Microcomputer Network Research Articles

The ELSA control system

The architecture of the ELSA control system is developed as a hierarchical, distributed microcomputer network. The ELSA FEL is divided into subsystems, each one having its own microcomputer to operate and control only the equipment within that system. Control functions are divided into two levels: supervisor and local. This article describes the hardware and software architectures of the ELSA control and data acquisition system.

A very large PC LAN as the basis for a hospital information system

Brigham and Women's Hospital is converting its financial, administrative and clinical information systems from a mini-computer environment to a platform based on MUMPS and a network of several thousand personal computers. This article describes the project rationale and status and provides an overview of the architecture of the new system. The initial results of the project indicate that the personal computer network can provide large amounts of processor power and storage at costs per unit of power and storage that are several times less expensive than the minicomputer environment. The performance of the converted Accounts Payable system indicates that the architecture can deliver acceptable performance.

Decision Making in an Automated Environment: The Effects of Anonymity and Proximity with a Group Decision Support System*

Recent advances in information systems technology have made it possible to support the work of interacting groups using networked personal computers. A laboratory experiment was conducted using a group decision support system to evaluate effects of anonymity and proximity on group process in automated group problem solving. Twenty groups of four persons each performed an idea‐generating task using an interactive electronic brainstorming program. This experiment's main findings were: (1) Group members working anonymously and apart generated more comments. (2) Working in the same room increased satisfaction. (3) Highest levels of perceived system effectiveness were reported under anonymity.

Key distribution system for mail systems using ID-related information directory

A key distribution system suitable for mail systems is presented. It realizes a secure cryptosystem that is convenient for users and, moreover, can be easily implemented in present computer networks. The system uses a public directory, which contains each user's ID-related information, but is strong against forgery. A sender generates a key and key information which depends on the receiver, and sends the key information along with the encrypted message. Only the intended receiver can obtain the common key from the key information and decrypt the message. He can also convince himself that the sender is authentic. Since a random number is used in generation of a key and its information, keys are different in every mail item. The paper further discusses the implementation of the proposed system on an existing personal computer network. For faster execution, a digital signal processor is adopted. A modular algorithm suitable for the processor is presented.

The development of a prototype computerised management information system for a mixed enterprise farm

The design and implementation of a prototype computerised management information system for a large mixed enterprise farm is described. The prototype was developed for the 600-ha farm run by University College Dublin comprising dairy, beef, sheep, pigs and arable crop production. Each enterprise performs both as a commercial unit and a research and educational facility, and is managed by academic staff. A farm manager has operational control of the whole farm, and each enterprise is serviced centrally from a farm office. This paper outlines the major management information requirements on the farm and the information system developed to satisfy them. Specific methods for unifying common information processes and structures for recording and analysing research-oriented data are detailed. The system was coded in COBOL and implemented on a minicomputer on an experimental basis. An alternative approach using a network of microcomputers was explored by taking the information subsystem of one enterprise and using a microcomputer-based database software package, dBaseIII+, to implement the module design. It was concluded that for a mixed enterprise farm the best approach is to use microcomputer-based information systems for each enterprise, integrated via a network into an overall management system. The requirements of such a system and the potential for upgrading with other hardware and software are discussed.

特集 第７回水郷水都大会より 環境教育とパソコンネットワークシステム 水質調査を柱とした環境教育と環境を主題としたパソコン通信（エコネット）の世界

特集 第７回水郷水都大会より 環境教育とパソコンネットワークシステム 水質調査を柱とした環境教育と環境を主題としたパソコン通信（エコネット）の世界

A personal computer network system for equitable allocation of cadaver organs

We developed a personal computer network system for the equitable allocation of cadaveric organs. This network consists of a host computer (IBM PS55 model 5570 T) and various kinds of personal computers manufactured by many different computer makers in Japan. The merits of our personal computer network include lower cost and an easy access to the host computer from all the centres participating in this network while using their own favourite personal computers. Among the programs made for allocating cadaveric organs, we present in this paper the program for livers. This program was developed with a modified version of the logic developed by Starzl et al. The grade modification for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in the United States was used as the basis for classification of medical urgency. Our program weighed the factors of medical urgency, compatibility of blood group and waiting time. Distance factors were omitted because of the smaller area of the network compared to that of UNOS. This computer network would be linked to other computer networks in creating a national organ procurement and transplant network in Japan, in order to help them to catch up with other advanced transplant countries. Such an equal and objective computer system should allow organ transplantation to become more widely accepted.

