Development Of Microcomputers Research Articles

A Unix-based microcomputer development system

A large multi-user microcomputer development system centred on the Unix ™ ∗ ∗ Unix is a trademark of Bell Laboratories. operating system has been in use for approximately three years at Leeds, based in the Microsystems Unit. It is employed in a variety of roles: to service a very wide range of research projects which use microcomputers as specialized instrumentation; to provide first class facilities for research and development work in engineering areas, where the aim is a microcomputer based product; and also to provide a close approximation to the ‘state of the art‘ for use by reasonably large groups of undergraduate engineers and scientists. In particular the aim is to provide software tools such as high-level language compilers, efficient and flexible editors and powerful linkers to encourage a professional approach to the design of software.

Construction Management Control with Microcomputers

The development of microcomputers is changing the nature of common construction management functions. The estimating function can now be used with greater ease to simultaneously evaluate the time required to perform different project activities and keep cost data related to cost control. While this procedure was time consuming for manual computation, it could be done in a reasonable amount of time when using microcomputers. This paper discusses the formation of a microcomputer system which can perform the functions of estimating, cost control, and scheduling at the same time. The procedure makes use of productivity of a crew of particular size, the materials and the equipment needed, to generate time data related to scheduling and cost data related to estimating and cost control. The software needed for implementing the system is an electronic spreadsheet program, a data base management program and a time management program available for most microcomputers at a relatively inexpensive cost.

Microcomputers—The breakthrough in computer modelling

In the last few years there has been a tremendous growth in the use of computer modelling to support managerial planning and decision making. One of the factors which has facilitated this growth has been the availability of the means to build and use models quickly and easily, namely computer bureaux systems and specialized modelling languages. In return, computer modelling has been one of the major growth products in the portfolio of most bureaux. However, unfortunately for the bureaux, technological change is about to reverse this growth. Two factors are leading to this, viz. 1. (1) The cost of using a bureau for business modelling. 2. (2) The development of microcomputers and their associated business applications software. As a result, it is safe to predict that there is going to be a major movement of model users away from the bureaux, to using microcomputers for business modelling. This is not the only application of microcomputers which is going to affect computer bureaux, and they must constitute a major strategic threat.

Experimental Microcomputer-Sitrain 701 for Application-Oriented Training of Engineers by Way of Example of a Digital Control

In the few decades of its existence, computer technology has made rapid advances. Nowadays it is taken for granted that production installations and power stations are computer-controlled, or that files and bank accounts are administered by computers. However, up to a few years ago, in spite of all technical advances, computers were quite large and expensive machines, made up of numerous individual components. Their use was therefore restricted to applications where large quantities of data were to be processed.The situation has changed fundamentally with the development of microcomputers, constructed from one, or just a few, large scale integrated semiconductor components. Their small size and low cost allows them to take over functions which up until now have been carried out by control, testing and regulating circuits developed specifically for the application; and that not only in industrial machines, but also in equipment common to everyday life. The microcomputers are even used now to control the functions of washing machines, kitchen ranges, televisions, and automobiles.There is a whole range of microcomputer systems today, which differ in construction and in programming. Among the particularly versatile 8-bit types, the 8080 System and its more modern forwards-compatible successor the 8085 are the most common, and therefore of most interest to the potential user.

On-Line Analytical Instrumentation in the Water Industry — Problems and Practical Solutions

Water industry needs in instrumentation and control have been discussed mainly against a background of developments in the UK, in Europe and the US, although requirements in developing areas, where different, have not been ignored. Limitations of existing instrumentation, control and automation (ICA) systems have been discussed, and so too have potential improvements resulting from recent developments in sensor and system technology including developments in microelectronics and microcomputers. Certain sensor and system developments of particular relevance have been discussed in more detail, and so too have certain organisational and logistical aspects. Finally, some new horizons have been explored.

The conception and development of a microcomputer-based catering information system

The development of microcomputers with true commercial potential has radically altered the approach that is possible to the design of food control systems. However, the fact that lower costs of hardware are more easily cost-justified may tend to obscure the fact that the process of systems analysis surrounding the design of computer-based procedures is complex, especially in the case of food and beverage operations. In addition it must be recognised that computer-based procedures are unlikely to be cost effective if they are conceived of simply as ‘electronic manual systems’. A catering information system (CIS) requires the production of highly specialised software, calling for a clear understanding of the needs of the food and beverage manager coupled with an ability to exploit the functional capabilities of small computer systems to the full.

