I saw a documentary in my computer architecture class from way back in the days. Many of the features we expect from modern operating systems and compilers were handled by humans, and the machine just acted as a number crunchier in the whole system.
I practically fell off my seat when they zoomed in on what they called the job queue. It was a peg board with computer program on tape with a secretary sitting there accepting jobs from people coming in the door. If a high priority job came in it got bumped up in the queue. Today we use the same name, but its all done in software.
I remember their libraries (aka BIOS, and standard libraries) were held in a filling cabinet on pre-punched tape. Simply go over and find the library module you needed and append it to your program.
When I first heard of MRAM I practically fell out of my chair laughing. Is anyone else around here familiar with magnetic-core memory? It used to be used on old mainframes. Apparently someone else noticed the similarity. If you don't know what magnetic-core memory is click here.
On a related note: No non-volatile memory will not help you computer boot faster. Why do you reboot your computer? Because 1) something is messed up and you need to reload the contents of your RAM to fix the problem or 2) because a configuration change was made, and the reload is needed. It will however offer a lower power sleep mode.
When a PC is booted it automatically erases the RAM, or at least it did on the 286. It was part of the power on sequence. The BIOS source code (available in IBM's "Technical Reference: Personal Computer AT") indicates that the DRAM must be written to several times (3 or 5 I forgot) before it is stable and be trusted to store information. Note that this step takes place BEFORE the ram test is performed.
This is more of a legal question but... I have been thinking of putting together a RSA library with all the needed functionality to carryout several cryptographic protocols. Should I wait until the 21st or should would it be safe to start now, and not release it until the 21st? I am sure I am not the only one thinking about doing this.
I am sorry, but having only one university examine the machine is a 'bad idea'(TM). For any real security evaluation you ought to have at least two teams (which implys diffrent skillsets) examine the device. Also if a university examines it it will likely be a professor or two and a handful of students (that might not have the skills that I would concider necessary).
Don't forget who is doing a lot of the research work, STUDENTS. How much are they getting paid? Next to nothing compared to their industrial counterparts (at my university there is a pay cap at $14 an hour for students, and I keep ramming my head against it). We have all heard stories about professors taking advantage of research assistants (delaying graduation, etc). Imagine how immoral it is to use students in this way for commercial gain.
You have to realize that in many professions a student NEEDS to do research to be advance in the market place. I had a roommate studying microbiology. He had to TRY OUT so that he could VOULENTEER for the research lab. Why? Having the lab on his resume would significantly increase his chances of getting into medical school (same goes for TA's in his major, they are unpaid volunteers).
Luckily the computer science major isn't that bad (nobody would dream of working for free), but we are always hit over the head by $14 hour pay cap.
I am in an interesting position. I am both a professional and a student. I did work in a research lab for a year and a half, but if I knew my work was going to be sold by the university for a profit (and not given to the public for the good of mankind) I would not have tolerated the low pay.
Selling the work of those who NEED the time in the lab (microbiology majors) is nothing more than profiting from slave labor.
BULL. I went to comdex 5 years ago and it was a joke. I spent 20 minutes watching a presentation by Sony about how 95% of all dogs prefer to eat sony CD-ROM media, instead of the leading compition. (Actually it was 20 minutes of a dog running around with a magical disk that solved everybodys problems, helped kid with his homework, helped mom with the kitched, helped dad with the finances). It was a total waste of time. At least I got a pair of polarized 3D glasses out of it. There was zero information content.
Comdex is there to make a good impression on the public NOT the techs. Nearly all of the booths were to look good, and hype products, not to teach or inform. Crud.. Intel was throwing around their marketing BS about how their new processor (Pentium Pro at the time) improved internet aceess. The 3D graphics they were doing we did on a 486 (actually ours looked better).
Motorola had some content about the design of their processor. I did manage to get a evaluation kit of a dongle for copy protection, but all the good info came from the small booths tucked away in the show.
I have to say it was fun to hang out with my coworkers, but the show was a waste of my time. And that was 5 years ago. I hate to wonder what its like today.
Zelda 64 did a excellent job of combining 3D graphics and the adventure game/role playing styles of games.
