News from Acorn Computers PR99/24.4.95 Acorn - Cyfrifiadur Cymraeg Cyntaf y Byd ======================================== Mae cyfrifiadur cyntaf y byd newydd ei gynhyrchu gan MEU Cymru a Chyfrifiaduron Acorn, prif gyflenwyr cyfrifiaduron i ysgolion Prydain. Gyda'r cyfrifiadur hyn gall Cymry Cymraeg gyfathrebu yn gyfangwbl yn eu hiaith eu hunain. Mae negeseuon y system i gyd yn y Gymraeg, ac nid yn unig hynny, mae hefyd yn didoli yn nhrefn y wyddor Gymraeg yn hytrach nag yn nhrefn y Saesneg. Mae ganddo fysellfwrdd Cymraeg sy'n hwyluso rhoi acenion ar y llafariaid. Dywed Mike O'Riordan, Cyfarwyddwr gwerthiant a marchnata Cyfrifiaduron Acorn, "Mae Acorn eisoes yn cyflenwi cyfrifiaduron i'r mwyafrif helaeth o ysgolion Cymru, er eu bod, yn y gorfennol, b systemau Saesneg. Mae cyfrifiadur Cymraeg Acorn yn gyswilt unigryw rhwng iaith draddodiadol hanesyddol a thechnoleg gyfrifiadurol flaengar. Dylid nodi fod amrywiaeth eang o feddalwedd cwricwlwm Cymraeg eisoes ar gael gan MEU Cymru a gellir eu defnyddio ar y cyd b'r wyneb Cymraeg." Dywed Meurig Williams, Cyfarwyddwr MEU Cymru, "Rwy'n rhagweld defnyddio ein cyfrifiadur Cymraeg newydd yn yr ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg, dosbarthiadau lle mae plant yn dysgu Cymraeg ac, rwy'n mawr obeithio, yn y cartrefi. Yn wyneb blaengarwch Acorn ledled system addysg Cymru, roedd datblygu system wiethredu ar gyfer llwyfan Acorn yn gam naturiol." Wedi'i sefydlu ym 1978, gyda derbyniadua ym 1994 yn fwy na 50m, mae Cyfrifiaduron Acorn yn un o brif ddarparwyr TG i addysg Prydain a hi oedd darparwr cyntaf cyfrifiaduron personol isel-ei-bris sy'n seiliedig ar RISC 32-did ym 1987. Mae Acorn yn cydweithio'n agos b cymuned gref o bartneriaid diwydiant, defnyddwyr a datblygwyr meddalwedd i ddarparu atebion technolegol mentrus ar gyfer marchnadoedd rhyngwladol addysg, y byd cyhoeddi adefnyddwyr. Cynhwysa Acorn Computer Group plc Acorn Computers Cyf, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH ac Online Media. Mae Acorn Computer Group plc yn berchen ar 43% o Advanced RISC Machines Cyf. Lansiwyd Online Media, adran o Acorn Computer group, ym 1994 a'i genadwri oedd cynllunio cynnyrch amlgyfrwng rhyngweithiol o safon byd. Sefydlwyd MEU Cymru ym 1986 fel uned o fewn Cyd-bwyllgor Addysg Cymru gyda chymorth y llywodraeth ac awdurdodau addysg lleol Cyrmu. Ei nod yw hyrwyddo a chynnal defnydd effeithiol technoleg gwybodaeth mewn addysg yng Nghymru, yn y Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg. Ers y dechrau, mae wedi cynhyrchu ystod eang o feddalwedd a deunyddiau cynhaliol i ysgolion ac yn ddiweddarach, ffontiau ac adnoddau Celtaidd sy'n ddefnyddiol i holl ddefnyddwyr cyfrifiaduron yng Nghymru. Trefnir hefyd gyrsiau a chynadleddau i hyrwyddo datblygiadau ac yrnagweddau newydd wrth ddefnyddio technoleg gwybodaeth yn yr ysgolion. Am ragor o wrbodaeth, cysylitwch a: Hilary Swift neu Sally Mortimore Acorn Computers Limited Text 100 Tel: 01223 254287 Tel: 0181 242 4172 email: hsw...@acorn.co.uk email: sal...@text100.co.uk neu Mrs Maggie Buck MEU Cymru Tel: 01443 841790 Acorn - The World's First Welsh Computer ======================================== The world's first fully Welsh computer has been produced by MEU Cymru and Acorn Computers, the leading supplier of computers to UK schools. The computer allows Welsh users to communicate entirely in their own language and not only provides the system messages in Welsh, but also sorts in the order of the Welsh alphabet rather than the English one. The computer features a Welsh keyboard which allows accents to be placed easily on the vowels. Mike O'Riordan, Sales & Marketing Director at Acorn Computers, comments: "Acorn already supplies the vast majority of computers to Welsh schools, although in the past these have always used English language operating systems. The Welsh language Acorn computer is a unique link between an historic and traditional language and at the forefront of computer technology. The use of the Welsh operating system in conjunction with the wide range of Welsh language curriculum software available from MEU Cymru makes the Acorn computer range a very powerful tool in the classroom." Meurig Williams, Director of MEU Cymru, the Microelectronics in Education Unit for Wales, comments: "I would envisage that our new Welsh computer will be used in Welsh medium schools, classes where children are learning Welsh and, hopefully, Welsh homes. The decision to develop the operating system for the Acorn platform was obvious given Acorn's prominence throughout the Welsh education system." MEU Cymru is a unit which was established in 1986 within the Welsh Joint Education Committee with support from government and the local education authorities of Wales. Its purpose is to promote and support the effective use of information technology in education in Wales, in Welsh and in English. It has, over the last eight years, produced a wide range of software and curriculum support material for schools and more recently Welsh fonts and Celtic resources useful to all computer users in Wales. Courses and conferences are also organised to promote the uptake of new developments and approaches in the use of information technology in schools. Founded in 1978, with 1994 revenues in excess of 50m, Acorn Computers is a leading provider of IT to UK education and was the first supplier of low-cost 32-bit RISC based personal computers in 1987. Acorn works closely with a strong community of industry partners, users and software developers to provide innovative technology solutions for the education, consumer, publishing and international markets. Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the mission to design world class, interactive multimedia products. For more information, please contact: Hilary Swift or Sally Mortimore Acorn Computers Limited Text 100 Tel: 01223 254287 Tel: 0181 242 4172 email: hsw...@acorn.co.uk email: sal...@text100.co.uk Mrs Maggie Buck MEU Cymru Tel: 01443 841790