The FATHER of COMPUTER GRAPHICS

The FATHER of COMPUTER GRAPHICS

IVAN SUTHERLAND , shown with his archetypical graphics system ,sketchpad,
is considered the father of interactive graphics.

Todays Graphics system owe their existence to an innovative graduate school project called sketchpad.

Back in 1960, interactive computer graphics would have seemed like an improbable idea. In that year , computer operators typically positioned stacks of prepunched cards onto computers like the Whirlwind at MIT. The Whirlwind weighed 250 tons , powered 12,500 vacuum tubes , and filled a two-story house . But in 1960 , all the elements needed for CAD to become a reality were in place.

The first element sprang from the development of the computer itself , which came in part from events surrounding World War II. In 1944 , the U. S. government financed the construction of MIT's Whirlwind computer for national defense purposes . The Whirlwind introduced the first prerequisite for CAD a CRT capable of displaying graphics .

In 1949, theRussian explosion of an atomic bomb stimulated the U.S. to und Project SAGE ( for Semi-Automatic Ground Environment ). In time , the SAGE computer linked all North American radar sites . Its operators used a hand-held photocell , or "light gun" the precursor to the light pen to assing intercept aircraft targets ( Soviet bombers ) repren\sented symbolically on the CRT . The second piece of the CAD puzzle was in place.

The Sputnik launch of 1957 generated futher interest and fiancial support for computer research. Researchers at MIT's Lincoln Laboratories developed the TX-0 and later the TX-2 computer , which had twice the memory of any computer of its day . Equipped with numerous switches , knobs , a keyboard , a point-plotting display , and a light pen , hte TX-2 had from the first been desinged to facilitate human-machine interaction . This was the third and final element essential to the development of CAD .

The atmosphere of acdemic freedom at MIT allowed some nontraditional research to take places Graduate students began playing space war the first computer game on the giant TX-2 computer. The game immpressed at least one of the students with the immense possibilities presented by real time interaction with the computer. That student was ivan sutherland , who used the TX-2 to bring together all the elements necessary for CAD in his doctoral thesis , "Sketchpad - a Man Machine Graphical Communication system ."

The cornerstone of Sutherkand's thesis was a film that showed him using Sketchpad on the TX-2 computer to sketch a bolt . A light pen provided the coordinates corresponding to the drawing commands entered on the keyboard. Sketchpad allowed Sutherland to recall previouly drawn display primitives ( e.g., circles and polygons ) to the screen . He was then able to rotate , scale , copy , and erase these primitives. The light pen let him edit existig drawing entiteies. Smaller version of mastr drawings were described as "intances" of the parent drawing . Drawing created by Sketchpad could be stored on magnetic tape. Many of the computer's switches were assinged functions , such as move and draw . In short , Ivan Sutherland's Sketchpad was a complete and working CAD software package.

The "Robot Draftsman" as Sketchpad was later called , illustrated the potential of computer graphics and inspired almost all who viewed it. The idea thet people no longer had to become expert programmers to use the computer effectively was novel and exciting . Now users could produce graphics in real time and observe instantaneous results . Numerous scientists chose interactive computer graphics as a career field as s result of view in controlled machined part. Then came the Alto , an innovative stand-alone system developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in California, inspired in part by Sketchpad . (Many now say that the Alto provided the most sigificant advancement in computer graphics). In 1970 , Ivan Sutherland developed view clipping and perspective projection to fuyther enhance CAD.

Sketchpad was not one isolated discovery; it was anentire methodology . Many brilliant scientist and engineers have contributed to advances in computer architecture , I\O devices, and displays tech. and these contributes are still ongoing . But in bringing togther the pieces for the archetypical CAD system , Dr. Ivan Sutherland set the stage for the $1.6 billion CAD industry of today . For this remarkable achievement , he is rightfully known as -

"the father of computer graphics".

We thanks IVAN SUTHERLAND for his Gift to the World.

Thank u for visiting KITEs NEXT.

»»  read more

Brain-Machine Interface ( BMI )

Brain-Machine Interface ( BMI ) - an inside look

The Majority of motor function in our body r driven by electrical currents originating in the brain motor cortex & conducted through the spinal cord & peripheral nerves to yhe muscles, where the electrical impluse is converted to motion by the contraction & retraction of specific muscles. for eg, to bend the arm at the elbow joint , the biceps muscles contraction & the triceps relaxes. This seemingly simple movement. The neurons, following a cognitive decision to bend the arm, generate an electric impluse through the peripheral nerves, causing the correct muscles to contract or relax.

