Showing papers on "Personal computer published in 1986"

Touch screen form entry system

Abstract: A personal computer connected to a display and touch screen panel is provided with a form entry system integrated therewith. The form entry system is adapted to display a predefined form and to automatically display a predefined tool, such as a keyboard, menu, calculator, etc., to facilitate inputting information in a respective field of the form or chart. Specifically, the user is prompted as to which field is to be filled in by highlighting the field and concurrently displaying as an overlay (window) the tool that the user will use to input the information called for by the highlighted field. In the case where a field calls for illustratively the insertion of a name, the system may be adapted to display a menu of names as the tool for filling in that field. The user selects the name that he or she desired to be inserted in the field by touching that name. The system responsive thereto inserts the name in that field, highlights the next field to be filled in and displays the tool for filling that field. The system may also be adapted to communicate with a host computer to obtain the information that is to be inserted in one or more fields. Also, the user may erase the tool that is displayed by the system and direct the system to display another tool, such as the aforementioned keyboard.

Usage patterns and sources of assistance for personal computer users

Abstract: This study investigates the usage pattern and sources of assistance for personal computer(PC) users in twelve organizations. The study found that PCs attract new computer users and the extent of PC usage was correlated with prior computer knowledge. The most important reason for using PCs was for specific professional work. Although managers spend fewer hours than their staff using their PCs, there was no relationship between the diversity of applications and organizational position. Overall, users were satisfied with their PCs, but not with the information they obtained from the written sources (i.e., manuals, documents, and journals). The best source of information for PC users were their own colleagues and their organization's information systems staff. Moreover, "lead users" played an important role as consultants to other users.Two divisions of a large manufacturing firm in our sample introduced PCs concurrently but under different policies. The two units provided a natural setting for assessing the impact of the technology. In the division that underwent extensive planning prior to the introduction of this technology, we found that users made significantly more use of internal consulting. In contrast, in the other division, where management had adopted an "individual initiatives and maximum freedom" policy for introducing this technology, the users made significantly less use of internal consulting, approaching outside vendors instead even though they felt the information obtained from the vendors was significantly lower in quality. Implications fort he management of personal computer technology are discussed.

A structural view of the Cedar programming environment

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of the Cedar programming environment, focusing on its overall structure—that is, the major components of Cedar and the way they are organized. Cedar supports the development of programs written in a single programming language, also called Cedar. Its primary purpose is to increase the productivity of programmers whose activities include experimental programming and the development of prototype software systems for a high-performance personal computer. The paper emphasizes the extent to which the Cedar language, with run-time support, has influenced the organization, flexibility, usefulness, and stability of the Cedar environment. It highlights the novel system features of Cedar, including automatic storage management of dynamically allocated typed values, a run-time type system that provides run-time access to Cedar data type definitions and allows interpretive manipulation of typed values, and a powerful device-independent imaging model that supports the user interface facilities. Using these discussions to set the context, the paper addresses the language and system features and the methodologies used to facilitate the integration of Cedar applications. A comparison of Cedar with other programming environments further identifies areas where Cedar excels and areas where work remains to be done.

Postural analysis of the trunk and shoulders in simulated real time.

Abstract: A new method for analysing and describing the posture of the trunk and shoulders was developed and used to describe the posture of workers performing automobile assembly operations. The system used a videotape to create a permanent record of the jobs and a personal computer to perform the clerical and time-keeping tasks associated with posture analysis. In experiments using an experienced analyst to evaluate a videotape, highly reproducible results were obtained. Furthermore, the new system required substantially less time than existing posture analysis methods to analyse and reduce postural data.

Cursor controller user interface system

Abstract: Menu item selection is performed in a personal computer system through the use of a mouse device which has means to allow the user to call up onto the display a header block which performs the function of the menu bar and to erase the header block from the screen when menu operations are not required. Multiple menu items can be selected during the same menu session by using a pair of mouse buttons to generate a sequence of selection commands which are utilized by unique system software to accumulate plural item selections without terminating the menu operation.

