The Cutting Edge: COMPUTING / TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATION : High-Tech Treatment for Even Low-Tech Hobbies

Hard as it is to believe, I’m told that there are still a few people out there who have non-computer-related hobbies--you know, golf, skating, quilting, magic, history, that sort of thing. Not to worry. There are plenty of computer programs and services for them too.

You name the hobby, and there’s probably a software program, on-line forum or World Wide Web site to help you indulge in it.

Golf enthusiasts, for example, can choose from a number of programs that help them learn, refine or just practice their game. “Links 386,” from Access Software, is the leading golf game: Its latest multimedia iterations, “Links 386 CD” for IBM compatibles and “Links Pro CD” for the Mac, let you play championship courses at Banff Springs and Harbour Town. You not only get to set the characteristics of each swing, but you can also arrange simulated aerial flybys at 50 feet above the fairway.

Users of the Mac version can even play over an AppleTalk local area network, which, in most companies, would be a forbidden use of company resources were it not for the fact that a lot of bosses are golf nuts. An upcoming golf simulation game, “Greg Norman Ultimate Challenge Golf” from Grolier Electronic Publishing ([800] 285-4534), will let you incorporate your own swing characteristics and strategies into your simulated game. A Windows version of Links, called “Microsoft Golf,” is available from Microsoft.

Those who prefer the mean streets or the slippery slopes should consider the “Real-Line” in-line skating disc or “SlopeStyle” snowboarding training tool from L3 Interactive ([800] 644-2823). The discs’ instructional videos, which feature great music and well-known snowboarders and skaters, are backed up by written instructions.

There are plenty of programs for people with indoor hobbies.

“The Needlecrafter’s Computer Companion” by Judy Heim (No Starch Press) has 460 pages plus two (MS-DOS) floppy disks full of information on how to use your computer for sewing, quilting, cross-stitching and knitting. I know even less about needle crafts than I do about golf or skating, but my wife, who is an expert, was pretty excited about the ability to design and print out her own quilting patterns.

The book reviews lots of needle-craft-specific software as well as general graphic programs that can be recruited to the task. There is also a section on craft information on the Internet and commercial on-line services, including the Internet Textiles Server home page at https://www.textiles.org/.

I’m not much of a chef, but I do like to eat. So my interest was piqued as I unwrapped my copy of “Mangia: The Smart Cookbook for People Who Eat” from Upstill Software ([510] 526-0178). Not all the recipes are low on fat, but the software is. Unlike many products these days, you don’t need a CD-ROM drive: Instead of a lot of fluff and videos of celebrity chefs, this product is heavy on recipes. They’re rated by a number of categories, including cost, cholesterol, difficulty, fat, crowd appeal, kid appeal and spiciness, among others. The program itself comes with more than 700 recipes, but if that’s not enough, you can buy additional cookbooks on diskette in the $12 to $20 range.

Amateur astronomers have a heavenly selection of software programs and on-line sites to choose from. Barry Sobel, an Encino-based medical doctor and amateur astronomer, recommends “Dance of the Planets” from ARC Science Simulations ([800] 759-1642). The program allows you to view the planets from anywhere in the universe and reproduce, in real-time animation, any celestial event, including past, present and future eclipses and comets.

Schools and beginning astronomers should gaze at “RedShift” from the Learning Team ([800] 793-8326), known for its great graphics. It does real-time calculations of orbits, points within the solar systems and positioning of stars and planets.

There are lots of on-line resources for astronomy, including the CompuServe astronomers forum (Go Astroforum), Sky and Telescope magazine’s World Wide Web page (https://www.skypub.com/) and, of course, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (https://www.nasa.gov/).

Even history buffs can pursue their obsession at the PC. Turner Home Entertainment’s “Gettysburg Multimedia Battle Simulation,” for example, lets you re-enact battle movements on screen. When you’re done playing general, you can discuss the battle on-line in CompuServe’s Living History (Go Living) or Military Multimedia (Go Milgra).

Steven Klugman, a Los Angeles lawyer, goes on-line to indulge his fascination with the Civil War. “I have been able to obtain information as detailed as a doctoral thesis which allowed me, in 15 seconds, to obtain four years’ worth of research,” he says. For an extensive listing of Civil War-related Internet resources, point your Web browser to https://199.88.68.204/home.

Personal computers seem like magic to some people, but if you’re ready to really dazzle your friends and family, use your computer to learn how to create real magic.

The cover of “Learn the Art of Magic With Jay Alexander” from Broderbund ([800] 521-6263) says the product is for ages 8 to 12. Well, I must be a kid at heart, because I had fun learning to do “dazzling dice,” “coin thru table,” “the wish box,” “ball and vase” and several other tricks. There are some great video clips that let you watch and then learn each trick.

Another CD-ROM, “Magic: An Insider’s View,” hosted by comedian Harry Anderson, (HarperCollins Interactive, [800] 424-6234) is for adults and kids. Anderson provides the introduction, transitions and gag lines, but the actual magic--14 classic tricks--is performed by magician Marc DeSouza. As its name implies, the disc takes you behind the scenes so that you too can amaze, amuse and bedazzle your friends and acquaintances. Both of these discs represent the best of multimedia, with great video, interesting content, talented hosts and lots of funny antics.

Looking for magic on the World Wide Web? Check out Penn and Teller’s home page at https://www.solinas.com/penn-n-teller/.

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Lawrence J. Magid can be reached by e-mail at magid@latimes.com. His World Wide Web page is at https://www.omix.com/magid.