The game allowed complete freedom of movement within the environment, and the physics of the game play directly into the puzzles. In one puzzles you are expected to hit a target with a flaming arrow to thaw it. Unfortunately you must hit the target while standing on a moving platform. After trying for I don't know how long, I realized that I had a flame shield like spell. I cast it and the heat from that spell activated the switch just as the arrow would have.
The important part is the game engine works the way life does. There is more than one way to do it. I wish I could meet the developers of that game and find out how they put the engine together. The surround sound is amazing also.
This game ties for the best game ever written next to Hero's Quest (humph... ok Quest for Glory I).
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I practically fell off my seat when they zoomed in on what they called the job queue. It was a peg board with computer program on tape with a secretary sitting there accepting jobs from people coming in the door. If a high priority job came in it got bumped up in the queue. Today we use the same name, but its all done in software.
I remember their libraries (aka BIOS, and standard libraries) were held in a filling cabinet on pre-punched tape. Simply go over and find the library module you needed and append it to your program.
Man... I need one of these for my bedroom.
On a related note: No non-volatile memory will not help you computer boot faster. Why do you reboot your computer? Because 1) something is messed up and you need to reload the contents of your RAM to fix the problem or 2) because a configuration change was made, and the reload is needed. It will however offer a lower power sleep mode.
When a PC is booted it automatically erases the RAM, or at least it did on the 286. It was part of the power on sequence. The BIOS source code (available in IBM's "Technical Reference: Personal Computer AT") indicates that the DRAM must be written to several times (3 or 5 I forgot) before it is stable and be trusted to store information. Note that this step takes place BEFORE the ram test is performed.
This is more of a legal question but... I have been thinking of putting together a RSA library with all the needed functionality to carryout several cryptographic protocols. Should I wait until the 21st or should would it be safe to start now, and not release it until the 21st? I am sure I am not the only one thinking about doing this.
Let me reiterate.. at least two universites.
Don't forget who is doing a lot of the research work, STUDENTS. How much are they getting paid? Next to nothing compared to their industrial counterparts (at my university there is a pay cap at $14 an hour for students, and I keep ramming my head against it). We have all heard stories about professors taking advantage of research assistants (delaying graduation, etc). Imagine how immoral it is to use students in this way for commercial gain.
You have to realize that in many professions a student NEEDS to do research to be advance in the market place. I had a roommate studying microbiology. He had to TRY OUT so that he could VOULENTEER for the research lab. Why? Having the lab on his resume would significantly increase his chances of getting into medical school (same goes for TA's in his major, they are unpaid volunteers).
Luckily the computer science major isn't that bad (nobody would dream of working for free), but we are always hit over the head by $14 hour pay cap.
I am in an interesting position. I am both a professional and a student. I did work in a research lab for a year and a half, but if I knew my work was going to be sold by the university for a profit (and not given to the public for the good of mankind) I would not have tolerated the low pay.
Selling the work of those who NEED the time in the lab (microbiology majors) is nothing more than profiting from slave labor.
Comdex is there to make a good impression on the public NOT the techs. Nearly all of the booths were to look good, and hype products, not to teach or inform. Crud.. Intel was throwing around their marketing BS about how their new processor (Pentium Pro at the time) improved internet aceess. The 3D graphics they were doing we did on a 486 (actually ours looked better).
Motorola had some content about the design of their processor. I did manage to get a evaluation kit of a dongle for copy protection, but all the good info came from the small booths tucked away in the show.
I have to say it was fun to hang out with my coworkers, but the show was a waste of my time. And that was 5 years ago. I hate to wonder what its like today.
The game allowed complete freedom of movement within the environment, and the physics of the game play directly into the puzzles. In one puzzles you are expected to hit a target with a flaming arrow to thaw it. Unfortunately you must hit the target while standing on a moving platform. After trying for I don't know how long, I realized that I had a flame shield like spell. I cast it and the heat from that spell activated the switch just as the arrow would have.
The important part is the game engine works the way life does. There is more than one way to do it. I wish I could meet the developers of that game and find out how they put the engine together. The surround sound is amazing also.
This game ties for the best game ever written next to Hero's Quest (humph... ok Quest for Glory I).