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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Darren Yates, B.Sc. Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Sharon Macdonald Marketing Manager Sharon Lightner Phone (02) 979 5644 Mobile phone (018) 28 5532 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc. Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $42 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 1a/77-79 Bassett Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER The technical aspects of modern blockbuster movies All right, hands up! How many of you have already seen the new blockbuster movie, “Jurassic Park”? A fair proportion of you, I’ll bet. By the time this issue goes on sale, “Jurassic Park” will have been shown in Australia for about three weeks and already will be ranking as one of the all-time best in box-office takings. I saw it just after it opened in Sydney and can state that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The realism of the recreated dinosaurs is quite incredible and the surround sound really does help the movie along. It’s well worth seeing. But forgetting all the hype for a moment, and ignoring some of the “issues” that some people are concerned about, such as the manipulation of genes and DNA, factors on which the movie is based, there is another aspect which should not escape observant readers of this magazine. For while Steven Spielberg has done a marvellous job of portraying prehistoric monsters, there are many technical aspects of his movie which just don’t stand up and I’m thinking particularly about electricity and electronics. For example, in a great many scenes of the movie, there are massive electric fences which are supposed to keep the prehistor­ic beasties safely corralled. Now I’m not giving away any of the plot to state that the way the fences are depicted is just plain silly – they couldn’t work in the way they are shown. And why do the battery operated cars which take visitors around Jurassic Park have to be guided around by two heavy rails? Haven’t the producers heard of buried wire guidance systems? In fact, there are many of these technical aspects in the film which are just plain ludicrous. You have to wonder whether anyone in Hollywood or anywhere else in moviedom knows how elec­tricity behaves when circuits are made or broken. The classic and oft-repeated examples of this are when a “super computer” in a film is somehow damaged and then sparks, smoke, flames and all the rest are emitted. In my experience, whenever a computer dies it expires quietly and then just sits there in an inert condition, perhaps accompanied by an unpleasant burning smell – not spectac­ular enough for the moviemakers. So by all means enjoy these blockbusters for their specta­cle – I’ll certainly go and see Jurassic Park again – but look for those other technical aspects which the general public never sees. Why not make an effort to spot as many of these kerfuffles as you can? It can add to the enjoyment of what is really just another monster movie. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip