Multi-lingual media

Several people have written and asked about Japanese and English language training using a CD-ROM. There are a lot of things available but, like many developments in the computer industry, most products I checked out did not live up to expectations.

I did, however, find one company here in Japan that has a line of language training CD-ROM products for the Mac and DOS that seems to be head and shoulders above the other stuff on the market. DynEd Japan, the subsidiary of US-based DynEd International, is currently selling three CD-ROM products: Dynamic English, Dynamic Business English, and Dynamic Japanese. The Japan prices are not unreasonable: approximately 40,000 (a pretty good price compared to lessons at a mediocre language school.). I saw the products demonstrated and was quite impressed. The interface looks great, and the design is well thought out. The company is doing quite well in the US, and it looks as if they are starting to do well here too. For information, contact DynEd Japan at phone 03-3478-2448, fax 033478-2598.

Presentation equipment rentals

A friend of mine recently needed two OHP projector screens for laptops so that he could give a demonstration at a press conference. He went nuts trying to find them at the last minute, but he finally ran across a company that provided him with some pretty nice presentation toys quickly and at a good price. The company also has technicians that can put the stuff together for you. If you're in need of a projector screen, try International Creative; phone 03-34330076, fax 03-3433-0139.

Training

Some people have asked me about training for those employees who are invaluable but, alas, terrified of the computer keyboard. Some refer to this condition as "technophobia," but I don't think that goes quite far enough to describe the way some people view the humming box that now sits on their desk: I call it "technorevulsion": not a phobia or a fear, but an aversion to a quantum leap in doing things that involves new technology. When the IBM PC/XT was the neatest thing in town, you could rely on a long-haired kid in tennis shoes to teach your staff DOS 2-point-something and the basics of WordStar. But as computers have become more sophisticated, so have the people who help those on the lower end of the learning curve. There are far too many companies in the corporate training business to mention here, but among the most popular are the following four:

1.AC Solutions

Founded by go-getter Annie Chang some five years ago (Annie is known by many affectionately as "Tokyo's PC Dragon Lady."), AC Solutions' specialty is training in Windows applications. The company has a reputation of providing clients with good, effective training programs by instructors who know their stuff. AC Solutions can be reached at phone 033588-0831, fax 03-3588-6310.

2. LINC Computer

LINC Computer, started by Terrie Lloyd, has been doing training for five years now. Its strongest suit is business applications training for people in the finance industry (tough customers if ever there were any). LINC also provides high-level bilingual training seminars in such areas as Windows NT, Novell, and general systems management. Not a bad reputation, although some say that the company seems to go through employees a bit too quickly. (Not necessarily a bad sign, though; many former LINC employees have gone on to start their own successful businesses or have been recruited into major computer firms). LINC Computer can be reached at phone 03-3445-2600, fax 03-3445-2611.

3. Professional Training Services (PTS)

Started by Dermot Killoran, Gregg Kauphman, and Rick Cogley about a year ago, PTS does a lot of training in PC business applications. The company is also willing to train personnel at companies that are late-comers to the computer age and have employees who need to know the real basic stuff (rare). The company has a very good reputation at teaching rank beginners very effectively. PTS has been running a biweekly Help Advertisement in the Daily Yomuri every other Thursday. Contact PTS at phone 03-3226-3840, fax 03-53790370.

4. Panache

For those seeking help with Macintosh systems, the answer to your needs may be Panache KK. Established less than one year ago, but already with a staff of over 100, Panache bills itself as "the Macintosh Human Resource." Panache's specialists will train corporate Macintosh users in small groups or on a one-to-one-basis. Panache can be reached at phone 03-54897633, fax 03-5489-7634.

Wired magazine

Yes, the rumors are true. Wired magazine in the US has signed a deal with Dohosha and will be publishing a Japanese-language edition of the magazine starting in November. Japanese youth will be changed forever.

Thomas Caldwell is managing director of CFI Associates KK, managing a Tokyo-based government and public relations company, and is a two-time president of the International Computer Association ofJapan. In his spare time, Tom writes for the Japan Times Weekly and Asahi Evening News and is a correspondent for the UPI Radio Network.