Cellular mobile phone with a plurality of accessing telephone numbers for allowing access to the mobile phones by any one of the telephones numbers

Abstract: An adapter for a cellular mobile phone unit which converts the unit to permit simultaneous insertion of a plurality of telephone numbers. A main circuit board is coupled to a microprocessor of the unit, which board includes a plurality of number assignment modules, or NAM's (ROM's), each NAM having its own unique telephone number code. The NAM's are connected such that fifteen of the sixteen pin-connections of each NAM are correspondingly and respectively connected in series, for coupling to the fifteen pin-connections of a plug at one end of a ribbon cable, the other end of the ribbon cable being coupled to the microprocessor of the unit via the conventional NAM connection therefor. Each remaining pin of each NAM, which is not connected in series, is connected to a unique stop of a multi-position switch, so that a selected one of the NAM's may be coupled to the microprocessor in order to change the telephone number from one to another. A secondary relay printed circuit board may also be provided to allow for remote switching from one NAM to another. The principles are also applicable to a personal computer's expansion slots, where a plurality of dedicated ROM chips may be selectively accessed by the microprocessor via the same address location.

Image rendering by adaptive refinement

Abstract: This paper describes techniques for improving the performance of image rendering on personal workstations by using CPU cycles going idle while the user is examining a static image on the screen. In that spirit, we believe that a renderer's work is never done. Our goal is to convey the most information to the user as early as possible, with image quality constantly improving with time. We do this by first generating a crude image rapidly and then adaptively refining it where necessary as long as the user does not change viewing parameters. The renderer operates in a succession of phases, first displaying only vertices of polygons, next polygon edges, then flat shading polygons, then shadowing polygons, then Gouraud shading polygons, then Phong shading polygons, and finally anti-aliasing. Performance is enhanced by each phase using results from previous phases and trimming the amount of data needed by the next phase. In this way, only a fraction of the pixels in an image may be Phong shaded while the rest may be Gouraud or flat shaded. Similarly anti-aliasing is performed only on pixels around which there is significant color change. The system features fast response to user intervention, encourages user intervention at any moment, and makes useful the idle cycles in a personal computer.

The role of elaborations in learning a skill from an instructional text.

Abstract: In these studies, we examined the role of elaborations for subjects learning a procedural skill (viz., using a personal computer) from an instructional text. In Experiment 1, we compared two sources of elaborations: those provided by the author and those generated by learners while reading. In the latter condition, subjects were given advance information about the tasks they were to perform so that they would generate more specific task-related elaborations while reading. Each source of elaborations facilitated skill performance. This result contrasts with results of the past experiments testing declarative knowledge in which author-provided elaborations were found to hurt performance. In Experiment 2, the author-provided elaborations were classified into those illustrating the syntax of the operating system commands and those explaining basic concepts and their applicability. Syntax elaborations produced significant facilitation for experienced and novice computer users. Concept elaborations produced no reliable improvement.

Technological diffusion, expectations and welfare'

Abstract: diffusion at some length. In essence we may think of there being two variables on which expectations may be formed, price and technology. Rosenberg's argument is that for a given current price and technology, the lower is the expected future price or the more improvements are expected in technology in the future, the greater is the likelihood that a potential adopter of the new technology will delay adoption. Thus expectations will affect the diffusion path. As examples, one may consider the purchase of a calculator three or four years ago or a personal computer today. One's predictions on future changes in price and technology definitely seem to impinge on the decision whether to buy or to wait. Our first task is to investigate these propositions of Rosenberg. They require further investigation because: a) the above arguments take current price as given. We need therefore to explore the impact of expectations on current prices before any definitive statements on their effect can be made. This requires an investigation of the whole time profile of prices over the diffusion rather than taking a snapshot of any one particular point on the diffusion path. b) Rosenberg's arguments suggest that diffusion is delayed by expectations of price falls or technology improvements. It does not tell us anything of the end point of the diffusion process in the sense of whether the

Local area voice/data communications and switching system

Abstract: A distributed, digital voice/data communications and switching system for connecting stations which may provide voice-only transmission, data only or voice and data. The system comprises one or more physical nodes, each serving (in an exemplary case) up to about 30 ports (i.e., station interfaces); nodes may be geographically distributed on the user's premises or one or more nodes may be collected together at a common location. The nodes are interconnected via a hierarchical network configuration formed of at least two, generally three, and perhaps even four interlocking networks. The first network is a slotted ring (the "regional" ring) employing coaxial cable to connect the nodes; it carries all control messages transmitted among the nodes, as well as the users' data traffic, using a frame which circulates continuously at about 20 Mbps. The second network is a "star" arrangement carrying PCM-encoded digitized voice traffic; at the hub of the star, in one of the nodes, is a digital voice switch. An optional third network provides a ring-type local area network (the "nodal ring") which connects together a multiplicity of stations at a given node. Each station may include an analog key telephone; further, a personal computer or data terminal may be connected to the phone for transmission purposes. The nodal ring uses frequency division multiplexing to support both analog voice and data transmission over twisted-pair wiring; in the node, the analog voice is digitized and connected to the star network, while digital data is connected to the regional ring for transmission to other nodes. A fourth (so-called "national") ring may be used to interconnect a plurality of regional rings, to allow the system to grow to greater size. Both the hardware and software are modular and may be distributed among the nodes. The software (firmware) comprises a number of processes (or modules) which operate independently of one another and communicate solely by means of messages transmitted over the system's rings and buses internal to the node(s).