Trends in Computer Instruction in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo Part 2: Microcomputer Instruction in First Year

Following an evaluation of undergraduate computing requirements in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo (see Part 1 of this paper), students in Mechanical Engineering were ‘strongly recommended’ to purchase their own microcomputers. To complement this recommendation, introductory lectures in microcomputer basics were presented in the autumns of 1987 and 1988 to all first-term general engineering (includes civil, computer, electrical, geological and mechanical) and chemical engineering students as part of existing courses on engineering concepts. The introduction included hands-on experience on the *WATSTAR microcomputer network during a two-hour tutorial in the first week, followed during the term by eight lectures on microcomputer hardware, selected software, and some engineering applications of microcomputers. Wordprocessor and spreadsheet software were taught in sufficient detail for students to use them for some of their course assignments. A survey of students in December 1987 indicated that the microcomputer lectures had been well received. Further, in their second term at university, students of both years exhibited a significant increase in familiarity and acceptance of microcomputers. For example, second-term computer language courses in FORTRAN and PASCAL were completed with fewer late assignments and significantly fewer failures. A further benefit to engineering students was the ability of all students to utilize more effectively microcomputer software during the first work term of their cooperative or thin sandwich program.

A comprehensive microcomputer network program for histopathology

For a small hospital with a limited budget, a stand-alone histopathology microcomputer network may be more valuable to the pathologist than one running off the hospital's main computer. In return for sacrificing the limited benefit of screen reading of pathology reports in the wards, one receives the great advantage of more rapid retrieval of disease data. Commercial relational database programs for microcomputers can now achieve nearly all the power of a minicomputer program, with more versatility. Using an application developed on such software, we now have 30,000 pathology reports entered, from which we can retrieve a list of pathology numbers, with patients' names, age, sex, disease, and site, for any diagnosis in 3-5 seconds. The application includes full biopsy reports for doctors and wards, autopsy final diagnoses, computer-assisted Snomed coding, outside consultations, literature abstracts, daybook printing, workload statistics and billing codes and charges, and a cytology module has been added for another hospital. Moreover, the interested pathologist can easily make his own alterations to menus, entry screens, fields, and screen listing or printout formats.

Experimental phased array radar ELRA with extended flexibility

An update of a phased array radar project with the experimental system ELRA (electronic steerable radar) is given with respect to the extended and improved possibilities for performing measurements and evaluations for different types of radar operation. The variability of waveforms for solid-state transmitters is described. Flexible control of multifunction operation with various search and localization tasks is achieved with a network of microcomputers. Different means of signal processing are used for target detection and estimation. The active receiving array is divided into subarrays, and offers digital beamforming for pattern shaping and adaptive jammer suppression. Experimental results are presented.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Data base management system for assisted reproduction

A substantial amount of data are generated from a single cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), or related techniques. Maintaining an accurate and timely record of the flow of information is complicated by provision of service to many patients concurrently, diverse origins of data, and the use of donor sperm, donor oocytes, and/or cryopreservation. We have developed a data base management system for use on a network of personal computers that takes into account the volume, intricacy, and specialized features of data generated by IVF and GIFT programs. The major products of the system are (1) compact, individual patient reports on virtually all details of each treatment cycle; (2) reports on aggregate data (e.g., monthly, quarterly, or yearly); (3) automated summaries for submission to the American Fertility Society National Registry; and (4) creation of raw data files of user-specified variables that could be used for statistical analysis.

Toward Atheory of Automated Group Work

Recent developments in information systems technology have made it possible for individ- uals to work together anonymously using networked personal computers. Use of one such technology, the Group Decision Support System, is growing quickly. However, empirical GDSS research is only beginning to emerge, and, as of yet, this literature lacks a sound guiding theory. In this article we propose a theory of anonymous interaction. Grounded in social psychological research in deindividuation and sociallcognitive loafing, we explain anonymous GDSS interaction. Evidence is provided to suggest that anonymity has deindividuating effects on group process and can, therefore, influence group outcomes in several ways.

Automatic Spectral Database and Archive System for Optical Spectroscopy

With the advent of computerized data acquisition in spectroscopy, it has become possible to acquire large quantities of data with relative ease. Without a convenient method for archiving and accessing the data at a later date, a number of the capabilities inherent in these systems are unrealized. We have developed a generalized archival system which automatically archives all raw data and generates a rapidly searchable database of text information and spectral data for all spectroscopic results covering the spectral regions from 30 nm to 1000 µun (3.3 × 105 to 10 cm−1). The system executes on a local area network (LAN) of personal computers and consists of a customized file-naming and comment convention that organizes data by research notebooks, an integrated data backup routine, and a spectral database system. The data backup and spectral database consist of two programs: (1) a DOS level copy routine to back up the system and data to an optical write once/read many (WORM) drive, and (2) a spectral database program written in the Lab Calc spectroscopy environment. Stored with each spectral library entry are searchable text fields of character data parsed from a standardized comment line which is entered prior to data acquisition. This system is used consistently with three different spectrophotometers, allowing all results to be treated equivalently for further numerical analysis.

Distributed concurrent engineering computation on a network of microcomputers

A programming method that facilitates interworkstation communications on a local area network (LAN) of microcomputers has been developed. Communications are managed using a set of common access status and data files, which are writen to and read from the file server hard disk.

