FNEW PRODUCTS New Products Editor: Carl Machover

Transcription

1 FNEW PRODUCTS New Products Editor: Crl Mchover Color terminls offer users multiple windows One of four color grphics terminls in series, bse HP 2700 Model 50 from Hewlett-Pckrd cn be customized to meet number of business nd technicl pplictions. A vriety of terminl options; ccessories; nd printer, plotter, nd cmer interfces re vilble for this purpose. The HP 2700 series of color grphics terminls from Hewlett-Pckrd fetures two models for business nd two models for technicl pplictions. The series includes Model 65 presenttion grphics worksttion; Model 60 decision support worksttion; Model 55 technicl design terminl; nd Model 50, n expndble bse unit. By storing vector list defining grphics imge in terminl, HP 2700 llows user to pick, move, scle, or rotte n object using locl grphics mnipultion, thus freeing host CPU for or tsks. Once dt is in terminl, multiple views cn be displyed through up to 255 windows on screen. For exmple, whole printed circuit design cn pper in one window nd detil of circuit in nor. Using locl zoom nd pn cpbilities, user cn focus on ny portion of digrm without witing for CPU to reclculte nd trnsmit vectors. The terminl's 32K x 32K-ddressble resolution provides cpbility for over one billion ddressble points within vector workspce. HP 2700 color terminls cn disply 16 of ir 4096 vilble colors on screen t one time. By rotting thumbwheel, user cn mix colors while wtching instntneous color chnges on screen. Selected colors cn be stored in terminl s plette nd reclled with single commnd. The bsic HP 2700 Model 50 is priced t $19,900, nd Model 55 nd Model 60 sell for $24,000 ech. The presenttion grphics worksttion, Model 65, feturing both HP Autoplot/2700 nd HP Pintbrush/2700 softwre, sells for $28,000. Reder Service Number 41 Service links Apple lls with grphics production center Grphics creted on Dicomed Micromedi slide composition system- softwre pckge tht llows n Apple 11 computer to be used s grphic design sttion-re recorded onto disk nd sent by phone to locl service bureu for output on Dicomed D148S film recording system. The result is highresolution 35mm color slide, delivered directly to user. Micromedi is vilble for $ Reder Service Number 40 According to Comshre, users of Apple Ils incorporting eir Apple Plot or Apple 11 Business Grphics softwre cn order slides over telephone lines nd hve m produced in compny's Grphics Output Center for $10 per slide; this fter n initil investment of $175 for Comshre's Imge Mker softwre. A communictions modem is lso required to trnsmit n order. Comshre estimtes cost of modem nd one of grphics softwre pckges to be less thn $500. To develop presenttion-qulity grphics, Apple 11 user cretes chrt or grph using his or her grphics softwre. It is stored on output file on diskette. Then, using Imge Mker, user dils Comshre's communictions network (Commnder 11) nd trnsmits file to Comshre Grphics Output Center, which produces output ordered by user in trnsmission. Imge Mker cn be used from ny of compny's regulr timeshring ccounts. A user simply types in his or her ccount number nd is billed only for output genertednot for connect time to timeshring service. Users my lso chrge ir order on mjor credit crds. There re three types of output user cn select: 35mm slides, 81/2xIl-inch overhed trnsprencies, or 81/2xII-inch white pper copies. Trnsprencies nd pper copies re produced on Xerox 6500 color copier with 512 x 512-line resolution. Copies of originl $10 slide re $4 ech; originl pper copies cost $5 piece (duplictes re $2.75); nd originl overhed trnsprencies run $8 ech, with dditionl copies costing $4.75 per copy. Reder Service Number 42

2 Softwre system converts dt to chrts upon request A softwre pckge tht gives executives on-line ccess to corporte nd externl informtion in chrt or tble form hs been relesed by Comshre, Inc. The system, clled EMR for Electronic Mngement Reporting, lets executives retrieve color chrts from centrl IBM host computer for viewing on personl disply sttions in ir offices. EMR utomticlly cquires rw dt from internl nd externl dtbses, s well s from word processing equipment nd personl computers, nd converts it to grphic formt. It cn connect utomticlly with informtion sources to updte chrt dt eir on predetermined schedule or t user request. Executives send chrt requests to n EMR dministrtor, who cretes grphs or tbles on Comshre's Execuchrt console, color grphics worksttion with cpbilities for numerous chrt formts. Chrt imges re n sent to IBM host nd ssigned n uthoriztion code bsed on content. In ddition to screen displys, EMR offers users selection of output formts: pper prints, 35mm slides, video cssettes, or trnsprencies. Output selections re sent to printer or cmer peripherls. EMR requires n IBM minfrme running VM/CMS operting system with instlltion productivity option, grphicl disply mnger/presenttion grphics fcility, nd Pscl compiler. Also needed re two disk drives, n IBM 8809 tpe drive, Comshre Execuchrt worksttion, nd personl disply sttions. Comshre will tilor n instlltion to prticulr corportion's needs. The cost of EMR softwre rnges from bout $50,000 to $110,000, depending on size nd scove of EMR, Comshre's grphics-bsed reporting softwre, lets executives retrieve stored color chrts from n IBM host computer vi personl disply sttions like this IBM client's system. In ddition, Comshre supplies documenttion, trining, nd hrdwre support nd mintennce. Reder Service Number 45 Front-end menu prompter now helps with chrt production Weiner Assocites hs nnounced tht Chrt-Prompter hs been incorported into its Tg.Prompter softwre, nd tht Tg. Prompter is now comptible with DECsystem 20s. Through use of prompting menus, help commnds, nd verifiction/vlidtion of user input, Tg.Prompter llows user community to strt producing chrts nd grphs in mtter of minutes, ccording to compny. With Chrt.Prompter now n integrl prt of Tg.Prompter, users cn produce n unlimited number of fixed-formt Tell--Grf chrts by supplying required informtion/dt. The setup for Chrt*Prompter is done using only System Editor. One-time license fees for Tg.Prompter strt t $2000. Reder Service Number 43 Digitizer provides voice feedbck pth Design Aids hs introduced tlking digitizer for use in conjunction with compny's Drfting System I softwre pckge. The digitizer functions s dt cpture sttion t which opertor cn digitize nongrid, freehnd schemtics in form tht is n sved on floppy disk of n ttched IBM personl computer. Wering set of hedphones ttched to vocl output unit of digitizer, opertor receives postive udio feedbck tht dt hs been entered. The vocl output unit lso genertes prompts for dt entry nd error messges. The tlking digitizer sells for $18,990 nd is vilble for delivery 60 dys ARO. Reder Service Number 44 November 1982 Dtcube bords give your CPU video I/O cpbility.., economiclly. Put sight in your present system by mting your with our Video Grphicscomputer bords. They digitize nd disply infor- mtion in rel time from stndrd video cmers for MULTIBUS'" nd Q-BUS- systems... without host computer intervention. Dtcube bords provide relible, low cost vision for inspection, medicl imging,robotics, teleconferencing, nimtion, etc. Avilble for both monochrome nd color monitors. See how esy it is to mke your computer see like hwk. Cll or write Dtcube Incorported, Rod, Pebody, MA 01960, Telephone: (617) Derborn D*iume Service Number 25

3 Grphics design system hs multiple disply formts Rsterivector grphics system cn be configured three wys New Englnd Technology Group's computer grphics design system, clled TechGrphics 1, cretes high-qulity imgery for wide vriety of professionl grphics rts p- The Response-280 system from Scitex Corportion is n optimized combintion of rster nd vector techniques progrmmed into fieldproven grphics hrdwre. Its three bsic configurtions-for input, output, nd throughput-re ech customizble to site require- plictions, including slide production, crtogrphy, nd film, video, nd business grphics. Tech-Grphics I is n entirely self- ments. The Response-280/DGS utomtic digitizcontined system complete with color rster digitiztion grphics disply, host computer, mss storge ing sytem is responsible for msscompct nd prepre It cn dt. of grphic nd monitor, commnd uxiliry for imges, of ll types from dt input CAD ccurte softwre. grphics dt tblet nd Key fetures of system include I K by documents, in up to twelve colors or gry IK frme buffer with output disply resolu- shdes. Soft nd hrd proofs re vilble t tions of 768x575, 640x575, nd 640x480 ll stges of processing. This 280 configurtion hs two subsystems, pixels. Built-in ntilising smooths out jgsuper ged lines, nd 256 colors cn be selected from one for scnning input- Scitex editing in plette of over 16 million, plus dditionl Scnner-nd one for rster/vector color- Scitex 280 Console. The 280/DGS gry-scle font options. digitizes engineering grphics, contour chrts, is price The Tech-Grphics I totl pckge cdster mps, mtic grphics, nd sche$40,000. kinds t front end of Reder Service Number 46 mtics of vrious vector-bsed CAD system. Unlike mnul digitizers tht receive vector input from hnd-held cursor, ResponseUser-progrmmble terminl 280/DGS receives rster input through electro-opticl Super Scnner nd subsehs verticlly mounted screen quently vectorizes it t computer speed. Input by rster scnning, being completely indepena high-resolution text nd grphics termi- dent of document's complexity, commoncombbn from nl- BitGrph terminl only frction of time or tkes ly puter Corportion-combines microprocesfor direct vector input. need systems sor nd rster scn technology. Feturing The Super Scnner nd 280 Console re 1024 x 768-pixel blck-nd-white bit-mpped driven by dedicted high-speed minidisply nd 9 x 12-inch verticlly mounted ech Peripherl equipment includes disk computer. posit mkes screen, BitGrph terminl unit, mtrix printer, mgnetic-tpe drives, sible to view nd work with n ctul-size nd multiplexer for connecting eir device 81/2 x 11-inch pge. computer. The 280/DGS coma user-progrmmble MC68000 micropro- to eir with or CAD processors by stnmunictes vi progrms cessor permits locl processing 1600-bpi mgnetic tpe. nine-trck, drd downloded from host. The terminl, Originls up to 36 by 36 inches in size re vilble with eir 128K or 512K bytes of