EUC BECOMES ENTERPRISE COMPUTING

Client/server, open systems, joint application development, and legacy systems—what happens when the silver bullet meets the glass house? And what does all of this have to do with end-user computing, anyway? Read this column and find out.     

Upgrading the Computer

Abstract

Until recently, hardware was upgraded simply by ordering a larger, faster, more expensive computer. Now, upgrading a system is more complex but potentially more rewarding. The complexity results from the many alternative approaches available, the advent of distributed processing with its networking implications, the proliferation of microcomputers and office systems and the potential need to integrate them, and the options available for obtaining equipment. An understanding of an organization's needs and careful planning can make an equipment upgrade successful.     

Improving Productivity in Systems Development

Abstract

Marty Nemzow is engaged in a variety of business activities. His company, Network Performance Institute (Miami, FL) provides enterprise network design and improvement consulting services, markets capacity planning and business continuity and network resource management tools to the industry, and develops and markets shrink-wrapped network configuration software tools to big companies and consulting firms. A graduate of Brown University and Harvard Graduate School of Business, Marty also sells books, software and medical products over the Internet and is a columnist for WebServer Online Magazine at http://webserver.cpg.com.     

Compression of skin tumor images

The shape and stress distribution in the new Collapsible Rib-Tensioned Surface reflector are investigated both analytically and experimentally. A methodology is established for the preliminary design of symmetric reflectors of given aperture, focal length, and target root-mean-square (RMS) error, by extending form-finding methods originally developed for membrane roof covers. The concepts of a reference surface and of an equilibrium surface are introduced, and algorithms are developed to compute these surfaces and their associated RMS error. Then, the cutting pattern for making the membrane is computed and the RMS error of the actual surface is predicted. Estimates are made of the RMS error of reflectors with apertures of 1, 3, 5, and 10 m, with 6, 12, and 24 ribs. Measurements of prestress and shape in a one-sixth sector of a 1 m diameter reflector with 6 ribs are compared with predictions obtained from the computational study. In the central part of the gore, about half of the total surface, the average error on prestress is 22% whereas the shape has an RMS error of 0.7 mm, better than predicted.     

Identification of variegated coloring in skin tumors: neuralnetwork vs. rule-based induction methods

The use of neural networks for automatic identification of variegated coloring, which is believed to be one of the most predictive features for malignant melanoma, is described. The Nestor development system (NDS) was chosen for neural network implementation. At the heart of NDS is a three-layer neural network called a restricted Coulomb energy (RCE) network. The learning scheme and the database for detection of variegated coloring are discussed. Results are reported     

Upgrading the Computer

Until recently, hardware was upgraded simply by ordering a larger, faster, more expensive computer. Now, upgrading a system is more complex but potentially more rewarding. The complexity results from the many alternative approaches available, the advent of distributed processing with its networking implications, the proliferation of microcomputers and office systems and the potential need to integrate them, and the options available for obtaining equipment. An understanding of an organization's needs and careful planning can make an equipment upgrade successful.     

Compression of skin tumor images

The following topics are dealt with: error measures; transform-domain processing; preprocessing of color images; the principal components transform; the discrete wavelet transform; wavelet decomposition and reconstruction; vector quantization; distortion measures; a codebook design algorithm; design and implementation of compression algorithms; preprocessing effects; quality assessment of the compressed images