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The next several years will see the maturing of a collection of technologies that will enable fully and transparently distributed computing environments. Networks will be used to configure independent computing, storage, and I/O elements into "virtual systems" that are optimal for solving a particular problem. This environment will make the most powerful computing systems those that are logically assembled from network-based components and will also make those systems available to a widespread audience. Anticipating that the necessary technology and communications infrastructure will be available in the next 3 to 5 years, we are developing and demonstrating prototype applications that test and exercise the currently available elements of this configurable environment. The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) Information and Computing Sciences and Research Medicine Divisions have collaborated with the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center to demonstrate one distributed application that illuminates the issues and potential of using networks to configure virtual systems. This application allows the interactive visualization of large three-dimensional (3D) scalar fields (voxel data sets) by using a network-based configuration of heterogeneous supercomputers and workstations. The specific test case is visualization of 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The virtual system architecture consists of a Connection Machine-2 (CM-2) that performs surface reconstruction from the voxel data, a Cray Y-MP that renders the resulting geometric data into an image, and a workstation that provides the display of the image and the user interface for specifying the parameters for the geometry generation and 3D viewing. These three elements are configured into a virtual system by using several different network technologies. This paper reviews the current status of the software, hardware, and communications technologies that are needed to enable this configurable environment. These interdependent technologies include: (1) user interface and application program construction methodologies, (2) the interprocess communication (IPC) mechanisms used to connect the software modules of the application, (3) the network protocols and interface hardware used by the IPC for communicating between modules running on separate and independent computing system elements, (4) the telecommunications infrastructure that provides the low-level data transfer functions for the networks that connect the geographically distributed elements used by the application, and (5) the nature of the functional elements that will be connected to form virtual systems.
Two-year college students receiving three different levels of class-based computer experiences were surveyed using Hudiburg's Computer Technology Hassles Scale. Although their academic work involved widely different types of work with computers, all groups (ns = 23, 32, and 24) appeared to perceive the same interactions with computers as unpleasant. The students selected unpleasant interactions in the same numbers and with the same intensity.
Determination of a preoperative plan is one of the more challenging aspects of performing corrective osteotomies for traumatic or other skeletal deformities. With the advent of sophisticated graphics hardware in personal computers, a method of preoperative planning has been developed which is less time-consuming and more versatile than conventional methods. Using OrthoPlan, radiographs are traced on a backlit, digitizing tablet attached to a microcomputer. A variety of osteotomies may be rapidly simulated on the computer screen and the surgical outcome visualized. Computer-assisted preoperative planning (CAPP) can be effectively used to decrease planning time, allow visualization of multiple surgical options, and predict results.
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Prediction of the final grade in a computer course using the Computer Technology Hassles Scale, a measure of computer-related stress, was investigated. A sample of 154 university students enrolled in computer courses completed questionnaires covering demographic data, information on computer use, the Computer Technology Hassles Scale, and somatic complaint items of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Pearson correlations indicated scores on the Computer Technology Hassles Scale were significantly associated .27 with somatic complaints, -.24 with computer-course grades, and -.18 with self-rated computer knowledge. Regression analysis indicated that self-rated computer knowledge and scores on the Computer Technology Hassles Scale significantly predicted computer-course grade.
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CT is recognized today as method of choice for examining pathological conditions of eyeball and orbit. Several techniques of CT examination are needed to attain the most accurate and detailed information about orbital and eyeball lesions. The exact knowledge of the normal anatomic CT feature of orbital structures is necessary. In traumatic lesions of the globe and the orbit foreign bodies, haematomas and fractures of the orbital walls can be proved and localized and traumatic sequelae can be diagnosed.
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Computer-related variables, including measures of computer anxiety and computer experience, were evaluated for three successive classes of matriculating medical students. Across the three classes, average computer anxiety measures declined and differences in the levels of computer anxiety for males and females diminished. Average measures of computer experience rose over time and were comparable for males and females, although there was a trend toward increasing divergence in the range and distribution of students' computer experience scores. Implications of these findings for addressing computer literacy in the medical curricula are discussed.