mounted on Super Scnner's drum nd RAM, hs detchble keybord nd comes into disk storge t resoluopticlly scnned cn tht enclosure complete in stnd-lone per inch. Lrger originls lines 1200 to up tions on be plced on desktop or mounted cn be scnned section by section nd merged pedestl. by computer. At typicl size of 24 by 36 The price of BitGrph terminl with bck nd resolution of 250 lines per inch, inches $ K bytes is $4995; with 512K bytes, tkes 40 minutes. scnning Multiple-quntity discounts re vilble. The rster dt scnned into disk storge be inspected nd edited immeditely on Reder Service Number 47 cn 280 interctive color video console where, t ny time, opertor cn see digitiztion points nd ir connecting center lines superimposed on screen over originl rster input. be plotted on n optionl electrosttic printer/plotter. Finlly, perfected nd compcted vector dt is copied to mgnetic tpe in pproprite formt for trnsfer to CAD processor. Full CAD-redy drwings nd individul items of component grphics cn be stored on mgnetic tpe nd returned to system for reuse t ny time. If high-resolution, grphic-rts-qulity plot on film is required, it cn be produced in Response-280/DT dynmic throughput configurtion tht lso includes Scitex ELP Lser drum plotter. The Response-280/OS output system configurtion consists of 280 Console nd ELP Lser. The 280/OS ccepts dt from vriety of interctive CAD systems nd or sources vi mgnetic tpe in formts embrcfst proofs The BitGrph terminl from BBN Computer is especilly suited to scientific, Corportion in business, nd text processing pplictions multiple vrible-size chrcter fonts which nd grphicl screen. 90 dt must be interspersed on cn ing rsters, vectors, nd lphnumerics nd converts it into rster representtion. The opertor inspects, nnottes, dpts, nd perfects grphic dt t console nd n proceeds directly to expose grphic-rtsqulity films, redy for production, in imge sizes up to 40 by 73 inches on ELP Lser. Plotting time on ELP Lser drum plotter is independent of grphic intriccy, trce length, nd line width. Becuse of rster formt, plotting time depends only on imge's width nd resolution. The ELP exposes on widely used grphic rts line or lith film or on sensitized pper. It plots lines, screened res, nd text in single pss t resolutions up to 1800 lines per inch. Sections or overlys cn be exposed dys or weeks prt with dependble consistency of register. Vrious plots tht typiclly tke ten hours or more by vector photoplotting re exposed on ELP Lser in less thn n hour. Options include pckge for exposure of continuoustone films (without screening). The Response-280/OS includes two dedicted high-speed minicomputers, one for ELP Lser nd one for 280 Console. Ech minicomputer cn substitute for or if necessry. The system lso includes two 120M-byte disk storge units for efficient vector-to-rster conversion, mgnetic tpe drive for input nd for rchivl storge nd retrievl, nd mtrix printer. The ELP Lser is lso vilble s stndlone plotter for OEMs. The Response 280/DGS configurtion with Scitex's Super Scnner nd 280 Console is vilble for $375,000. The 280/OS configurtion, which includes 280 Console nd ELP Lser, is priced t $275,000; nd 280/DT with Super Scnner, 280 Console, ELP Lser, nd two switchble computers is $650,000. Scitex's stndrd ResponseAbility contrct includes service for ll this equipment, replcement of finite-lived prts, nd subscription to relevnt pckges of new nd updted Scitex softwre. Reder Service Number 48 Pckge provides business grphics for Wng systems A dt-integrted, multicolor business grphics softwre pckge for Wng computer systems hs been introduced by Engineering Design Concepts. Avilble for instlltion on Wng VS, Wng 2200, nd Wng OIS systems, Impct mkes it possible for Wng computer users to produce color chrts, grphs, mps, slides, nd trnsprencies directly from ir Wng computers. Impct is menu driven, fully interctive, nd cn output grphics to vriety of hrd-copy devices. According to compny, since Impct is tied directly into Wng systems, it llows users to tke full dvntge of multiuser cpbilities of Wngs. Bse price for softwre is $9950. Reder Service Number 49

4 Appliction softwre cretes end-user documenttion Sophisticted ppliction progrms, online help, nd end-user documenttion cn be creted utomticlly with Blox Grphics Builder, set of softwre tools vilble from stndrd inthe Model One/40 grphics disply system from Rster Technologies includes clipping utomtic nd rc fill, nd circle re fill, nd polygon struction set with high-speed trnsfers within viewing window. As n option, users cn select pixel mover feture tht specified res of imge memory from one loction to nor. Grphics disply system offers ppliction trnsportbility pckge to run with both 500- nd 1,000-line monitors. A multiple processor design relieves host computer from interctive menu mngement, grphic input device control, nd or relone/40 is vilble in users ppliction trnsportbility between time tsks. The Model tht cn be used enclosure 5-inch compct systems. grphics 1,000-line 500- nd mounted into or unit desktop s eir disply cn users One/40, With Model of interc number Supporting rck. 19-inch noninter512x512x6-bit imges t 60 Hz, industry-stndrd digilced, on 100-line, flicker-free monitor. Or tive devices including grphics system uses y cn elect to disply 1024 x 1024 x 6-bit tizers nd joysticks, monitor. 