Letters

The Net Log column in the Oct. 8 issue stated, "Before the introduction of Electronic Handbooks System solution and middleware, named dbGenie, all SBIR [Small Business Innovative Research] submissions were paper. Now 50 percent to 60 percent are electronic."

For the past three years 100 percent of submissions were electronic floppies or Internet. The number of Internet uploads are 50 percent to 60 percent. Also, for the past two years, all firms submitted cover, abstract and budget form via the Internet.

Also, your article stated, "... while the new medium has not spurred additional proposals, it helped improve their quality ..." Last year proposals went up 20 percent. This year they fell back to normal levels.



Barry Jacobs

NASA Electronic Handbook Systems Manager

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

bjacobs@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov
Any readers of Washington Technology who are updating their hardware can donate their "dinosaurs" to a local school. Computers and printers at the Pentium level can be placed into immediate use or minimally reconfigured.

If a company, regardless of size, would like to donate a computer, they will receive a letter verifying this donation, which can be used for tax purposes.

For further information, contact Dean Tistadt at (703) 658-3840. Readers can also send an e-mail to dtistadt@fc.fcps.k12.va.us, or to me at drumberger@fc.fcps.k12.va.us.

Any efforts can make a difference and should not be discounted.


Dale Rumberger

Principal, Chantilly High School

Chantilly, Va.