Project STEAMER. 2. User's Manual for the STEAMER Interactive Graphics Package

摘要

The main objective of the STEAMER effort is to develop and evaluate advanced knowledge-based techniques for use in low cost portable training systems. The project is focused on propulsion engineering as a domain in which to investigate these computer-based training techniques. The basic design of the STEAMER system includes a mathematical model of a propulsion plant that students and instructors inspect and control using diagrams presented on a color graphics display. The objective of this effort was to document the general software used to present, create, and display diagrams and accept input from users of STEAMER. This documentation is intended as a reference manual for those who write STEAMER software. The STEAMER hardware consists of a color graphics terminal, a text terminal, and several graphical input devices. The graphics output software is organized in terms of four levels. The graphics input software allows the programmer to define abstract input devices and mappings between the input device and the screen. Organizing the system in this way has permitted the building of a graphics editor to manipulate graphics objects so that diagrams can be rapidly created. The abstract input device concept allows easy experimentation with different interactive input devices. No software modifications are needed for the user to change from using a transparent touch panel to using the terminal joystick or even a keyboard.