Hard Copy Output Research Articles

An automatic system for chromosomal analysis applied to prenatal diagnosis

Computer-assisted metaphase analysis for prenatal diagnosis can be economically performed by a preexisting hardware-software system. The program can be run by technician-level (i.e. nonspecialist) personnel who can opt for the automatic operational mode for good quality metaphases or for the semimanual mode for problem metaphases (numerous superpositions, artifacts, etc.). The karyotype can be obtained in conversational mode. Hardcopy output is available for all modes.

Computer graphics with hidden surfaces—GRAPHS

The general subject of computer graphics output display and the hidden-surface representation of a three-dimensional group of objects has been approached from a variety of mathematical and software techniques over the past several years. The overall goal of the GRAPHS development effort is to provide a comprehensive, user-oriented, digital computer graphics capability which addresses 3-D models consisting of linear, planar, space curve and contoured surface patch elements. The perceptual benefits of pictorial and engineering layout display of geometric data sets is directly applicable to a wide variety of computer-aided design and analysis activities. The key to this analytic approach is a highly-accelerated sorting algorithm which applies the principles of object independence, depth priority zoning and edge coherence in a generalized perspective coordinate transformation. Both orthographic and point perspective scope display and hardcopy output capabilities are provided in the current model.

Implementation of a low-cost dual voice-response system (DUVO)

A low-cost stand-alone voice-response system (DUVO) for biomedical applications is described. The system combines a touch-tone decoding input unit with a central microprocessor and taped and synthetic voice-generating devices. The inclusion of the microprocessor permits the DUVO unit to initiate and maintain contact with a larger central time-shared computer. It also makes it possible to format all input and output messages to the individual requirements of the central computer. Thus, the DUVO appears as a standard remote terminal to the central processor and requires no modification of the main computer system. The DUVO unit has been applied in a wide variety of medical applications where the input vocabulary is limited and hard-copy output is not required. Since any standard touch-tone telephone can now serve as a computer terminal, a number of existing computer applications to medicine can now be made more universally available and cost effective.

The line drawing editor:Schematic diagram editing using pattern recognition technique

A computer program, the Line Drawing Editor (LDE), that alIows convenient modification of computer representations of simple line drawings has been designed and implemented. The distinguishing feature of the LDE from the multitude of interactive graphics programs that accomplish the same function is the use of a computer controlled TV camera for input and program control rather than conventional interactive input devices such as light pens or data tablets. A graphical editing language allows the LDE user to indicate, by marking the drawing in appropriate fashion, the changes that are to be made. The drawing, which was generated on a hard-copy output device, with the added edit information, is placed in front of the camera. In successive phases the LDE computes a two-dimensional homogeneous transformation relating the viewed drawing and its computer description, locates the lines added to the drawing, parses the added lines according to the edit language, and finally uses this information to update the drawing description. The edit functions available are move, delete, copy, addition of lines, and addition of drawing symbols from a library.

A new portable centrifugal analyzer with expanded versatility.

Developments in solid-state electronics have resulted in the fabrication of a prototype portable instrument with expanded analytical versatility and the capability to operate from 110 V ac or a rechargeable battery pack. The analyzer, contained in an 18 x 11 x 12-in. box and weighing 55 lb, utilizes a self-contained microprocessor to control a number of analyzer functions as well as to perform data acquisition and analysis. Hardcopy output is produced by an integral thermal printer. A number of analysis options are available including determination of reaction rate by linear regression analysis. Temperature control is maintained at one of three set points (25, 30, or 37/sup 0/C) by means of a thermoelectric heat pump located in the rotor holder. A clutch-brake assembly incorporated in the rotor drive system enables the rotor to be accelerated to 80 percent of run speed within 100 ms. Utilization of a parallel-channel rotor and a high-resolution, 2 MHz clock enables reactions to be monitored within 100 ms of solution transfer. A maximum of 99 observations may be acquired at variable intervals, the minimum being 1 observation per revolution at 4000 rpm (one observation consists of measurements of dark current and transmission or fluorescence signals frommore » 17 cuvets). The drive system, rotor speed, and the clutch-brake are controlled by the microprocessor and automatically synchronized with data acquisition. Other analyzer operations currently under control of the microprocessor include the selection of preamplifier gain, transmission filters, and primary and secondary filters for fluorescence. The system is described and its various analytical capabilities are evaluated.« less

Interactive displays in tactical command and control

The tactical command and control systems environment has evolved to the state such that for any non-trivial scenario that can be postulated by mission analysts, the tactical commander will most likely become saturated by the sheer magnitude of the data and the options which can be made available to him. This situation prevails equally for all platforms—air, subsurface, surface and shore. Providing the tactical commander with the information he needs in a form which enhances his comprehension and facilitates his ability to make decisions in a timely and effective manner is the most important problem facing the command and control system architect and designer. It is universally agreed that the man-machine interaction in command and control is the critical parameter to be optimized. The ability of the command and control operator to interact directly with the tactical data base represents the single most important design requirement to achieve this optimization. With such a capability, an operator aided by an interactive display can access all elements of the tactical data base, can query the system to provide and display up-dated information on any aspect of the tactical environment, can evaluate a priori the probabilistic outcomes of choices of actions which are available and can modify easily the form of the information presented to concentrate on those parameters of greatest interest or concern. This is consistent with forecasts of command and control needs over the next decade which unanimously point to increased reliance on interactive processing and display to facilitate on-line, real-time data management and display, decision-making, data entry and reduction, simulation, resource allocation and deployment and overall force coordination and management. Trends in display technology and in the technologies supporting man-machine interactions point to increasing capabilities for interactive tactical display systems. Improved display devices, better engineered keyboards, light pens, track balls, etc., voice entry techniques, “smart” terminals with processing performed at the display and better hard-copy output represent major technological thrusts which support the projected needs of the tactical command and control system user. These developments range from hand-held interactive display terminals which could be used in the field by individual elements of the Army or Marine Corps to group viewing displays for application on shore or on platforms such as aircraft carriers. This paper describes some of these new directions in display technology with a view toward their expected impact upon the design and operational capability of tactical command and control systems.

