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From: ACOUST@bnr.ca (Nahum  Goldmann, N.)
Newsgroups: bionet.software
Subject: Re: IEEE Interface and data massaging packages
Message-ID: <89Nov15.165249est.57783@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Date: 15 Nov 89 21:28:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@NET.BIO.NET
Lines: 67

This is in response to the Nov. 14 request from Susan Libes.

There is a body of materials on CAT
(Computer-Aided Testing = data aquisition, analysis, and control).  I
would recommend:

1) Read "Personal Engineering & Instrumentation News" (PE&IN) magazine.
Past issues include comparative evaluations.

2) Get Keithley catalog.  Although biased towards its own products, it
has an introduction on how to compare different SW packages.

3) February 1989 issue of PE&IN (pp. 69-71) lists all popular hardware
boards and SW packages IN THE ORDER OF THEIR POPULARITY - highly
recommended.

4) Electronic Design News (EDN), April 13, 1989, pp.142-150 article
"IEEE-488 test and measurement software".

5) My own opinion:  You need what is necessary to satisfy YOUR needs.
Three packages which you listed may or may not be sufficient or
expandable in the future.

The most powerful SW package on the market is ASYST (same company as
ASYSTANT).  Unfortunately, it is written as Forth, which creates
difficulties even for experienced programmers.  A starter should
discuss his/her requirements with somebody who already implemented
a similar system.  So, I'd advise you first to solicit information on
whether somebody already implemented something similar, and to look in
the literature.  Marine Science - is it biology, acoustics, or what are
YOU trying to do?  The configuration, price, time invested, and amount of
your tears (there will be tears) depends on what you need/may need, and
not just on what is available on the market.

Even the choice of hardware is not as obvious.  IEEE-488 is an old hat
already.  If doing something speedy (e.g., marine mammals speech) you
may need to select VXI (i.e., IEEE488-2) bus.  Correspondingly there will
be implications for both SW and cost.

6)  Looks like you need to do some online searching in various scientific
publications.  The description of online sources/methods are in my book:


ONLINE RESEARCH AND RETRIEVAL WITH MICROCOMPUTERS, by Nahum
Goldmann

This book (TAB Professional and Reference Books,
ISBN 0-8306-1947-X, tel. 1-800-233-1128) is the first on
computerized information retrieval specifically addressed to the
end-user.  The book describes what kind of information is
available online, how to search for it, and how to use it to
your advantage.

The book outlines the SUBJECT EXPERT SEARCHING TECHNIQUE - a new
methodology for online information gathering.  This efficient
research method is especially tailored for the end-users of
information who are working in rapidly developing scientific
areas.  It has been successfully used by several R&D
organizations.  With this technique, occasional users such as
scientists and students can now master the use of online
databases for themselves.


Greetings
Nahum Goldmann
<acoust@bnr.CA>
Tel. (613)763-2329