The term used for neuronal activity is "action potential". Action potential occurs when an electric impluse shoots through the long shaft of the neuron called the Axon. Each neuron has one axon but is connected to many other neurons through chemical connections called synapses & can influence other neurons or b influenced itself by the activity of adjacent neurons , creating an extremely complex network of neural cells.

BMIs can b divided into 2 main group : noninvasive & invasive.

Noninvasive BMIs

Noninvasive BMIs rely on reading the brains activity without actually piercing the brain surface. The EEG is one of the earliest noninvasive BMIs , measuring the combined activity of massive groups of brain neurons through voltage difference b/w diff. parts of the brain. The EEG is performed by placing approx. 20 electrodes on the scalp; these electrodes r connected by wires to an amplier , through which the signal is converted to a digital reading , which can then b filtered by a computer to remove any artifical interfernce. Once connected to the EEG, the subject can b show diff. stimuli & brain electrical patterns in response to the stimuli can b studied.

EEGs have many shortcomings, due to much overlapping of electrical activity in the brain as well as electrical artifacts. To achieve better resolution , electrodes can b inserted b/w the skull & brain , without piercing the brain tissuse & can allegedly achieve a higher resolution of brain activity.

Invasive BMIs

While noninvasive BMIs achieve a vague picture of a subjects intention & state of mind by reading the activity of massive groups of neurons, invasive BMIs r able to read the activity at a much higher resolution , up to the activity of a single neuron.

The main challenge in creating a BMI is deciphering the firing "code" & converting it to a meaningful movement. An electrode inserted into the appropriate region of the brain cortex can measure the voltage of many adjacent cells & with the use of electronic filters, it can isolate the voltage of a single cell. It is then potentially possible to determine the "preffered direction" of a certain cell in a humans brain by measuring the firing rate as the subject moves his or her hand in diff. directions. The preffered direction of a cell is the direction the hand is moving when the firing rate of that cell is at its highest. In clinical trials involing monkeys, the problem with this type of reading was it varied greatly from trial to trial , even though the movement executed was virtually identical.

The Future of BMI

One of the next chalenges in the field of BMI prosthetics is making them feel like normal limbs. A normal limb has a sense of touch & proprioception , the process by which sensory feedback to the brain transmits the location & position of the body muscles, allowing us to b aware of the arms position without having to look. This is accomplished by an array of receptors in the muscles & joints , as well as mechanical receptors in the skin , that enable us to kown when we r touching an object . The next generation of the prosthetic arms will hv proprioception & feeling , generating feedback pulses to the brain or the nerve ending that will result in their bearers hv an almost natural feel to their bionic limb.

BMI technologies r not only confined to prosthetic & paralyzed limbs. In the future , BMIs may allow blind people to see using an artifical picture capturing device, much like a camera. several methods for visual prothetics hv already been used sucessfully with patients. These methods use a computer chip implanted on the retina that is fed by a miniature camera on a patients glasses. The chip stimulates the optic nerves , transmitting a picture to the brain. Devices used today allow patients to see vague shapes or distinguish light from dark but future devices, such as the cortical visual prosthesis.

BMI - Brain Machine Inteface has a very Bright Future , it will fill colours & joy in many Lifes.

Thank u for visiting KITEs NEXT.

»»  read more

Mind Controlled PC

MIND CONTROLLED PC


image source:BCC NEWS.

The Human brain is a super computer with the ability to instantaneously process vast amounts of information. It has been seen that it was easier to insert signals into brain , but getting them out of the brain was a real challenge but the brain gate neural interface system has overcome this challenge & is a big leap forward in the field of neurotechnology. Braingate is based on a technology that can sense , transmit , analyze & apply the language of neurons.It consists of a sensor that is implanted on the motor cortex of the brain responsible for movement & a device that analyses brain signals. The principle of operation behind the braingates system is that with intact brain function , brain signals are generated even though they are not sent to the arms , hands & legs. The signals r interpret & translated into cursor movements , offering the user an alternate braingate pathway to control a computer with thought, just as individuals who have the ability to move their hand use a mouse.The system read signals generated by the brain & then interpretes & translates them into cursor movement . This offers a paralytic patient to perform activities , which involves limb movement. The system allows activities beyond typical computer functions & includes control of object in the environment such as television,telephone & lights.