A summary of graphics terminal requirements based on application studies

Decreasing costs of graphics hardware, improvements in graphics software, and establishment of online data bases are increasing the interest in computer graphics. For new applications of computer graphics to be developed and used, the graphics terminal must meet the requirements of users and applications. Because many of the users will be nonprogrammers and the interactions will involve pictures, the applications are significantly different from those currently supported by batch computing or alphanumeric terminals. Studies of users, applications, and implementations of interactive computer graphics systems have resulted in thirty specific requirements for the display screen, the associated hardware for input, output, processing and storage, the interaction rates, the terminal packaging, and the support of the applications programmer. Comparison of existing graphics terminal alternatives in terms of the requirements indicates that eighteen of the thirty requirements are provided inadequately. Comparison of the relative importance of the requirements for different classes of applications indicates that color, image mixing, hard copy output, portability, upward compatibility, and reduced reflection, glare, and noise would be the most useful terminal improvements for developing new applications of computer graphics.

The line drawing editor, an experiment in computer vision

A computer program, the Line Drawing Editor (LDE), that allows convenient modification of computer representations of simple line drawings has been designed and implemented. The distinguishing feature of the LDE from the multitude of interactive graphics programs that accomplish the same function is the use of a computer controlled TV camera for input and program control rather than conventional interactive input devices such as light pens or data tablets. A graphical editing language allows the LDE user to indicate, by marking the drawing in appropriate fashion, the changes that are to be made. The drawing, which was generated on a hardcopy output device, with the added edit information is placed in front of the camera. In successive phases the LDE computes a two dimensional homogeneous transformation relating the viewed drawing and its computer description, locates the lines added to the drawing, parses the added lines according to the edit language and finally uses this information to update the drawing description.

Computer searching of the Jcpds powder Diffraction File

Jackson Laboratory is using computer searching of the powder diffraction file on an “in-house” IBM 365/65 computer for about 1000 searches per year. This paper will discuss our experiences with the search program.A Philips Automatic Powder Diffractometer (APD), modified to communicate with an XDS Sigma 5 computer collects the data. A program in the Sigma 5 provides both hard copy output and a computer deck of punched cards for input to the JCPDS search program.The JCPDS search program is indispensable for our large volume of samples . The majority of these samples are corrosion products which generally have “broad peaks, and frequently, preferred orientation.

A simple electrode to record fetal EEG for optimal signal analysis

A simple EEG electrode for Intrauterine use In the human fetus is described. The stainless steel screw electrode possesses low noise characteristics, is constructed from commercially available material, and is easily attached to the fetal head during labor. Principles of optical signal analysis as an improved method of spectral analysis of the fetal EEG are also presented. The optical system provides visual display and hard copy output of the fetal EEG.

AN ELECTROSTATIC PRINTER DISPLAY FOR COMPUTERIZED SCINTISCANS

An electrostatic printer is a digital computer output device that combines the capabilities of rapid alphanumeric printing and, using suitable software, full plotter-like graphics.It can also be used to produce good simulated shades of gray for the display of scintiscan data.That these three forms of hard copy output can be made by a single peripheral makes an electrostatic printer a desirable piece of equipment in a nuclear medicine and computer complex.

The Value of Hard Copy Output in Computer‐Administered Programmed Instruction

Three groups of university students were exposed to the same computer‐administered programmed instruction in numerical differentiation with different degrees of access to the output from the typewriter terminal. Analysis of covariance showed no significant difference on post‐test scores between students who were allowed to keep the output and those who were not, nor between those students who could look back during the session at previous output and those whose view was restricted to the most recent output. This evidence lends partial support to the conclusion that character display terminals for computer‐administered programmed instruction are not necessarily enhanced by the provision of a feature for the production of hard copy.

A Computer Controlled Automatic System for Measuring the Conductivity and Hall Effect in Semiconducting Samples

A unique computer controlled automatic system for measuring the conductivity and Hall effect in semiconducting samples is described. The system features a small process control computer which runs a temperature programmable liquid helium Dewar, a magnet, and a data acquisition system. Fifty temperature points can be preprogrammed in any desired distribution over the range 4.2–400 K. The control computer ensures that the system is virtually foolproof in terms of operator blunder and system malfunction. Data acquisition is on punched paper tape with hard copy output. Data, converted from paper tape to cards, are analyzed by a high speed computer. Turnaround times (from sample loading to full analysis of data) of as low as 6 h have been achieved.

The electrostatic storage display tube

The electrostatic storage display tube is a special vacuum tube which combines the intrinsic charge-storage property of a dielectric membrane with the high-speed high-resolution capability of a newly developed electron gun and an independent optical system to provide bright high-contrast large-screen displays. Writing and recording functions have been completely separated from the actual display function, thus providing several advantages over conventional storage display tubes. The same tube may be used for either theater-size displays or hard-copy outputs on photosensitive media. Four phases of the tube are covered in this paper: its basic characterstics, construction, applications, and preliminary speculations on reliability.