Radio Shack TRS-80 Research Articles

An evaluation of a microcomputer in reducing the preparation time of parenteral nutrition solutions.

A microcomputer was evaluated in reducing the activities of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in processing orders for parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions. A program in BASIC was developed for a Radio Shack TRS-80 microcomputer. The program maintains a patient profile, prints a label, generates a worksheet for the preparation of solutions, and provides statistical data for the Pharmacy Nutritional Support Service. A direct time study by intensive samplings was performed on 24 patients utilizing 51 units of PN solution. The computerized method was compared to the current manual method for processing PN orders. The computerized method significantly reduced the processing time (p less than 0.001), saving an average of 2.61 minutes/order. This represented 41.3% of the manual processing time. The time savings was greater when two or more units per patient were ordered (3.37 minutes/order) when compared to patients who received only one unit of PN (0.76 minutes/order). At Rhode Island Hospital, this would result in a savings in time of 300 to 400 hours annually. The authors concluded that a microcomputer is a valuable addition to a nutritional support service. In addition, it should provide the pharmacist with substantially more time to engage in activities related to the care of patients receiving PN solutions.

Computer-Assisted Etching

In my experiments with computer-assisted etchings over the past eight years I have tried to harness the graphic potential of available computers to the traditional art of fine printing, without sacrificing the refined beauty of gravure on rag paper. I have tried to integrate computer functions with the functions of engraving, aquatint, monotype, and other hand techniques in enhancement of a complex, figurative, lyrical style. The completed prints display little of the geometry usually associated with 'computer graphics'. Employing principles of metamorphosis, I have used the computer for codification, development, transformation, and composition of visual images. With the technology available to me-a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP10 computer with display, later a 'home computer', the Radio Shack TRS80 micro-computer and dot matrix Microline 80 printer, a Calcomp plotter, a Varian electrostatic printer, a Thermofax machine, a copy camera and darkroom, Revere photo-sensitive etching plates and chemicals, and an etching studio with press-I am able to process ideas through several steps into fine intaglio prints. I rely on graphics programs of three types: edge-finder programs, dot matrix programs for letter type, and drawing programs. In the first two kinds of programs a video camera directed by a PDP10 computer shoots artwork, objects or type fonts. The value information of the video input is digitized and processed to a linear codification suitable for etched line. The edge-finder program finds edges of real or illusional objects and sorts out levels of contrast. It establishes thresholds for value change. Demarcation of maximum value change creates a firm line. Less value change creates broken lines. Minimum value change creates dots. The thresholds for value change 'readings' can be moved easily. The drawing program is a general purpose computer graphics package. It is used to create libraries of pictures which may be called on by other programs or output on any kind of hard copy system. It permits editing by the insertion and deletion of points, by the movement of points, or by the combination of drawings or fragments of drawings. An x-y coordinate system is established. The x-y information may be entered into the computer memory from a typewriter keyboard, or from files produced by mathematical formulas, T.V. pictures, or by a light pen. The output of the programs is stored as hundreds of short line segments which may be produced as line drawings by the computer-operated plotter or electrostatic printer. Since visual data are expressed in numbers, distortions of the image can be effected by applying different factors to the numbers. To modify an image, I set it up on a vertical-horizontal axis, establishing x as a horizontal coordinate and y as a vertical coordinate. Every line is made up of hundreds of points, each having a vertical and horizontal number coordinate. Once these coordinates are given, they can be shifted by multiplication, division, addition or subtraction. The image can undergo gradual metamorphosis; it can be curved, turned inside out,

Simulation package for multiple intravenous infusions of two compartment pharmacokinetic drugs

A program is presented to simulate the blood concentrations of two compartment pharmacokinetic drugs following multiple or intermittent constant rate intravenous infusions. The package requires the data input of some two compartment parameters, the rates and lengths of the infusions, and provides blood concentration-time predictions utilizing the principle of superposition. A unique feature of the package is the graphical plotting option, which displays the entire simulation all at once. The package was developed on a 48 000 byte Radio Shack TRS-80 microcomputer ∗ ∗ Radio Shack, Division Tandy Corp., Forth Worth, Texas (U.S.A.). . The interpreter used was Radio Shack TRS-80 Level II Basic ∗ . This program is also compatible with TRS-80 Level III Basic ∗∗ ∗∗ A G2 Product from GRT, copyright 1979 by Microsoft. . Approximately 5300 bytes of memory are occupied by the program with another 500–1500 bytes being necessary for data and results.