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Title: Local area networks, laboratory information management systems, languages, and operating systems in the lab and pilot plant

Conference · · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6986844

Microprocessors and microcomputers are being incorporated into the instruments and controllers in our laboratory and pilot plant. They enhance both the quality and amount of information that is produced. Yet they simultaneously produce vast amounts of information that must be controlled, or scientists and engineers will become high priced secretaries. The devices need programs that control them in a time frame relevant to the experiment. Simple, expeditious pathways to the generation of software that will run rapidly is essential or first class scientists and engineers become second class system programmersexclamation This paper attempts to develop the vocabulary by which the people involved in this technological revolution can understand and control it. We will examine the elements that synergistically make up the electronic laboratory and pilot plant. More detailed analyses of each area may be found in a series of articles entitled A/C INTERFACE (1-4). Many factors interact in the final system that we bring into our laboratory. Yet many purchasers only perform a cursory evaluation on the superficial aspects of the hardware. The integrated lab and pilot plant require that microprocessors, which control and collect, be connected in a LAN to larger processors that can provide LIMS support. Statistics and scientific word processing capabilities then complete the armamentorium. The end result is a system that does things for the user, rather than doing things to him.

Research Organization:
Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia
OSTI ID:
6986844
Report Number(s):
CONF-830814-
Journal Information:
Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Vol. 28:4; Conference: 186. national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, USA, 28 Aug 1983
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English