Environment-Sensing Artworks and Interactive Events: Exploring Implications of Microcomputer Developments

Art that intends to explore contemporary technological developments ideally would use the new technologies themselves in that exploration. The author describes his art, which explores various computer capabilities including the ability to interact intelligently with humans, the ability to sense and respond to environmental characteristics of the world such as time and temperature, and the ability to synthesize and recognize human speech.

A national microcomputer-software survey of current microcomputer usage in schools for the hearing impaired.

Educators involved in the production or adaptation of educational materials for the hearing impaired must be concerned with the materials' potential for use in the schools. For example, the greatest filmstrip ever produced would be worthless without the technology intended for its utilization, i.e., the projector. With the current progress being made in the development of microcomputers and software, educators must be able to answer some very basic questions concerning the degree to which this technology is available in the schools prior to curricular development. With this question as a basis, the microcomputer-software survey was developed. A sample of 158 schools for the hearing impaired was chosen, and each was sent a survey designed to assess the extent of the availability of microcomputers and the variety of tasks for which microcomputers are currently being used. Other questions of interest which were addressed include: What models of microcomputers are available, what are the limiting factors for the use of microcomputers and the software, and what adaptations are necessary in currently available software? Responses were obtained from 120 schools representing 45 states. This paper presents the results and a sampling of responses from those schools.

Computers in non-school settings

The development and spread of inexpensive microcomputers is posing major challenges for the current educational system, challenges based to a large extent on grassroots developments. While the potential for intensive use of computers has existed for a long time, the high price of computers and the continuing expense of maintaining communication with a remote central facility proved prohibitive in many cases, and almost always required some benefactor to support the project.

Microcomputers in linguistic data processing: context-free parsing

Progress in the development of microcomputers makes it possible to use these in the field of the processing of the natural languages concerning syntactic analysis and semantics. Microcomputers prove to be a reasonable medium for the teaching of linguistic data processing in university courses. This paper reports on demonstration programs for context-free parsing which were written for a microcomputer. The programming languages are BASIC and PASCAL. An illustrating example is given.

An LSI-11/Motorola Microcomputer Development System

A microcomputer development system was built using an RT-11 operating system and a cross assembler in developing a Motorola MC6801-L1 microcomputer-based stepping-motor controller to work with an LSI-11 host computer. The advantage of this technique is that we can use the familiar LSI-11 hardware and the powerful RT-11 operating system software for other microcomputer development. This paper describes how the technique works and its use in developing the stepping-motor controller.

Developing interactive graphics courseware for computer literacy

The development of microcomputers that can produce color graphics has opened up important new opportunities for educators. It is now possible to develop courseware that relies more on interactive visual experiences as new channels for presenting educational materials.

Computer‐Aided Learning and the Microcomputer Revolution

Abstract: The accelerating pace of development of computer hardware is reviewed briefly with an emphasis on microcomputer developments since 1975. The advantages of microcomputers over other kinds of computers are described. These include low cost, small size and weight, graphics, sound generation, and reliability. Descriptions are given of some innovative computer‐based activities in the United States, including Computer Town USA!, Dr Thomas Dwyer's multicomputer interactive environments, Dr Seymour Papert's LOGO project, Sesame Place, summer camps with microcomputers, Dr Alfred Bork's efforts to put microcomputers into public libraries, and word‐processing systems to develop writing skills. Finally, the principal inhibitors to effective use of computers in schools are identified. These are lack of adequate amounts of high‐quality courseware and the lack of trained teachers.

Electronic dictionaries implemented in bubble memories

Tens of thousands of Chinese characters can be decomposed into about 300 radicals. A Chinese character can be coded according to the constituent radicals encountered in sequence in tracing the character in a Z path. The decomposition and coding permit the storage of 20,000 Chinese characters in a 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sup> bit bubble memory module (in contrast to 1000 characters coded in 32 × 32 dot matrix). Binary search is used to reduce the search time to 0.1 sec. (in contrast to 10 sec. needed for exhaustive search). Tables linked by pointers (i.e. a dictionary) are used to facilitate the translation among Chinese, English, and French words. A prototype of this application is built with the INTEL 1Mb bubble memory module hosted in an INTEL microcomputer development system.

