What type of technology is computers?

Computers

Computer technology is racing ahead at an alarming rate. New computers and revisions of current ones are available almost monthly, each with additional capabilities to offer. The physical size of a computer that once filled a large room has been reduced to a small integrated circuit module on a circuit board with far greater computing power. The light weight, high-speed computational capability is ideally suited for use in aircraft and is being exploited in many ways. Individual computers presently being used for systems such as flight controls, navigation, air data, and threat detection can easily be replaced by a single sophisticated computer which integrates those functions and many more. This new technology is undoubtedly the one that will singularly have the most far-reaching effects on crew systems in both the near term and the long term.

48.2 Computer Processing Methods for Virtual Endoscopy

Computer technology affects nearly every aspect of VE. Initially, VE displays looked like “fly-through” movies that merely simulated conventional endoscopy. While “fly-throughs” are still used today, computer processing methods have created new tools for VE that are unavailable to a conventional endoscope. Examples of such tools include navigation aids to integrate cross-sectional images with the VE image, centerline computation for automated flight planning, unraveling of the colon to ease polyp identification, cockpit displays to provide greater visual coverage of the wall of the lumen and reduce blind spots, and computer-aided detection (CAD) systems to assist reading. These tools augment the visualization of VE displays beyond otherwise very restricted viewing scopes provided by conventional endoscopy. Processing methods in progress such as centerline extraction, surface unfolding, registration, stool tagging and removal in virtual colonoscopy, and CAD are reviewed in the following sections.

Technology overview

Computer technology requires a completely different methodology of engineering design. It has revolutionized the speed and efficiency of the plastic design functions. The more the entire design function is studied, the more repetitive tasks are uncovered in that function. The computer's ability to perform these tasks untiringly and with blazing speed is the basis for these productivity gains.

The computer continues to provide the engineer with the means to simplify and more accurately develop a design timewise and costwise. It provides a better understanding of the operating requirements for a product design, resulting in maximizing the design efficiency in meeting product requirements. The computer is able to convert a design into a fabricated product providing a faster manufacturing startup. Other benefits resulting from the computer technology include (1) ease of developing and applying new innovative design ideas, (2) fewer errors in drawings; (3) good communications with the fabricator, (4) improved manufacturing accuracy; and (5) a faster response to market demand.

Many of the individual tasks within the overall design process can be performed using a computer. As each of these tasks is made more efficient, the efficiency of the overall process increases as well. The computer is suited to aid the designer by incorporating customer inputs, problem definitions, evaluations, and final product designs.

Computer-aided design (CAD) uses the mathematical and graphic-processing power of the computer to assist the mechanical engineer in the creation, modification, analysis, and display of designs. Many factors have contributed to CAD technology becoming a necessary tool in the engineering world, such as the computer's speed at processing complex equations and managing technical databases. CAD combines the characteristics of designer and computer that are best applicable to the design process.

There is also the combination of human creativity with computer technology that provides the design efficiency that has made CAD such a popular design tool. CAD is often thought of simply as computer-aided drafting, and its use as an electronic drawing board is a powerful tool in itself. The functions of a CAD system extend far beyond its ability to represent and manipulate graphics. Geometric modeling, engineering analysis, simulation, and communication of the design information can also be performed using CAD.

In every branch of engineering, prior to the implementation of CAD, design has traditionally been accomplished manually on the drawing board. The resulting drawing, complete with significant details, was then subjected to analysis using complex mathematical formulae and then sent back to the drawing board with suggestions for improving the design. The same procedure was followed and, because of the manual nature of the drawing and the subsequent analysis, the whole procedure was time-consuming and labor-intensive.

For many decades CAD has allowed the designer to bypass much of the manual drafting and analysis that was previously required, making the design process flow more smoothly and much more efficiently. It is helpful to understand the general product development process as a step-wise process. However, in today's engineering environment, the steps outlined have become consolidated into a more streamlined approach called concurrent engineering. This approach enables teams to work concurrently by providing common ground for interrelated product development tasks.

Product information can be easily communicated among all development processes: design, manufacturing, marketing, management, and supplier networks. Concurrent engineering recognizes that fewer alterations result in less time and money spent in moving from design concept to manufacture and from manufacturing to market. The related processes of computer-aided engineering (CAE), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer-aided assembly (CAA), computer-aided testing (CAT), and other computer-aided systems have become integral parts of the concurrent engineering design approach. Design for manufacturing and assembly methods use cross-disciplinary input from a variety of sources (design engineers, manufacturing engineers, materials & equipment suppliers, and shop floor personnel) to facilitate the efficient design of a product that can be manufactured, assembled, and marketed in the shortest possible period of time.

CAD, CAE, CAM, CAA, and CAT are the directions all types of plastics product design, mold or die making, and the fabricating line. The number and complexity of plastic products being produced are greater every year, but the number of experienced product designers, mold/die designers, and fabricators generally have not kept pace. The answer to this “people power” shortage has been to increase “design to productivity” through the use of CAD/CAE/CAM/CAA/CAT.

2.5 Conclusion

Computer technologies and digitization are being employed extensively in all the fields of anthropology. The latest computing techniques and methodologies are making anthropological processes significantly more efficient and accurate. To begin with, computers were widely used in archeology in excavation sites. For instance, the GIS has been a very important component in the exploration of excavation sites. Information on archeological sites can be easily comprehended using data visualization tools. Computer-assisted remote sensing, the use of Archeoguide, virtual restoration of ancient paintings, use of artificial intelligence in computational anthropology, digital restoration of broken fossils, etc. are the latest methodologies being employed in computer-assisted archeology.