13-inch or 19 eir sme on interlced, Hz, imges t 30 The Model One/40 is priced from $11, line screen. $19,000, depending on configurtion. to One/20 Comptibility with Rster's Model system mens tht progrmmers cn develop Reder Service Number 50 single version of n pplictions softwre Certin ppliction res-like CAD, threedimensionl modeling, nd electricl engineering-need both high- nd low-resolution cpbilities. The Model One/40 grphics disply system from Rster Technologies gives Grphics lnguge simplifies progrm implementtion Intelligent Systems hs nnounced development of n dvnced progrmming lnguge designed specificlly to simplify implementtion of color grphics ppliction progrms. Intelligent Grphics System, or IGS, is high-level color grphics lnguge ptterned fter Siggrph Core system nd incorporting mny of its Level 1, Level 11, nd Level III fetures. IGS hs more thn 100 powerful Englishlike grphics commnds tht cn ll be issued by ny host computer cpble of trnsmitting ASCII text. It cn reside in stnd-lone desktop system nd cn be used lone or driven by or computer lnguges. The lnguge is structured so tht single pplictions progrm cn generte output on severl kinds of disply devices such s color 92 plotters, printers, nd cmers. New I/O devices cn be dded by writing device drivers. The Intelligent Grphics System runs on Intelligent Systems 8000R nd 8300R Series terminls nd desktop computers. Its fetures designed specificlly for color grphics include seven type fonts tht cn be used in ny color, size, slnt, nd orienttion, utomtic lbeling nd scling of grids nd xes, trnsformtion commnds, rel-time plotting, grphics procedures nd segments, nd viewports nd world coordintes. The price for IGS softwre for Model 8301R terminl is $895; for CP/M desktop system Model 8063R, price for IGS is $345. Reder Service Number 51 Rubel Softwre. With Blox, cretion nd documenttion of ny grphics ppliction is simplified for developer to three steps: (1) Use Blox Grphics Builder tools to interctively specify screens, menus, nd finite stte control tht drive ppliction; (2) supply ppliction-dependent ction routines (which re utomticlly linked to ppliction by Blox); nd (3) fill in descriptive text portion of utomticlly generted documenttion files. Three tbles-screen, menu, nd finite stte -re inputs tht drive Blox Grphics Builder. The ppliction developer simply drws screen, menu, nd finite stte digrms interctively on grphics terminl, nd TbleGen, Blox Grphics Builder tool, cretes required tbles from drwings. Then, using se tbles s input, or Blox Grphics Builder tools-screenbuild, MenuBuild, FstBuild, nd DocBuild- crete, drive, nd document ppliction. ScreenBuild cretes screen lyout combintions of messge res for grphics nd text output, menu res for grphics input nd control, nd working res for disply nd editing of ppliction dt. Multiple grphics displys re supported s well s multiple screens per disply. MenuBuild cretes tree-structured menus. The selection of menu item by ppliction end user cuses n ction routine to be invoked nd submenu to be utomticlly displyed. FstBuild cretes finite stte interction hndler to control interction in working res of ech screen, nd DocBuild uses key words nd presupplied text to crete online help nd formtted end-user documenttion. Correspondence between ppliction function nd documenttion is esily mintined since both re creted from sme tbles. The Blox Grphics Builder supplies support librry contining core stndrd grphics plus higher level support nd ppliction-independent ction routines, which provide runtime screen, menu, nd finite stte drivers, online help, nd control of devices, screens, nd res. The ppliction developer writes only ppliction-dependent ction routines. The first relese of Blox Grphics Builder requires DEC VAX/VMS or PDP-1 I /RSXIIM system. Severl industry-stndrd vector, rster, nd hrd-copy grphics devices re supported. A loctor device, such s dt tblet or mouse, is lso required. The Blox Grphics Builder single CPU license is $8000, with substntil discounts for dditionl licenses. Reder Service Number 52

5 Softwre links CAD/CAM systems with CMMs The Model DXY four-color plotter from Amdek is designed for use with personl or business computers. It hs 10 x 14-inch effective plotting rnge, nd figures cn be drwn using "Control" or "Bsic" commnds. The plotter's functions cn lso be expnded by dding dditionl ROM. The mximum plotting speed of unit is 2.73 inches per second, nd step size is.003 inches per step. It comes complete with Centronics interfce, four pens, pen holders, nd chrt hold-downs. The retil price of Model DXY is $949. Reder Service Number 53 BEWARE OF HEADHUNTERS. The problem with most computer grphics "recruitment firms" is creer dvice y're qulified to give mounts to little more thn list of job openings nd pep tlk. CAD/CAM Specilists is different. We're industry nlysts uniquely qulified to help tlented people tke dvntge of welth of opportunities tht re being presented in this rpidly growing field. We've successfully developed nd implemented creer strtegies for professionls in ll disciplines relted to computer grphics industry. From entry level to top mngement. Worldwide. If you're tlented professionl considering creer move, cll Dn Grms or Michel McDonld t (312) We'll help you put your creer on right trck. (All inquiries held in strictest of confidence All fees pid by client compny.) CAM The creer mngers. SPECIALISTS, INC Remington Rd.