Bull, Siemens-Nixdorf of Germany, and Italy's Olivetti; Economic slowdown; Commitment to open systems; Slowness to respond to changes in the computer market; Public-sector purchases; Forming alliances; Details.

Argues that European computer firms must receive healthier domestic support or they will have to start looking for foreign partners. Criticism of government subsidies for research programs such as ESPRIT, JESSI, and others; Report that some firms such as Philips are pulling out; Deals with Japanese firms; Influence gained by United States firms; Details; Outlook.

Reports that predictions have been inaccurate concerning the consolidation of Europe's computer services industry. Success of United States companies in the software and services firms; Question of whether Europe's computer services industry can thrive without its hardware industry.

The article presents information about lawsuits related to unfair practices in the information technology (IT) industry. Security vendor McAfee Security for Consumers appears to be taking its own anti-competition case to Europe's trustbusters. McAfee has argued that Microsoft Corp. is influencing its operating system monopoly to shut out rival security vendors. Novell, Sun Microsystems and other serial IT industry litigants have taken their legal complaints to Europe for years.

The article reports developments related to computer industry in Europe. It offers information about the impact of a law being proposed in the French parliament that would prevent proprietary music-playing technologies, on Apple Computer Inc. Novell Inc. has promised a demo of the product at annual BrainShare conference. It also offers information about the marketing departments which have been uploading promotional videos to the site, in which the crony suggested that media companies should create a new legal/marketing position.

The article presents the author's views on software patent laws. According to the author, the forces that want software patents in Europe are too big, too rich and too determined to give up completely. They will be working behind the scenes to get software patents back on the European agenda, probably in the guise of a reasonable compromise. In addition, the author expects them to work hard to get more individual European countries to implement U.S.-style software patents. Nowadays, almost everyone, even large software companies, agrees that big patent reforms are needed for software. Start with this statement. Then mention how U.S. companies are competing with European companies that don't need to deal with the overbearing and broad software patents that U.S. companies face under the current system. Bring up how the current broad and broken system in this country rewards sleazy stealth tactics and legal attacks while stifling innovation by U.S. companies. Follow up by talking about the brain drain that will inevitably occur as the best and brightest U.S. developers head to Europe, where they can build their groundbreaking applications without constantly consulting a lawyer and without fear of their true innovations running afoul of overly broad patents.

Comments on the state of the original equipment manufacturing (OEM) industry in Europe. Trade deficits; Decline in local electronics equipment production; Criticism of OEM leaders; Fundamental flaws to the implied notion that Europe ought to focus on intellectual rather than manufacturing.

Comments on the American media's coverage of the European Commission's efforts to regulate Microsoft Corp. American media's focus on whether the Commission remedy imposed on Microsoft would bring any meaningful changes to the personal-computer landscape; Key issues in the European antitrust proceeding; Emergence of high-definition DVD system specifications.