90 research outputs found
System integration report
Several areas that arise from the system integration issue were examined. Intersystem analysis is discussed as it relates to software development, shared data bases and interfaces between TEMPUS and PLAID, shaded graphics rendering systems, object design (BUILD), the TEMPUS animation system, anthropometric lab integration, ongoing TEMPUS support and maintenance, and the impact of UNIX and local workstations on the OSDS environment
Current and future graphics requirements for LaRC and proposed future graphics system
The findings of an investigation to assess the current and future graphics requirements of the LaRC researchers with respect to both hardware and software are presented. A graphics system designed to meet these requirements is proposed
User Interface Management Systems: A Survey and a Proposed Design
The growth of interactive computing has resulted in increasingly more complex styles of interaction between user and computer. To facilitate the creation of highly interactive systems, the concept of the User Interface Management System (UIMS) has been developed. Following the definition of the term 'UIMS' and a consideration of the putative advantages of the UIMS approach, a number of User Interface Management Systems are examined. This examination focuses in turn on the run-time execution system, the specification notation and the design environment, with a view to establishing the features which an "ideal" UIMS should possess. On the basis of this examination, a proposal for the design of a new UIMS is presented, and progress reported towards the implementation of a prototype based on this design
Surface interaction : separating direct manipulation interfaces from their applications.
To promote both quality and economy in the production of applications and their
interactive interfaces, it is desirable to delay their mutual binding. The later the binding,
the more separable the interface from its application. An ideally separated
interface can factor tasks from a range of applications, can provide a level of independence
from hardware I/O devices, and can be responsive to end-user requirements.
Current interface systems base their separation on two different abstractions.
In linguistic architectures, for example User Interface Management Systems in the
Seeheim model, the dialogue or syntax of interaction is abstracted in a separate
notation. In agent architectures like Toolkits, interactive devices, at various levels of
complexity, are abstracted into a class or call hierarchy.
This Thesis identifies an essential feature of the popular notion of direct manipulation:
directness requires that the same object be used both for output and input.
In practice this compromises the separation of both dialogue and devices. In addition,
dialogue cannot usefully be abstracted from its application functionality, while
device abstraction reduces the designer's expressive control by binding presentation
style to application semantics.
This Thesis proposes an alternative separation, based on the abstraction of
the medium of interaction, together with a dedicated user agent which allows direct
manipulation of the medium. This interactive medium is called the surface. The Thesis
proposes two new models for the surface, the first of which has been
implemented as Presenter, the second of which is an ideal design permitting document
quality interfaces.
The major contribution of the Thesis is a precise specification of an architecture
(UMA), whereby a separated surface can preserve directness without binding in
application semantics, and at the same time an application can express its semantics
on the surface without needing to manage all the details of interaction. Thus
UMA partitions interaction into Surface Interaction, and deep interaction. Surface
Interaction factors a large portion of the task of maintaining a highly manipulable
interface, and brings the roles of user and application designer closer
Research into software executives for space operations support
Research concepts pertaining to a software (workstation) executive which will support a distributed processing command and control system characterized by high-performance graphics workstations used as computing nodes are presented. Although a workstation-based distributed processing environment offers many advantages, it also introduces a number of new concerns. In order to solve these problems, allow the environment to function as an integrated system, and present a functional development environment to application programmers, it is necessary to develop an additional layer of software. This 'executive' software integrates the system, provides real-time capabilities, and provides the tools necessary to support the application requirements
SIGHT - A Tool for Building Multi-Media Structured-Document Interactive Editing and Formatting Applications
SIGHT is a tool for building applications that edit and format multi-media structured documents. The media supported include text, line graphics, handwriting, images and audio. These information media are maintained in a single integrated hierarchical database. The document architecture models documents as trees in which nodes can be shared, i.e., as directed acyclic graphs. For each document there is a logical (or abstract) represention tree and one or more physical (or layout) representation trees. A physical representation is the result of applying the formatter to a logical representation. Both trees are separate but share document content data. The physical representation is displayable and printable, but all editing effectively occurs in the logical representation. Any number of document types can be supported. A document type is defined by the node types it can contain, by how these node types can be hierarchically organized, by what each node type can contain and by the format specifications used in formatting the document. SIGHT provides applications a language to define new document types, a Core Editor, various specialized editors and a formatter. The Core Editor is further subdivided into a generic Tree Editor and a generic Node Editor. Both are not limited by document types but are sensitive to them. The Core Editor is the primary editing system
Methodologies for CIM systems integration in small batch manufacturing
This thesis is concerned with identifying the problems and constraints faced by
small batch manufacturing companies during the implementation of Computer
Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). The main aim of this work is to recommend
generic solutions to these problems with particular regard to those constraints
arising because of the need for ClM systems integration involving both new and
existing systems and procedures. The work has involved the application of
modern computer technologies, including suitable hardware and software tools, in
an industrial environment.
Since the research has been undertaken with particular emphasis on the industrial
implementor's viewpoint, it is supported by the results of a two phased
implementation of computer based control systems within the machine shop of a
manufacturing company. This involved the specific implementation of a
Distributed Numerical Control system on a single machine in a group technology
cell of machines followed by the evolution of this system into Cell and Machine
Management Systems to provide a comprehensive decision support and
information distribution facility for the foremen and uperators within the cell. The
work also required the integration of these systems with existing Factory level
manufacturing control and CADCAM functions. Alternative approaches have
been investigated which may have been applicable under differing conditions and
the implications that this specific work has for CIM systems integration in small
batch manufacturing companies evaluated with regard not only to the users within
an industrial company but also the systems suppliers external to the company.
The work has resulted in certain generic contributions to knowledge by
complementing ClM systems integration research with regard to problems
encountered; cost implications; the use of appropriate methodologies including
the role of emerging international standard methods, tools and technologies and
also the importance of 'human integration' when implementing CIM systems in a
real industrial situation
Management of digital map data using a relational database model
Special issue (CISRG - Cartographic Information Systems Research Group) ;
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