Monitor arm apparatus

Abstract: An adjustable monitor arm apparatus for a personal computer, cathode ray tube, or video display tube monitor comprises an attachment member for attaching the monitor arm apparatus to the edge portion of a table or desk, a lower swivel member adapted to swivel 360 degrees connected to the attachment member, an upper swivel member adapted to swivel 360 degrees, a pair of arms extending between the lower swivel member and the upper swivel member, a platform adapted to swivel on the upper swivel member, and a pneumatic gas cylinder mounted between the upper arm and the lower arm for raising o lowering the platfom without changing the atitude of the platform.

Apparatus for expanding the input/output capabilities of a personal computer

Abstract: An expansion card for a personal computer includes a printed circuit board having a portion that extends through an opening in the computer so that input/output connectors can be mounted on the extended portion. The number of input/output connectors that can be mounted on the extended portion of the printed circuit board is greater than the number of connectors that can be mounted on a conventional expansion card for a personal computer. The expansion card includes an enclosure that surrounds the extended portion of the printed circuit board to provide mechanical support for the connectors mounted thereon and further to provide shielding to substantially prevent the emission of electromagnetic radiation from the extended portion. The enclosure includes a portion that extends through the opening in the personal computer so that the enclosure can be securely attached to the personal computer by a support member which also blocks electromagnetic emissions through the opening. The expansion card is electrically connected to a female expansion slot connector in the personal computer by an offset connector so that the printed circuit board can be positioned in the center of the opening.

How to Keep Up with the Medical Literature: V. Access by Personal Computer to the Medical Literature

Abstract: Access to the medical literature through personal computers is now readily available and can greatly reduce logistical barriers to using recently published journal articles to support clin...

Personal computer programs to assist with self-monitoring of blood glucose and self-adjustment of insulin dosage

Abstract: We have developed computer programs in compiled BASIC for the IBM-PC and compatible microcomputers for use by physicians, paramedical personnel, and/or patients to assist with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and self-adjustment of insulin dosage. The programs can potentially assist with patient education and motivation, and provide: a customized "electronic notebook" for storage and retrieval of information on blood glucose, insulin dosage, hypoglycemic reactions, urinary ketones, diet, activity, weight, illness, apparent explanations for hypoglycemic reactions or glucose values outside target ranges, and comments; graphic displays of glucose and insulin versus date, and of a "glucose profile" versus time of day or versus day of the week; simple and detailed statistical analyses; a legible summary of data; a facility to permit the physician to prepare a "customized treatment plan" for each patient, involving a choice of six regimens, target levels for each of eight time periods, four supplement tables (when well or sick, before meals, or at bedtime), rules to reduce insulin in response to hypoglycemic reactions or documented hypoglycemia, rules to increase routine insulin doses in response to persistent unexplained hyperglycemia, and rules when the patient should call the physician; suggestions regarding compensatory supplements and adjustments of routine insulin dosage; explanations why various insulin dosages should or should not be altered, and why various glucose values should be tested; comparisons of the insulin dosage administered by the patient and the recommendations of the program, together with explanations for discrepancies offered by the patient, to help evaluate compliance. The program is "user-friendly," easy to learn, and easy to use.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Improved programs for DNA and protein sequence analysis on the IBM personal computer and other standard computer systems

Abstract: We have previously described programs for a variety of types of sequence analysis (1-4). These programs have now been integrated into a single package. They are written in the standard C programming language and run on virtually any computer system with a C compiler, such as the IBM/PC and other computers running under the MS/DOS and UNIX operating systems. The programs are widely distributed and may be obtained from the authors as described below.

Method for applying a creative design to a fabric from a Singapore Dammar resin coated transfer sheet

Abstract: A method for creating personalized, creative designs or images on a fabric such as a tee shirt or the like using a personal computer system. The design is first created by hand on the monitor screen of the computer system. The design so created is then printed onto a heat transfer sheet. The design is then ironed onto the fabric or tee shirt. The design may also be an image, such as a picture created by a video camera.

