Computer project sends messages to Gulf

Article Abstract:

The Student Concerns Committee of Purdue University's Student Government have set up a communications line with military personnel serving in the Persian Gulf War. Using computers donated by IBM, messages are entered by volunteer student typists and sent via modem to Saudi Arabia. IBM has linked the student's computer system to General Electric's Genie telecommunications network. Once the messages are received at the information center in Saudi Arabia, they are printed and sent out. The entire procedure takes two days, whereas mail service can take up to a month. The telecommunications service is free to students and staffed solely by volunteers. The service began on Feb 7 and will continue until the war is over. The only rule governing message-sending is that a message may not exceed 640 words. More than 600 messages had been sent as of Feb 13th.

Electronic computers, COMMUNICATION, IBM, Telecommunications systems, Purdue University, Iraq-Kuwait Crisis, 1990-1991, Persian Gulf region, Universities and Colleges, Telecommunications, Student, GEnie (Information retrieval system), Student service, Student community service

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Chess-playing computer closing in on champions; speedy, powerful analysis makes for a formidable opponent

Article Abstract:

Researchers at Carnegie-Mellon University have developed a computer program that can beat a grandmaster. Deep Thought combines high speed and enormous computational powers with a computer-developed speculative analysis. The program is capable of viewing 720,000 possible arrays of chess pieces every second and is powered by two custom processors each with a VLSI chip. The evaluative process was derived by running 900 games played by grandmasters and international masters through a computer that determined the relative value the players gave to different pieces in different positions. Using the singular extension process, Deep Thought looks at the various moves in the game it is playing and determines which will be most successful. To beat the top grandmasters, Deep Thought needs more power and an improved evaluation process.

Research, Software, Industrial research, Game theory, Carnegie-Mellon University, Chess, Research and Development, Programs, Methods, Computer chess

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Computer helps professors match names and faces

Article Abstract:

At Clarkson University, instructors can now take advantage of a computer system that transforms a photographic image into a digitized graphical portrayal. Pictures are matched with names and identification numbers, making it easy for a professor to know names of students. The system was developed Russell N. Nelson, a computer software engineer at Clarkson. It was used by three professors there in the spring of 1990. The system uses a photo digitizer that transforms pictures into data that can be stored in the computer's data base. The computer can then print out a class list with 25 faces on a single piece of paper. University officials are in favor of the system, and students say the system makes the university more personal by helping instructors learn student's names.

Teaching, Study and teaching, Computer assisted instruction, Graphics software, Computer-Assisted Instruction, Computer-Managed Instruction, Clarkson University

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