- Suite E, Schumburg, IL CMM Interfce, new grphics softwre link between turnkey CAD/CAM systems nd coordinte mesurement mchines, or CMMs, is vilble from Computervision. CMM Interfce increses productivity on shop floor by enbling users to crete CMM inspection pth nd evlution progrm on CAD/CAM design terminl for mesuring vrious prt fetures in three dimensions before ctul prt is mnufctured. The probe nd pth cn be verified by grphiclly displying m on design terminl. If pth needs to be chnged to void probe collisions or to meet inspection requirements, user cn mke chnges quickly nd interctively in rel time. According to Computervision, CMM Interfce helps users inspect complex prts more esily nd with greter ccurcy. The long nd tedious process of mnully writing complex CMM progrms is no longer necessry, nd conventionl turnround time required to crete nd test CMM progrm is drsticlly cut, compny sys. Prt coordintes, feture loctions, nd feture sizes re utomticlly sent to CMM computer for feture checking ginst three-dimensionl model in CAD/ CAM dtbse. Computervision postprocessors n produce mchine-redble progrms to drive direct computer controlled CMM. Inspection pths cn be esily documented with hrd copy nd distributed to opertors of mnul CMMs. The CMM Interfce is priced t $7400 nd will be vilble in first qurter of Reder Service Number 54 Terminl emultes DEC VTs, dds grphics nd color Intelligent Systems hs introduced n intelligent color grphics terminl tht emultes DEC VT52 nd VTI00 terminls. Running on VT52/VTl00 softwre emultion pckge, terminl uses color-coding to emulte VT100's reverse video, underscore, nd bold. A 117-key keybord provides VT100 functions. Becuse existing VT52/VT100 pplictions progrms run on emultion system without chnges, instlltion sites cn mke trnsition to color grphics s quickly or s grdully s needed to void down time, Intelligent Systems sys. The system includes Intelligent Systems eight-color grphics disply terminl with 13- or 19-inch screen, 117-key sculptured keybord, terminl control softwre, nd VT52/VT100 softwre emultion pckge. The system cn be expnded for stnd-lone, off-line use s well. The OEM 100-quntity price of VT52/ VT100 emultion pckge (with 19-inch screen) is $2465; single-quntity price is $3170. Reder Service Number 55

6 Device drivers offered for DI-3000 users Two device drivers hve recently been introduced by Precision Visuls. One driver gives DI-3000 nd Grfmker users ccess to Xerox 350color slide system for production of high-resolution 35mm color slides nd prints. Users of Xerox driver cn crete slides contining up to 64 colors. They cn lso choose eight different Helvetic fonts in light, medium, or boldfce nd cn control line thickness. Or fetures of driver include progrm-selectble bckground color, 12 different mrker symbols to identify grph points, nine text justifiction points, shielding, nd optionl drop shdows for text primitives. By linking ir grphics ppliction progrms to device driver, DI-3000 nd Grfmker users cn generte specilly formtted Xerox plot file on ir computers nd send it to Xerox Reproduction Center over telephone lines or on mgnetic tpe through mil. A license for Xerox driver costs $1000. Slides produced on Xerox 350 cost $15 to $30, depending on complexity of design. A second device driver from Precision Visuls llows users of DI-3000 grphics softwre pckge to fully implement hrdwre nd firmwre fetures of Rster Technologies Model One grphics disply controller nd worksttion. In conjunction with DI-3000, this driver will support brod rnge of worksttion pplictions, including interctive CAD, simultion, nd geophysicl, scientific, engineering, nd business grphics. Among generl terminl fetures supported by driver is Model One's multiple processor rchitecture, which provides for rpid system response, ccording to compny. In ddition, driver supports terminl's implementtion of 64K RAM technology, resulting in n unlimited vriety of colors, simultneously displyed, to crete highresolution imges. The Rster Technologies Model One driver uses binry mode trnsmission protocol for coordinte dt, optimizing trnsmission speeds, nd picture genertion, reby mking it idel for use in CAD/CAM nd rel-time high-performnce pplictions, compny sttes. The driver uses Hue, Sturtion, nd Lightness model to define colors in Model One's 24-bit color look-up tble, nd color tble chnges re mde immeditely. Furr enhncing its business grphics pplictions, driver supports bckground color cpbility of terminl, s well s "best fit" chrcter sizing, with chrcters rnging from 7 to 255 pixels high. The driver lso llows users to selectively erse by "undrwing" primitives in bckground color. The Rster Technologies Model One device driver is now vilble for instlltion