A service course in computing science presented from a historical point of view

A description is given of an introductory service course in computing science intended for students in the liberal arts and humanities in which the subject is presented from a historical point of view beginning with the civilizations of ancient Egypt and Babylon and continuing until the most recent developments in programming languages and microcomputers and their applications.

Progress in computer analysis of the exercise electrocardiogram

The potential advantages of digital computer processing of exercise electrocardiographic data include reduction of noise, compression of data, improved precision and application of optimal criteria. Most prior approaches to such processing required equipment that was both expensive and inconvenient. With the revolution in instrumentation brought about by the development of microcomputers, powerful dedicated computers can now be afforded by many exercise laboratories. There are many approaches to computerized management of exercise electrocardiographic data and various criteria for ischemia. Studies are necessary to validate computer algorithms so that these devices can be used diagnostically to best advantage. Cardiologists need some understanding of this field so that they can be discriminating users of computer systems. In addition, the results of studies correlating electrocardiographic changes with radionuclide methods of assessing myocardial perfusion and function should enable such assessments to be made from the electrocardiographic signals alone, particularly when aided by computer analysis of spatial shifts.

A Bit-Slice Microprocessor System for Teaching Microprogramming

This paper describes a microprocessor development system, which was designed for demonstrating the use of bit-slice microprocessors, for teaching microprogramming and for simulating other small microprocessors. The system contains two 2901 bit-slice microprocessors together with the necessary control and sequencing logic, a 256 × 56 bit microprogram control memory, a macromemory with associated address and interface registers, and an interface to an MDS-80 microcomputer development system. A monitor program which runs on the MDS-80 controls the execution of the 2901 microprograms. This monitor provides for loading microprograms, examining and changing both the microprogram and macroprogram memory, examining and changing 2901 internal registers, setting breakpoints, and tracing microprogram execution. The monitor also provides an interactive editor for altering microprograms. A cross-assembler for the 2901 microcode was also developed. This cross-assembler accepts inputs in a register-transfer format and generates the 56-bit wide microcode words ready for loading into the 2901 control memory. Student projects which have been completed using the system range in difficulty from a binary multiplier to an emulator for the M6800 microprocessor instruction set. The system is easy to use, is relatively low in cost, and has proven to be a valuable educational tool.

Goals for Computing in Higher Education

The revolutionary growth of information technology is creating new national issues and is affecting higher education's approach to computing. A study sponsored by the National Science Foundation is identifying the current policies and future needs in educational computing in order to present recommendations for dealing with the issues at the national level. Responses from a nationwide survey have helped to identify the major issues and to suggest some goals for higher education. These responses will be used in recommending possible programs for action. The continuing developments in microcomputers will greatly increase the already rapid diffusion of computing in education. We are entering a new stage in the use of computers in which there will be a much larger impact on instruction and administrative support. Since this diffusion is characterized by the kinds of technology available, as well as by educational structures, developments in educational computing will result from the interaction of those in government, industry, and education.

A DMA interface between a Biomation 8100 and an Intel MDS-800 microcomputer development system

An interface is described which permits high-speed data transfer between a Biomation 8100 transient recorder and an Intel MDS-800 microcomputer system equipped with an MDS-501 DMA (direct memory access) channel controller. The interface is especially useful for data acquisition situations in which many successive traces must be recorded. For example, signal averaging can be performed within the microcomputer system.

Workshop Report: Dedicated Microcomputers for Defense and Industry

Standards for microprocessors are becoming increasingly important for military and industrial market expansion. This view, expressed by speakers and participants alike, emerged as a recurrent theme at the IEEE Computer Society's microprocessor workshop on the application of dedicated microprocessors in military and industrial systems. The consensus held, however, that standards must be objectively chosen with applications engineers and user communities involved in the decisions and must be technology transparent to provide continuity and support for microcomputer development without stifling innovation.