Mind Controlled PC , Braingate Technology is a gift for many People in the world.

Thank u for visiting KITEs NEXT.

»»  read more

Continous Data Protection - CDP

CONTINOUS DATA PROTECTION

IT organistion have been caught b/w a rock & a hard place. Charged with protecting their companys information , IT organisations have established aggressive service level agreements(SLAs) that impact the manner in which they implement data protection by setting Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) & Recovery Time Objective (RTO).

Organiation struggle with shrinking or non-existent backup windows,the need to recover quickly,often to a specific point in time & even meeting compliance or regulatory guidelines. Backing up to tape is no longer adequate. Not only is it difficult to administer for backups & recoveries, but it lacks the speed, reliability, flexibility & simpility IT needs to meet strict SLAs. Backing up to disk using virtual tape emulation or virtual tape libaries also falls short as the administration of the solution is tape centric & schedule driven. Add in the explosion of data ,along with the challenge of protecting remote offices & you have the challenge facing many of todays business with IT sitting on the front lines of alingning business needs with todays technology.

As a result , a growing no. of IT organisation are augmenting their traditional backup & recory strategies with continous Data protection (CDP) Solution . CDP dramatically improves RPOs & RTOs while eliminating backup windows. Whats more , CDP not only reduces the need for tape in the backup & recovery process but it also makes recovery easy enough that users can often recoveries their own files,without help from IT.

I Hope u Enjoy learning Continous Data Protection ( CDP ).

Thank u for visiting KITEs NEXT.

»»  read more

TETRA

TETRA means Terrestrial Enhanced (changed from european) Trunked Radio is a specialist Proffessional Mobile Radio & Walkie talkie standard used by police, fire departments, ambulance & military. Its main advantage over technologies such as GSM : the much lower frequency used , which permits very high levels of geographic coverage with a smaller no. of transmitters, cutting infrastructure cost.

Fast Call Set-Up a one to many group call is generally setup within 0.5 sec compared with the many seconds that r required for a GSM network.

The fact that its infrastructure can b separated from that of the public cell phone network & made substantially more diverse & resilient by the fact that base stations can b some distance from the area served.

Unlike most cellular technologies ,TETRA networks typically provide a no. of fallback modes such as the ability for a base station to process local calls in the absence of the rest networks & for direct mode whre mobiles can continue to share channels directly if yhe infrastructure fails or is out of reach.

Gateway Mode where a single mobile with connection to the networks can act as a relay for other nearby mobile that r out of contact with the infrastructure.

TETRA also provides a point to point function that traditional analogue emergency services radio system didnt provide. This enables users to have a one to one truncked radio link b/w sets without the need for the direct involvement of a control room operator / dispatcher.

Unlike the cellular technologies , which connects one subscribers to one other subscriber one to one then TETRA is built to do one to one ,one to many & many to many.Yhese operational modes r directly relevant to the public safety & professional users.

Radio Aspects :

TETRA uses a digital modulation scheme know as PI/4 DQPSK which is a form of phase shift keying. TETRA uses TDMA. The symbol rate is 18000 symbols per second & each symbol maps to 2 bits. A single slot consists of 255 symbols, a single frame consists of 4 slots & a multiframe(whose duration is approx. 1 second) consists of 18 frames. As a form of phase shift keying the downlink power is constant. The downlink (i.e the output of the base station) is a continuous transmission consisting of either specific communications with mobiles, synchronization or other general broadcasts. Although the system uses 18 frames per sec. only 17 of these r used for traffic channel, with the 18th frame reserved for signaling or synchronisation. TETRA doesnt employ amplitude modulation. However, TETRA has 17.65 slots per sec.(18000 symbols /sec 255 symbols/slot/4 slot/frame), which is the cause of the PERCEIVED amplitude modulation at 17Hz.

Conclusion is that To combat the traitional analogue emergency services flaws & brickbats, TETRA is the technology to watch out for.On demand requirement has pushed the researchers to improvise on the front of this digial modulation technique.

I hope u Enjoy Learning TETRA.

Thank u for visiting KITEs NEXT.

»»  read more