on ll computer systems supporting DI-3000, including systems from IBM, DEC, Hewlett- Pckrd, Dt Generl, Prime, CDC, Cry, nd ors. A license for Rster Technologies Model One device driver is priced t $500. Reder Service Number 56 GATE ARRAY LAYOUT DESIGNERS Move into 80's with MERLYN-G, best utomted lyout system vilble: * Auto Routing * Autoplcement * Interctive Grphics * Runs on ll mjor systems * Hndles Cell Densities up to 5000 gte equivlents * Supports more thn 30 chip styles nd technologies from CMOS to STL Get fcts bout system tht is rpidly becoming industry stndrd. Cll or write: Vs Infortion Syslems Inc Blcones Dr. Austin, Tx / Reder Service Number 38 3-D digitizer provides fst input to imge dtbses A prototype three-dimensionl digitizer developed t Polhemus Nvigtion Sciences, Inc., provides fst, simplified mens of digitizing plstic models for input to computergenerted imgery dtbses. An ddition to Spsyn fmily of position nd orienttion mesurement devices, Spsyn digitizer determines x, y, z coordintes of point locted on nonconductive, 3-D model. This dt, long with orienttion of digitizer's stylus, is immeditely vilble for trnsmission to host computer or grphic terminl for storge, disply, nd interction. Models to be digitized re plced on model tble which provides nonconductive reference surfce for clibrtion nd mesurements. Digitizing is ccomplished with nylon stylus, contining tiny Spsyn sensor, designed to detect field emitted by source. The system is presently configured to mesure coordintes on model up to 20 x 20 x 10 inches in size with n ccurcy of 1/32 of n inch. Models s lrge s 50 x 50 x 20 inches cn be digitized but with lesser ccurcy. The system's electronic unit is PNSIdeveloped minicomputer which contins ll November 1982 hrdwre nd softwre needed to control digitizing opertions. The finl component, host interfce, provides stndrd RS-232C interfce between unit nd host computer or user dt terminl. Dt points cn be output in discrete or continuous mode nd in eir integer or floting point formt. Orienttion informtion cn be determined eir in directionl cosines or Euler ngles. As mny s 50 dt points per second cn be digitized nd sent to host computer or terminl. Once computerized, coded dt cn be used to interfce with stored files nd disply specific informtion in ny number of formts. Digitized models cn be rotted to remove or minimize crossover lines tht would not normlly be visulized in drwings. A computer cn be used with digitizer to identify specific items nd guide designer's stylus to ir loction. The Spsyn 3-D digitizer prototype system is vilble now from PNSI for $45,000; production line model to be relesed mid-1983 will be pproximtely hlf tht price. Reder Service Number 57 Use order form on p. 123.o. I A newly revised nd expnded third edition, intended for beginning nd experienced designers, nlysts nd mngers needing brod introduction to softwre engineering methods. The tutoril focuses on leding edge of softwre technology. Contins more thn 40 ppers mny of which re not vilble elsewhere. 455 pp. Order #300 Tutoril on Softwre Design Techniques Peter Freemn nd Anthony J. Wssermn My, 1980, 3rd Edition. Members-S15.00 Nonmembers-S20.00 k \1 J J

7 Systems cquire, generte, nd disply video imges of Busch & Lomb's CPS-14/10, 15/10, nd 16/10 drum plotters provide plotter emultion of version Tektronix 401X series of grphic terminls. The CPS-14/10 nd tbletop hs 34.5-inch CPS-16/10 (shown bove) offer 22-inch plotting surfces, while CPS-15/10 in Tek plotting surfce. All of plotters use four pens. Also, stndrd fetures offered comptibilifor CPS/10 systems-level plotters by supported re Module Enhnced Grphics ty. Prices for plotters strt t $9990. Deliveries re 30 dys ARO. Reder Service Number 58 Business softwre for personl computers supports HP plotter With GrphPower business grphics pckge, which supports Hewlett-Pckrd 7470A two-pen plotter, IBM Personl Computer, Apple 11, nd Apple III users cn crete color overhed trnsprencies or pper output in minutes. GrphPower from Ferox Microsystems drws line, pie, br, stcked br, sideby-side br, text, nd finncil report chrts nd cn generte up to four chrts per pge. Grphs cn be lbeled with titles nd xes lbels nd dividers nd nnotted with text nd pointers. Chrcters cn be individully drwn in eight different sizes with five slnts. Scling, corner points, nd or prmeters re set utomticlly with optionl mnul override. Overly cpbility, grid lines, three types of shding, nd 100 shding densities re or fetures. GrphPower is written in UCSD Pscl. It llows dt to be dded, subtrcted, multi- plied, divided, or shifted between rows or columns (up to eight rows nd 260 columns). Dt cn be input by keybord, from Pscl files, or consolidted from Micro-DSS finnce modeling files. Word chrts cn be creted with UCSD Pscl editor by progrm or by keybord entry. Chrt formts nd dt cn be sved on diskette nd trnsmitted to or computers vi Ferox's LogOn communictions softwre pckge. The GrphPower pckge requires 64K Apple 11, 128K Apple III, or 128K IBM Personl Computer nd two disk drives, nd is priced t $295. One-pen nd eight-pen Hewlett-Pckrd plotter versions re lso vilble for Apple 11. Reder