In summary, I have tried to illustrate how the computer is rapidly becoming indispensable to the physician. This is true for both the physician in private practice as well as the physician involved in research. Computer technology has progressed to the point that a personal computer is readily affordable. Technologic advances and new software packages permit individuals who possess no computer skills to operate almost any system without limitations. There are no age limits to learn how to use the computer. I was introduced to the computer through my clinical research in malignant melanoma as a medical student. Its utility in research is undeniable. The uses of the computer have increased dramatically during the past few years. Today the computer aids not only in research but in the day-to-day care of patients and in medical education. Access to the information explosion is literally at the tips of the physician's fingers.
This research examined whether older adults' attitudes toward computers became more positive as a function of computer experience. The sample comprised 101 community-dwelling older adults aged 57 to 87. The intervention involved a 2-week computer training program in which subjects learned to use a desktop publishing software program. A multidimensional computer attitude measure was used to assess differential attitude change and maintenance of change following training. The results indicated that older adults' computer attitudes are modifiable and that direct computer experience is an effective means of change. Attitude change as a function of training was found for the attitude dimensions targeted by the intervention program: computer comfort and efficacy. In addition, maintenance of attitude change was established for at least two weeks following training.
This paper proposes a new evaluation and prediction method for computer usability. This method is based on our two previously proposed information transmission measures created from a human-to-computer information transmission model. The model has three information transmission levels: the device, software, and task content levels. Two measures, called the device independent information measure (DI) and the computer independent information measure (CI), defined on the software and task content levels respectively, are given as the amount of information transmitted. Two information transmission rates are defined as DI/T and CI/T, where T is the task completion time: the device independent information transmission rate (RDI), and the computer independent information transmission rate (RCI). The method utilizes the RDI and RCI rates to evaluate relatively the usability of software and device operations on different computer systems. Experiments using three different systems, in this case a graphical information input task, confirm that the method offers an efficient way of determining computer usability.
With this publication, the author presents the requirements that a user specific software should fulfill to reach an effective practice rationalisation through computer usage and the hardware configuration necessary as basic equipment. This should make it more difficult in the future for sales representatives to sell radiologists unusable computer systems. Furthermore, questions shall be answered that were asked by computer interested radiologists during the system presentation. On the one hand there still exists a prejudice against programmes of standard texts and on the other side undefined fears, that handling a computer is to difficult and that one has to learn a computer language first to be able to work with computers. Finally, it is pointed out, the real competitive advantages can be obtained through computer usage.
A software package called MacMeasure was developed previously to measure the size of intracellular structures by means of photomicrographs. We have expanded the application of this program to computed tomographic (CT) images. Using three objects of irregular shape and unequal size (phantoms), we compared volumetric determinations made with a CT mainframe computer and a widely available personal computer. The phantom objects were scanned in a GE CT/T 9800 scanner with serial, nonoverlapping slices 3.0 mm in thickness. The image data were first measured directly from the magnetic archive tape with the CT control terminal. Hard copies of the CT scans were then measured with a Macintosh SE computer and a digitizing tablet with a crosshair cursor driven by the MacMeasure software package. A third method of measuring volume was by tracing individual CT images onto paper (hard copies). The tracings were then cut out, weighed, and converted to surface area by dividing the weights by a weight/surface area standard (26.37 mg = 25 cm2) calibrated to the CT image scale (5.0 cm). The total surface area value was then converted to volume by multiplying by a single CT slice thickness (0.3 cm). Finally, the phantom objects were placed in water-filled graduated cylinders to determine their volume by fluid displacement. The technique using MacMeasure and the personal computer provides an accurate means of determining surface area and volumes using hard copies of CT images. It avoids occupying costly CT computer time and is the most rapid method of volume measurement of the three techniques tested (CT mainframe = 6.0 hours, trace/weigh = 3.5 hours, and PC = 1.25 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)