Priority arbitration circuit for processor access

Abstract: A personal computer is disclosed having a microprocessor RESET/HOLD arbitration circuit and logic. The RESET/HOLD arbitration circuit requires a RESET signal to wait until any pending microprocessor "HOLD" is serviced or in the alternative and in the event the "RESET" signal is being processed causes the microprocessor "HOLD" signal to wait. The priority arbitration circuit and logic is essential to the proper operation of the 80386 microprocessor particularly in shifting from the "protected" mode of the microprocessor to the "real" mode of the microprocessor, since many third party application programs require the use of the microprocessor "protected" mode and require that the microprocessor be "reset" before returning to the "real" mode. The microprocessor "reset" must be accomplished by resetting the microprocessor without resetting the entire machine and without losing a HOLD request during the RESET. The computer system must also be capable of retaining a RESET request while either a DMA or REFRESH cycle is processed.

SPSS made simple

Abstract: What have you gotten yourself into? Getting started Taking a first look at your data Transforming variables and labeling output Crosstabulations of two or more variables Comparing means Correlations and scattergrams Comparing years Examining combined effects of many independent variables: multiple regression Multivariant comparison of means: analysis of variance and multiple analysis of variance Discriminant function analysis Log-linear models Factor analysis Analyzing 1990 census data with SPSS-x Doing SPSS-x with a personal computer.

Nonlinear Circuit Design Using the Modified Harmonic Balance Algorithm

Abstract: A modification to a harmonic balance algorithm allows the nonlinear analysis of circuits driven by two nonharmonically related input frequencies. The algorithm was implemented on an IBM AT Personal Computer. Three examples are presented to illustrate the analysis. The first is a novel wide-band FET frequency doubler that achieves an average conversion loss of 3.5 dB over the 8-16-GHz output band. The second example illustrates a technique used in the design of a C-band power amplifier in which third-order intermodulation distortion was reduced by 8 dB with two tones of 34 dBm each at the output. The final example illustrates the gain suppression of a smaller tone in the presence of a larger one of slightly different frequency in a limiting amplifier. Simulations agree with measurements in which 2.5-dB gain suppression was observed in a 2-GHz FET feedback amplifier driven into saturation.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring cardiovascular regulation using heart rate power spectral analysis

Abstract: A patient monitor (4 ) having an electrocardiographic signal source (2) and an electroplethysmographic respiratory signal source (3) provides inputs to an ECG trigger circuit (5) and an analog-to-digital interface respectively which in turn provide data and control signals to a personal computer (7) programmed to automatically correct the data for artifacts and analyze the spectral densities of the signals which are then shown on display (9).

An IBM PC based large-vocabulary isolated-utterance speech recognizer

Abstract: The Speech Recognition Group at IBM Research in Yorktown Heights has designed a real-time, isolated-utterance speech recognizer for natural language with a 5,000-word vocabulary based on the IBM Personal Computer (PC) AT model and two IBM Signal Processors realized in VLSI technology. The enrollment period for a new user is approximately 20 minutes. The basic vocabulary is chosen from the most common words in several collections of documents such as office memoranda and business letters. The system supports spelling and interactive personalization to augment this vocabulary. Signal processing, vector quantization, and acoustic matching algorithms are programmed on the IBM Signal Processors which fit into the PC AT chassis. The PC AT controls the Processors and implements the decoder stack search and the language model, as well as the application-specific interface. The modular architecture of the design is expandable to a 20,000-word vocabulary system by the addition of two more IBM Signal Processors housed in a PC Expansion Unit.

Self-contained hand-held ultrasonic instrument for ophthalmic use

Abstract: Disclosed is a completely portable, hand-held digital ultrasonic instrument about the size and shape of an ordinary pen. The housing is contoured such that it can be easily grasped in the manner of a writing pen. An activation button is located on the interior dorsal surface in close approximation to the index fingertip of the user. A liquid crystal display provides a digital readout of a thickness measurement on the barrel of the instrument housing. The instrument incorporates a 10 MHz or 20 MHz solid phase piezoelectric transducer, a microprocessor, a gate array, a hybrid analog circuit, a liquid crystal display, batteries and a removable battery cover. The 20 MHz transducer is used to measure corneal thickness and is attached to a swan neck connector which is attached to the instrument housing. The 10 MHz transducer is used for measuring axial length and it is attached to a truncated conical connector which is also attached to the instrument housing. In addition, a pinjack connector is available to link the unit to other electronic media such as a microcomputer, personal computer, or printer.