Service Number 59 In-house system prints 35mm high-resolution color slides cn be used to The Tble Top Slide System from Mnge- keybord. The TTS system chrts, text disnd ment Grphics is single-user, turnkey system crete business grphs designs. tht genertes high-resolution 35mm slides. plys, nd simple The system offers slide designer over Intended for low- to medium-volume slide nd vriety of text fonts. user, or s strter system tht cn be ex- 32,000 colorsnd specil logos or trdemrks fonts Unique entire increse, needs volume pnded s An optionl Quickchrt creted. be lso cn mking tble, or desk system fits on top of to be creted on ordinry possible in-house production of bout 15 feture llows slides nd word processors. computer terminls slides per hour. The Tble Top Slide System is vilble t Slides re designed on system's S-200 rtist's console, which includes color video under $100,000. monitor, n electronic drwing tblet nd pen, Reder Service Number 60 nd blck-nd-white terminl with ASCII 96 Digitl Grphic Systems, Inc., is introducing Ct 1600 Series of high-performnce, high-resolution color grphic imging systems, with dedicted 16-bit microprocessors, for cquiring, generting, nd displying brodcst stndrd video imges. The Ct 1600 Series consists of Models 11, 31, nd 33. They re sets of bords, designed to plug directly into morbord of stndrd IEEE-696 host processor; y feture dedicted 8086 disply processor supported on bord with up to 48K bytes of fst sttic RAM nd 64K bytes of PROM. The dul-port imge memory, cn be ccessed t ny time for softwre nlysis of digitized imges. The rel-time video flsh digitizer, or frme grbber, cptures live television imges in blck nd white or RGB rel color, nd stores m in digitl form. The Ct , with three on-bord, simultneous, rel-time color digitizers, cn grb 24-bit, brodcst-qulity, full-color imge from n RGB cmer. The video disply genertes imges in gry levels, RGB pseudocolor nd RGB rel color. Or brodcst fetures re three seprte composite video outputs, djustble signl prmeters, four video timing signls, nd progrmmble genlock on incoming video signl or composite sync. The plettes of colors used for disply re defined by softwre in four high-speed buffered 256 x 24 video look-up tbles tht ssign specific colors or gmm correction to ech of 256 or 16.7 million possible pixel vlues. The contents of se tbles cn be dynmiclly updted t frme rte, nd utomtic nimtion effects re supported in firmwre. Under softwre control 510x4S0 disply window cn be scrolled, pnned, nd zoomed in rel time through imges of up to two million pixels, with mgnifiction rtios from 1.00 through in 320 logrithmic, dynmiclly selectble steps of 1.1 percent. This fst hrdwre produces specific clss of specil effects for nimtion nd humnengineered imge nlysis, which would not be orwise possible with integer zoom commonly vilble in industry. A librry of grphic nd imging functions is implemented in firmwre nd comes s stndrd feture with ll models of 1600 Series. The routines promote nimtion effects through look-up tbles nd multiple imges, chrcter nd shpe genertion, nd globl imge mnipultion. Anor feture is user-creted librry of objects nd memory prtitions for nimtion, imge processing, or rpid imge genertion. Complex I/O nd coprocessor opertions re simplified into fst register ccesses. Internl trnsformtion of coordintes speeds imge ccessing nd control. In ddition, custom routines cn be downloded from host to 1600's sttic RAM for execution by disply processor nd cn reference functions in firmwre lso. Prices for Ct 1600 Series rnge from $8000 to $30,000, ccording to model nd options, with OEM discount schedule vilble. Reder Service Number 61

8 CAD/CAM systems provide Digitizer option controls rottion of 2-D, 3-D imges Telesis Corportion hs introduced fmily of upgrdble stnd-lone CAD/CAM systems nd n pplictions softwre pckge for use in design of printed circuit bords. The systems feture Telesis Function Screen, n opertor interfce scheme tht, toger with its supporting softwre, effectively elimintes need for conventionl keybords, digitizers, dt tblets, joysticks, button boxes, nd thumbwheels, ccording to GTCO Corportion hs just dded nor "dimension" to its grphic digitizer tbletsstylus tilt. Previously, those who used stylus nd digitizer for intercting with grphics CRT were limited to 3-dimensionl direct mnipultion of imges. Now, ccording to GTCO, it is possible to directly control rottion of 2-D or 3-D imges, or pn while zoomed, by using stylus tilt informtion trnsmitted concurrently with x, y, nd z informtion. The tilt feture permits electronic sensing of mgnitude nd direction of stylus tilt with respect to tblet's surfce. This in effect trnsforms stylus into n unrestrined joystick/digitizer, compny sttes. The tilt sensing is nonmechnicl nd refore is independent of ccelertion, vibrtion, grvity, or wer. The resolution of tilt output is six bits for both xndy xes. The 4-D tilt feture is $200 option on ny size DigiPd from GTCO. It is vilble in smple quntities 4 weeks ARO. softwre for PCB design compny. TouchMgic's ese of opertion is well suited to fire nd evcution progrms, process control systems, mintennce scheduling, eductionl