Fertile crescent.

• Author: Barnes, Dick
• Position: Economic relationship between Alaska and the Puget Sound region

The long standing relationship between Alaska and the Puget Sound region blossoms once more as the personal business computer comes of age.

Archaeologists tell us of the beginnings of civilization in a land called Mesopotamia. It lay where the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers formed a vast, rich plain where city-states thrived and writing first appeared, extending the concept of communication beyond that of the spoken word. Historians have dubbed the region "the fertile crescent."

Written communication was probably the most dramatic tool for change in history, advancing the whole of human knowledge millions of times over by enabling people to share, then build upon, each others thoughts and accomplishments. The last few decades have witnessed the beginnings of the next step in intellectual evolution. With the proliferation of the affordable personal computer, the world has again changed dramatically.

Not only scientists and educators are beneficiaries. The modern businessperson now has the tools to increase personal productivity to a degree unimaginable only a few years ago. The new tools include not only the computer itself but, more importantly, the software that has been designed for the specific needs of business. It is the software that actually makes the personal computer indispensable.

Today, the world's "fertile crescent" lies along the shoreline of Puget Sound; the traditional gateway to Alaska. From Vancouver, British Columbia, you can travel south to Seattle, Washington, and in the process pass the world's best known software design firms.

Ever since the days of the great Yukon gold rush there has been a special bond between Alaskans and the Pacific Northwest. Every day ships and aircraft leave Puget Sound for points north, and many of them carry one of the region's most famous products; software for business applications. Much of this software has been designed, or customized, specifically for businesses in Washington, Western Canada, and Alaska as firms in these regions are often unique and have their own special needs.

"Because of Dexter+Chaney's knowledge of the industry and communication with their customers," he explains, "they have been able to meet the needs of our growing business. When we need something, we often find that it's already available in FOREFRONT."

MINING IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

In September of 1997, Gemcom Software International (www.gemcom. bc.ca) of Vancouver, British Columbia, introduced the first true Windows 95/NT 3-D geological and mining software in the industry. Gemcom for Windows is the first fully-integrated data management, analysis, and three-dimensional geological modeling program using this Microsoft operating system.

With true 32-bit performance, the program allows engineers and geologists to use the data obtained through mapping, remote sensing, and drilling to determine ore reserves and to plan and design mines. It combines Gemcom's most popular DOS-based programs in one integrated, easy to learn, package.

The new system allows the user to build 3-D models of ore deposits, complete with visual representation of the distribution or ore grades, and to then cut and paste these into any Windows application. The software enables several users to access and update the database simultaneously, regardless of their physical location, thanks to its multi-user open database. This saves time and money throughout the exploration process, very important in Alaska where...