 Figure 1 - Main Honey Bee Index.                                   

 			Honey Bees and Beekeeping

a.  Sources of Information			g.  Bee Stings and Reactions
b.  Biology				h.  Pesticides and Honey Bees
c.  Diseases and Pests			i.  Upward Ventilation
d.  Plants Important to Bees		j.  Good Neighbor Guidelines
e.  Pollination				k.  Nuisance Honey Bees
f.  Bee Products				l.  Africanized Honey Bee

			Press x for Bees Index

Perhaps the largest section of the database has to do with sources of beekeeping information (Figure 2).

Figure 2. - Sources of Beekeeping Information Index.

			 Sources of Beekeeping Information
a.  Newsletters				g.  National Honey Board
b.  Journals and Newspapers		h.  Supply Houses
c.  Beekeeper Associations		i.  Circulars
d.  Videos and Films			j.  Hints Series
e.  Books				k.  Federal Government Agencies
f.  Regulations on Beekeeping		l.  Africanized Honey Bee
m.  Personalized Information

                  Press x for Beekeeping Index

Figures 1 and 2 only provide a hint of the breadth of text information presented in this database. Graphics provide another dimension and some animated sequences are included. One sequence shows the decomposition of an American foulbrood infected older larva into a scale. The life cycle of the honey bee is also graphically portrayed in a series showing development from egg to pupae (Figure 3). Popup windows can be called from this display which describe each of the developmental stages in more detail.

The database supports sixteen on-screen colors. The picture of the ventral and dorsal side of a Varroa bee mite is made much more realistic by a bright reddish orange coloration and sense of relief in shading (Figure 4). Striking images of bumble bees and bears, among others, are also presented

Modifying the Database:

Because the information was developed for Florida conditions, there are some parts of the FAIRS Bees and Beekeeping database that do not apply to all geographic areas. This especially applies to bee inspection and plants important to honey bees. Unfortunately, screens of text or graphics in the database cannot be directly modified. There are, however, other ways to customize or add information. One possibility is through a "Personalized Information" option.

A copyrighted, but free, program called FILECTRL.COM (R), can be placed in a special subdirectory. When m for "Personalized Information" (see Fig. 2) is pressed, the program provides basic details on how to acquire and install this program. Documentation is distributed along with the program.

Other software programs can be used to extract information from the database. For example, PIZZAZ PLUS (R), a commercial program developed by Application Techniques, Inc., and other screen capture programs will send database screens to a printer or save them in several graphics formats. The figures in this paper were printed on a laser printer using PIZZAZ PLUS (R). The screen capture program that comes withWORDPERFECT Corporation products [WordPerfect 5.1 (R) and Presentations 2.0 (R)] will also crop graphics from a database screen and save them in .WPG format. These files can then be incorporated into flyers and sales brochures.

Captured screens can also be used to develop slide presentations. Several popular computer programs allow users to link screens together for presentations at meetings and/or to distribute freely in a run-time format. Run-time programs would allow users to select different sequences of screens to be displayed according to their interests. In essence this creates the possibility of creating a dynamic clip art program.

Another way to customize the database is to add external programs which run in their own environment, but are called up by menus. One version of the database was configured to call up BEETOX, developed by Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk and colleagues at the University of Montana who have also developed PC-BEEPOP (see DeGrandi-Hoffman, 1992). This option is not available in the database currently being distributed.

Basic Requirements and Installation:

The basic requirements for using the FAIRS Bees and Beekeeping Database are minimal (See Figure 5). It is highly recommended that at least an AT (80286) computer be used. The database makes extensive use of graphics and the processing speed of the 80286 and 80386 systems greatly decreases the time required for screen displays. The database requires the computer to have at least 1.7 MB of available disk storage space. More file space will be necessary if users add their own text files to customize this database. Finally, it supports use of a mouse.

Figure 5. Chart of PC Software Delivering Apicultural Information

        Available PC Software and Hardware Configurations

Program Name		Description		Hardware		Availability

PC-TEACH		Teaching Program	Any DOS Version	Va. Coop. Ext. Service or
									Authors; Only to Nonprofits

SCREENS			Infor. Generator	Any DOS or CP/M	Authors or Dr. F. Zazueta
									Ag. Eng. U. of Florida,
									Gainesville,  FL 32611-036


FAIRS			Database of 		DOS 2.0 or Higher,	AAPA, $35.00
BEEKEEPING		Beekeeping Infor.	640 K RAM, EGA	See Web Site
DATABASE

FILECTRL.COM		File Manager		DOS 2.0 or Higer	Authors, $2.00

PIZZAZ PLUS,		Graphics Manger		DOS 2.0 or Higher	Commercial
WORDPERFECT,		Word Processor		CGA, EGA, VGA		Software
PRESENTATIONS,	
MULTIPLAN		Spreadsheet

BEE ECONOMICS		MS Excel		Windows 3.1		AAPA Web Site

SPREADSHEETS:

Another method of presenting information using the computer is by spreadsheet. These programs work within a row-column format which provides great flexibility in manipulating numbers. The first program of this nature was called VISICALC (R). However, many more powerful applications are now on the market. At one time, this kind of program could only effectively deal with numbers, but now text, numbers and graphics are easily manipulated.