displys, electronic gmes, nd similr pplictions where nontechnicl personnel need redy, esy computer memory ccess without keybord mstery. Touch-sensitive CRT screen works without keybord TouchMgic, touch-sensitive CRT screen tht gives immedite nd esy ccess to computer memory, supplementing or even sup- plnting conventionl terminl keybord, hs been nnounced by Detector Electronics. No specil trining or keybord expertise is needed to operte TouchMgic system, s trnsprent control screen is one of simplest, most strightforwrd methods vilble for humn-computer interfce, compny clims. Bsiclly trnsprent "sndwich" with 16 horizontl electricl pths on convex glss pnel positioned opposite 16 verticl pths on mylr sheet, TouchMgic gives 256 switch positions (wherever 32 pths cross is switch position) on CRT screen, compred to conventionl keybord's 82 or so. Any or ll of se cn be displyed on screen without recourse to shifting pprtus. The switch touch force is 14/28 grms; switch mechnicl/electricl life is more thn million cycles. Current-crrying cpcity is 250 millimperes t 5 volts DC. TouchMgic screens come in 12, 15, 17, nd 19-inch (digonl) sizes nd cn be bonded or clmped to CRT or surround msk. The 19-inch model is priced t $900, nd 15-inch t pproximtely $800. The new Telesis products re ll completely comptible. The Model TIOO nd T200 singleuser systems use fully dedicted computer, grphics, nd disk storge resources. Models T300, T400, nd T500 re dul-sttion sytems. The product line incorportes DEC's LSI11 /23-B centrl processor using RSXI IM operting system. Storge is hndled by Winchester hrd disk technology with floppy disk bckup. All systems include high-resolution 19-inch color or monochromtic disply. The bsic softwre is high-performnce, Psclwritten grphics nd dtbse mngement Reder Service Number 65 progrm. Telesis offers vriety of peripherls, including low-cost mtrix printer for design verifiction, high-resolution color plotter, nd n optionl mgnetic tpe drive s disk bckup nd photoplotter interfce. The first ppliction for this multipplictionl system is printed circuit bord design softwre pckge tht is included in product price. A comprehensive symbol librry fcilittes on-screen schemtic design while system utomticlly cretes logicl dtbse. In ddition, "logicl design rules checking" reports errors or exceptions s design progresses. At ny time, net list cn be extrcted to verify ccurcy of design. To support circuit bord design, fetures re vilble to id in specifiction of mechnicl prmeters of bord, to help in plcement of components, nd to support trce routing work. Prices for Telesis CAD/CAM systems rnge from $68,500 to $151,500, depending on wher system hs one or two terminls nd blck-nd-white or color disply(s). Color slide recorder cretes imges from digitl dt The QCR-D2000 color slide recorder is first in modulr fmily of high-qulity color film recorders from Mtrix Instruments. It ccepts computer-generted digitl picture informtion directly from centrl processing minfrme nd produces udiovisul-qulity color slides with resolution of 2048 pixels by 1336 lines. The QCR-D2000 is smll-formt unit especilly well-suited for use in multitsking environment where new imges must be creted on color disply terminl without disturbing spooling of existing imges to recorder. Its digitl recording formt llows QCR-D2000 to record slides with resolution independent of color CRT disply terminl; resulting slides hve no visible rster lines or jgged edges, even when lrge-formt projection is employed. The recorder fetures stnd-lone self- dignostics nd test pttern genertion. Using film s memory element, elimintes need for frme QCR-D2000 Reder Service Number 63 buffer nd is independent of user's existing Reder Service Number 62 soft-copy cpbility. The crystl-controlled electronic timing nd control circuitry used throughout unit ensure high degree of repetbility in cretion of n imge. Micro-bsed grphics system produces color hrd copy User-definble look-up tbles llow QCR-D2000 to compenste for film chrcter tr- istics, blnce color, nd mtch hrd-copy Automted Grphics Technology hs n- comprble with those produced using imges to those produced on video disply. processing drkroom photogrphic ditionl nounced microcomputer-bsed presenttion look-up tbles hve been clibrted Once compny. to ccording grphics system tht produces full-color plotter method, film emulsion btch, no or prticulr for pmenu-driven of consists The system hrd copy, 'instnt" 35mm slides, nd overdjustments re required. computer executive n progrm, pliction Auto-Grphics Using trnsprencies. hed The QCR-D2000 is priced t $24,900, in two-pen plotter, two system, user cn crete pie chrts, br with 128K of memory,drives, softwre license. An IEEE-488 stncluding col35mm nd disk flexible -inch 51/4 combintion chrts, line chrts, text chrts, nd is required; for IBM users, interfce drd processor. slide or chrts nd perform sttisticl nlysis on dt. is necessry. interfce bisynchronous $24,995. t priced is Auto-Grphics The 35mm slide portion of system produces slides in less thn 3 minutes. The sturreder Service Number 66 Reder Service Number 64 tion nd resolution of "instnt" slides is 98