12 Information systems and audit in antenatal care

The obstetric record as initiated at the antenatal booking clinic essentially identifies the degree of risk engendered in that pregnancy so that consequent obstetric and paediatric management is tailored appropriately. Whether carried by the patient or based in the hospital with a summary carried by the patient (shared-care card), this record should be exhaustive, the emphasis being on quality, not quantity, of information recorded. To obviate human error in history-taking, patient management or record transcription, we believe on-line computerization of patient records with spin-off paperwork to be the only patient management system to fulfil the above criteria. User-friendly software can be designed with highly branching programmes which provide clinical action suggestions in high-risk cases. Various 'error traps' enhance the accuracy of information recorded. Such systems can be operated by medical and midwifery staff with minimal keyboard skills and are well accepted by patients and staff. Inexpensive and versatile microcomputer networks are excellent for such systems. The operational effects are discussed. Audit means different things to different people and one's view on the subject depends on which definition is selected. Obstetricians are quick to take credit for instituting audit in the form of local and national data collection exercises, such as statistics on perinatal mortality, birthweight, etc. While these exercises certainly constitute observational studies, they cannot be used to make conclusions about the quality of care. There is no sound inference that can be made from a review of information contained in amalgamated databases of hospital statistics. Audit, as properly defined, hinges on inference: the inference that the quality of care was or was not of a high standard. Descriptive statistics, therefore, can be used to generate hypotheses but should not be used as a form of audit, at least not in obstetrics. Auditing the quality of care involves a study of process. It therefore depends on the assumption that we know which practices maximize beneficial outcomes. This exercise is therefore only relevant when we have good evidence linking the process of care with these outcomes. In some cases the accepted standard against which the process of care can be compared is very obvious. In other cases, however, the accepted standard should itself be audited to ensure that it is based on sound evidence.

Experiences with a personal computer network in electrical engineering education

At the ESAT (Electronics, Systems, Automation, Technology) laboratory of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium extensive efforts have been made on the implementation of exercise sessions on a PC network. Since 1986, 13 different exercise sessions of eight different courses take place on the network for 300 students in the last three years of electrical engineering. The courses cover several aspects of electrical engineering education: linear and nonlinear systems, switching and control theory, electronic measurements, digital data transmission, etc. All the exercise sessions are menu driven and have the same pattern so that the students do not need a background in computers or software. The use of a computer permits the student to spend more time on testing and analyzing several solution methods, conditions, restrictions and properties of certain techniques, etc. instead of wasting time on repetitive calculations. An example that demonstrates the advantages of using a personal computer to solve an exercise is given, followed by the purposes of the network. The configuration of the network, its hardware, and software are presented. The contents of each session are briefly discussed and one session is explained in more detail. Student evaluations are described that indicate the success of the networked exercise sessions. >

Une banque de données sur les revêtements et la corrosion à haute température: un exemple de banque de données sur les matériaux

A survey of high-temperature coatings clearly demonstrates that selection of the appropriate coating for a specific application is becoming a challenging and hazardous task, and that it is necessary to have easy access to detailed information on the various types, the various deposition methods, the protectivity characteristics and the applicability of the available coatings. The coatings and high-temperature corrosion data bank will collect in a computerized database, background information on available coatings and high-temperature corrosion resistance of coatings, and on industrial experience with coatings and coating technology for high-temperature applications. The objective is to provide data and information to coating users in the form of either hard copy, disk for personal computer use or network on-line access through an international data network of which the coatings and high-temperature corrosion data bank is planned to be incorporated. The objectives and the implementation of the databank with emphasis on some special features of a materials data bank are presented.

A Modern Microprogramming Laboratory

A graduate computer engineering laboratory that supports a one-quarter microprogramming course is described in this paper. The new features of this laboratory include an inexpensive 16-bit microprogrammable computer board with writable control store and advanced microcode debugging support, a relocatable macro meta assembler, and a network of personal computers.

An approach to experimental evaluation of real-time fault-tolerant distributed computing schemes

A test-based approach to the evaluation of fault-tolerant distributed-computing schemes is discussed. The approach is based on experimental incorporation of system structuring and design techniques into real-time distributed computing testbeds centered around tightly coupled microcomputer networks. The effectiveness of this approach has been experimentally confirmed. Primary advantages of the testbed-based approach include the relatively high accuracy of the data obtained on timing and logical complexity, as well as the relatively high degree of assurance that can be obtained on the practical effectiveness of the scheme evaluated. Various design issues encountered in the course of establishing the basic microcomputer network testbed facilities are discussed, along with their augmentation to support some experiments. The shortcomings of the testbeds that have been recognized are also discussed together with the desired extensions of the testbeds. Some of the desired extensions are beyond the state-of-the-art in microcomputer network implementation.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Microcomputer networking in the hospital environment: powerful computing for the common man? Discussion paper.

Microcomputer networking in the hospital environment: powerful computing for the common man? Discussion paper.