A New Direction in Personal Computer Software
Article Abstract:
The use of personal computers is growing due to falling prices, the availability and range of software application products, and increasing system user-friendliness. Application programs for specific and generic applications are proliferating and becoming less intimidating to users, with menu-driven interfaces. For software to become an effective communication tool in the office, numeric, text, and image information must be integrated into an applications package. The first step in developing such integrated software is to design better graphics manipulation software. Personal computers have limited color capabilities because of low screen resolution and lack of an extensive color repertoire. The VNC ExecuVision graphics package provides elaborate picture- making abilities for the business user. The color package is a type of word processor for graphics. The user can sketch a picture or choose from a library of images and sixty-four alternative color schemes. Ten text fonts are supported. The package should find applications in education, dedicated systems, professional workstations, and CAD-CAM. Graphs, charts, and tables illustrate the increasing use of personal computers. Images created with VCN ExecuVision on an IBM PC are shown in color.
Publication Name: Proceedings of the IEEE
Subject: Electronics
ISSN: 0018-9219
Year: 1984
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The Personal Computer in 'C & C'
Article Abstract:
As microelectronics has advanced, and software and intelligence are packaged into VLSI circuits, the man-machine interface with computers has improved. Personal computers also are being used for sophisticated communication networks in homes and offices. The NEC PC-100 16-bit personal computer contains such computer and communication state-of-the-art technology. The main CPU is an 8086 and an 8048 is mounted in the keyboard. Video RAM (V-RAM) is allocated 128 Kbytes and is controlled by the CRT controller. The CPU runs at 7MHZ due to CRT display requirements, CPU and CRT controller access, architecture cost, V-RAM requirements, and sychronous execution. A full-bit-map system can display graphics at any position on the CRT and uses the palette gate array and the analog RGB output system for color. High-resolution on a 720x512 pixel screen provides for the display of Kanji characters. Tables list personal computers available in Japan. Diagrams illustrate the evolution of computers and communications, the architecture of the PC-100 and its components, and display timing and methods.
Publication Name: Proceedings of the IEEE
Subject: Electronics
ISSN: 0018-9219
Year: 1984
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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