One beekeeping spreadsheet program, developed at the University of Florida, is presently available to the public. This program is designed to be a flexible financial model for a beekeeping operation (Sanford, 1986b). It consists of a series of 14 sheets linked together in specific ways. It was developed for use with the program MULTIPLAN (Verson 1.0), operating under DOS 2.0 with only 128 K of memory required. The fact that MULTIPLAN (R) itself has been upgraded and many more spreadsheet programs are now available, increases the potential use of this program. It was originally designed as only a guide to financial planning for a beekeeping enterprise (Sanford, 1986c). This program has been updated to Windows and Macintosh Excel and is available from the American Association of Professional Apiculturists.

OTHER IFORMATION DELIVERY:

Concurrently with development of the FAIRS Bees and Beekeeping database, an electronic bulletin board system or RBBS was implemented (Sanford, 1988). A good deal of beekeeping information now present in the FAIRS Bees and Beekeeping database was available to callers through a modem. There are no longer facilities to support this service, but other bulletin boards are presently operating which contain much of this information.

One beekeeper-run bulletin board is Wildbees BBS in California. The Systems Operator (SYSOP) continues to supply information on markets, current press releases and other information important to beekeepers. The use of graphics on this system is extensive. The SYSOP is Mr. Andy Nachbaur, 115 Paradise Lane, Los Banos, CA 93635, dataline number 209/826-8107.

The Camelnose Project is a European bulletin board system that has extensive electronic mail capability and links to the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). APC is a worldwide body of member networks dedicated to providing low-cost global communications services for people and organizations working for the environment, peace, conflict resolution, health and public interest. From any APC host, electronic mail can be exchanged with Geonet, Internet, Poptel, Janet, Bitnet, UUCP, Telecom, DASNet, Fidonet, and most other academic or commercial networks. Users can send and receive telex and send fax messages directly from the network.

A BBBS (Bee Bulletin Board System) has recently been implemented as part of the Camelnose Project by Dr. Hugo veerkamp, C. Springerstr.21HS, 1073LE AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND, dataline number (31).20.6764105. Other bulletin board systems are being established in Holland and Prague, Csekloslavakia.

The international mainframe networking community (Bitnet and Internet, often available to APCs and RBBSs) also provides beekeeping information through the BEE-L conference (BEE- L@CNSIBM.ALBYNVM.EDU). Over 200 subscribers from around the world exchange information on all species of bees through this network. Two beekeeping newsletters (APIS, published by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, and BUZZWORDS, organ of the New Zealand Beekeepers Association) are published monthly as part of this forum.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS:

The above developments are just the beginning of a revolution in electronic delivery of apicultural information. Even to the initiated, the general field of computer-assisted information management is expanding at a furious pace. New technologies are emerging daily. Several software packages employ hyper management of text and graphics. In addition, the concept of virtual reality will play an increasing role. In this context, it will be possible to literally don the eyes of a honey bee and immerse oneself in this insect's complex society for a close up and personal look.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

We wish to thank the initial pioneers of the FAIRS project under the administration of Dr. F.A. Johnson, as well as the Kellogg Foundation, for significant financial support by during its development. This is Fla. Agric. Exp. Sta. Journal Series #..

REFERENCES:

DeGrandi-Hoffman, G. 1992. Applications of systems science and simulation modeling in apicultural research, Bee Science, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 43-49.

Fasulo, T.R., M.T. Sanford and J.C. Medley. 1992. Distributing and Modifying Electronic Databases, Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Computers in Agricultural Extension Programs, IFAS, University of Florida, February. pp. 725-729.

Sanford, M.T. 1986a. A Study in Profitability for a Mid-Sized Beekeeping Operation. Circular 722, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS, University of Florida, August, 39 pp.

Sanford, M.T. 1986b. Profitability Model for a Mid-Sized Beekeeping Operation. Circular 692, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS Software offering #043, August, 26 pp.

Sanford, M.T. 1986c. Designing a Spreadsheet Program to Track Beekeeper Profitability, Proceedings of the International Conference on Computers in Agricultural Extension Programs, IFAS, University of Florida, February. pp. 246- 251.

Sanford, M.T. 1988a. Using PC-TEACH in Several Environments, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Computers in Agricultural Extension Programs, IFAS, University of Florida, February. pp. 759-764.

Sanford, M.T. 1988b. The Bee Board--An RBBS Application, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Computers in Agricultural Extension Programs, IFAS, University of Florida, February. pp. 516-521.

Zazueta, F.S. and A.G. Smajstrla. 1978. SCREENS: An Information Delivery Utility Generator, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Paper No. 87-5017, 14 pp.

Return to top of page