We have recently released updates to four toolboxes. Here are the highlights. More details, and instructions on how to access each one can be found on the Maplesoft downloads page.

MapleSim LabVIEW Connector - now also connected to NI VeriStand. As a result, this product gets a new name. It's now the MapleSim LabVIEW/VeriStand Connector.

MapleSim Control Design Toolbox - improvements have been made to performance, functionality, and examples.

We’ve just released a new version of the Maplesoft-MAA Placement Test Suite (PTS). PTS 5.0 includes high school prognostic tests from the MAA. The idea is that colleges/universities can offer early feedback to high school students about how they are likely to do on the institution’s math placement tests. With early feedback and time to make changes, students will be better prepared, which means they are less likely to have to take (and pay for!) remedial classes that don’t even count towards their degree.

While marketing material naturally talks about new features in a release, we of course also put considerable effort into investigating and correcting problems with the product. Many of these fixes are in direct response to problems reported on MaplePrimes.  Thank-you. We recognize that reporting these issues takes time, and we really appreciate your help in making our products better.

The MapleSim Connectivity Toolbox is now available. With this toolbox, you can export MapleSim models to Simulink, including rotational, translational, and multibody mechanical systems, thermal models, and electric circuits. It creates Simulink S-Function blocks for fast execution within Simulink and real-time implementation through Real-Time Workshop.

For more information, see

Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald, Appalachian State University, and Dr. Andrew Nestler, Santa Monica College have put together a site about mathematics and The Simpsons,including an exhaustive list of all math references on the show, relevant images, and the math background of the writers. They use this material to introduce concepts, motivate students and reduce math anxiety, apparently. Aside from its potential educational value, it's fun. See Simpson's Math. eithne