Copy protection for computer discs

Abstract: A copy protection system for computer discs in which a key sequence of 1101 in a copy protection section of the program is deliberately rendered ambiguous by repeatedly recording a word containing that sequence while gradually shifting the phase of the transition forming the central "1" of the sequence until the sequence becomes 1011. When this series of words is repetitively read, successive reads will be inconsistent with one another. The gradual phase shift cannot be reproduced if the disc is copied on a standard personal computer, so that the inconsistency on successive readouts will not be present in a copied disc. The program is so designed that it cannot run unless inconsistencies are detected in the copy protection section of the program. The provision of "1"s on each side of the central, variable two-bit sequence prevents spurious loss of synchronization on the copied disc which could be interpreted as an inconsistency. Alternative methods of creating synchronization-preserving ambiguities are disclosed using off-center recording of copy protection data.

Message taking and retrieval system

Abstract: A system for taking and retrieving telephone messages. The system is used with a PBX (10) and includes a central computer (20), operator stations (28) for taking telephone messages, and retrieval stations (36) permitting retrieval of messages either locally or via a telephone call. The central computer includes a disk drive (38) and is connected via a RS 232 link (22) to the PBX. Information about parties having telephones connected to the PBX and messages in ASCII codes for those parties are stored on the disk drive. Each operator station includes a personal computer (24) which is connected by an adapter (30) to a telephone line (14) from the PBX and by a data link (26) to the central computer. The personal computer has a keyboard and display. When a call is forwarded to an operator station, the central computer provides information about the caller to the PC, which displays it on the station display. Messages for the caller are entered using the PC keyboard and forwarded by the PC to the central computer. Each retrieval station contains a PC (24) with keyboard and display which is connected by an adapter (30) to a telephone line (14) from the PBX and by a data link (26) to the central computer. When a message is stored in the central computer for a callee, that fact is indicated on the display. A message may be retrieved either by means of the keyboard or by means of a telephone call to the retrieval station. In both cases, the retrieval station retrieves the message from the disk and in the latter case, the retrieval station provides the message over the phone line by converting the stored message to voice signals.

Numerical Derivatives and Nonlinear Analysis

Abstract: For many years it has been an article of faith of numerical analysts that the evaluation of derivatives of complicated functions should be avoided. Derivatives were evaluated using finite differences or, more recently, using symbolic manipulation packages. The first has the disadvantage of limited accuracy. The second has disadvantages of being expensive and requiring considerable computer memory. The recent developments described in this text allow the evaluation of derivatives using simple automatic derivative evaluation subroutines pro grammed in FORTRAN or BASIC. These subroutines can even be programmed on a personal computer. The concept for the evaluation of the derivatives was originally developed by Wengert over 20 years ago. Significant im provements have been made in Wengert's method and are utilized in this text. The purpose of this text is to familiarize computer users with a simple and practical method for obtaining the partial derivatives of complicated mathematical expressions. The text illustrates the use of automatic deriva tive evaluation subroutines to solve a wide range of nonlinear least-squares, optimal control, system identification, two-point boundary value problems, and integral equations. The numerical values of the derivatives are evalu ated exactly, except for roundoff, using simple FORTRAN or BASIC sub routines. These derivatives are derived automatically behind the scenes, from the equivalent of analytical expressions, without any effort from the user. The use of costly software packages is not required."

Infrared light scattering tomography with an electrical streak camera for characterization of semiconductor crystals

Abstract: An electrical streak camera has been developed for IR imaging. Integration for noise reduction and subtraction of dark current were successfully performed using a 16‐bit personal computer, improving the signal‐to‐noise ratio of a PbO–PbS visicon for IR detection. In this paper, the camera was applied to infrared light‐scattering tomography for characterization of semiconductor crystals such as GaAs, InP, and CdTe crystals. In this streak camera, the IR detector can be replaced by a photodiode array such as HgCdTe, to detect even much longer wavelength radiation, which will be useful to study some electronic centers in semiconductors.

Reprogrammable cartridge memory with built-in identification circuitry and programming method

Abstract: A reprogrammable plug-in semiconductor memory cartridge for use in a personal computer system, the cartridge being reprogrammed without removing the circuitry from the cartridge. The cartridge uses a keying-locking circuitry, such as a resistor-capacitor circuit having a unique time constant which must be detected by a cartridge programming system before allowing the programming operation to start. Thus access to a programming system program library is limited only to cartridges having the above-mentioned keying-locking circuitry. A cartridge retailer maintains a master program library and a limited number of such blank cartridges rather than maintaining a large inventory of programmed cartridges.