Computer assisted tomography (CT scanning) is widely used in biological anthropology. Image-processing techniques along with data analytics tools for medical images are used for the purpose of evaluation of biological data. Virtual reconstruction of biological parts such as skulls can also be carried out for requisite studies. Artificial intelligence techniques are used in cognitive psychology for the purpose of better understanding human thoughts. Specialized computer software is used in the field of genetics, involving the sequencing of the strands of DNA. Image systems and software systems like CADANS are widely used in anthropometry for carrying out requisite measurements.

Computers are used for online surveying and storing data in databases in cultural anthropology. Also, online games are a very effective medium for acquiring information regarding the behavior of the people participating. In digital ethnography, online platforms are used as a medium to accumulate data on the actions of people and deducing their behavior. Online games, social networking sites, online communities, etc. represent various opportunities for this to be done.

Virtual anthropology is a way of representing physical objects virtually for the purpose of comprehensive study. For instance, skeletal parts obtained in excavation sites, human skulls, etc. can be scanned using computer tomography or X-rays and can be obtained virtually. This allows the anthropologist to gain more insights from study of the specimen. Thus, in a nutshell, computers and the latest technologies of the modern era play pivotal roles in the fields of anthropology.

2.5 Case Study

Computer technology was introduced into medical science beginning in the 1950s. Gustav Wagner in 1949 established the first professional organization for health informatics in Germany. During the 1960s, there were specialized university departments and informatics training centers established in Netherland, Germany, France, and Belgium. During the 1970s medical informatics research units appeared in the United States and Poland and much work towards the development of high-quality health education began in these developed countries. These developmental works focused on research, infrastructure, and the education field of healthcare services using ICT technology.

South Africa: South Africa uses a real-time mobile system for fast tracking and improved medical service, called the Dokoza System. This mobile system was used initially for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis treatment, with a plan to include many other diseases. It uses a system of SMS services and cell phone technology for information management and personal communication and transactional exchange. This system uses a regular issue sim card across any existing cell phone network. The backend system of Dokoza is integrated with the existing hospital system. The Dokoza system can be accessed on a real-time basis. Regarding security as a particular concern for HIV patient data, this system is highly vulnerable to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Indonesia: Indonesia implements a mobile telemedicine system in part of Sukabumi, West Java. This project covers an area of 4248 km2 with a population of about 2.3 million people. This system uses mobile telemedicine for efficient ICT-based health monitoring services.

In India, many initiatives have been carried out with the goal of including ICT technologies in the field of healthcare services. In collaboration with many international organizations, progress in this respect is ongoing. Indian experts in collaboration with UK-Based Loughborough University experts developed a unique mobile based health monitoring system in 2005. This system uses mobile phone service for transmission of patient vital information such as electrocardiogram (ECG) heart signals, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, or blood glucose level to any hospitals or experts anywhere in the world. An association with IIT Delhi, AIIMS, Aligarh Muslim University, and London Kingston University are set up for further development of this system.

An initiative for ICT-based healthcare service has been carried out at IIT Kanpur, called Sehat Sathi. This is a rural telemedicine system developed at Media Lab Asia at IIT Kanpur. The focus of this system is to carry medical services to remote areas of the country. This system is frontally supported and is carried out by trained nonmedical professionals, whereas the backend is supported by doctors and other health specialists. Media Lab Asia collaborated with AIIMS for use of handheld computers for healthcare data collection and planning.

7.3.1. Mechanical Design Process

The simplified mechanical product development process shown in Figure 7-1 consists of five stages. Starting with a design intent, a designer searches through existing components and subsystems to locate those that will satisfy the design needs. With this information, the designer must decide if the existing design should be modified or redone entirely. After completing the modification or preliminary design, a designer should analyze and simulate the proposed design to determine if the proposed design will perform as required. The next step is to review the design with manufacturing process planning, production engineers, etc. Finally, the design is ready for prototyping.

Advancing computer technology is rapidly changing the use of computers and computer-aided design tools in the product development process. As a result, the mechanical product development process is becoming more sophisticated as it subsumes these new principles (Figure 7-2). Advancement in the following areas has a significant impact on the product development process:

Migrating design information from blueprints to a data base management system

Developing on-line DFX auditors to accommodate design review meetings

Developing knowledge-based systems as front-end processes to ensure product quality. These new systems can assist inexperienced designers to produce expert-level designs.

As computer technologies have developed, so more and more facilities have been incorporated into the radar equipment. Originally, in order to extract the full potential of what the radar was capable, It was essential to manually, construct of ‘Plot’ of each target of interest. With the appropriate equipment, this is now done automatically. Here these operations are explained, as is the importance of ensuring the accuracy of the inputs from other sensors e.g. Log and compass. The various methods of automatic acquisition are described, as well as limitations, as is the way in which the extracted data might be displayed. As with all automatic methods, physical limits, target threats and alarms are explained. The different methods of display of target data are covered, traditional relative and true vectors, PPC (potential point of collision) and PAD (predicted area of danger) although the latter is not in current use. Finally some ARPAs also have map drawing facilities using navigational lines and symbols.

What are the 4 types of technology?

What is the type of technology?

What are the 7 different types of technology?

Is a computer an example of technology?