A language for CAL: 'C' where it leads. (4th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Makinson, G.J.; Morarji, H.L.
• Is Part Of: International journal of computer applications technology. Volume 2:Number 2(1989)
• Page Start: 124
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2014-08-04
• Subjects: computer–aided learning -- CAL author systems -- computational mathematics -- networking -- computerised teaching packages -- C language; Technology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 620.00285
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-8091

Abstract

The wide availability of Unix and the C language has made it possible to create teaching packages which can be ported very easily from one machine to another. C programs are generally accepted to be highly portable whereas other languages such as Fortran are not. At the University of Kent, teaching packages for computational mathematics have been created in C using an authoring system, KAS, devised at Kent. The software generates graphical displays in a device–independent format using a graphics program, DIGS, written in C at Heriot–Watt University. With specific device drivers the software can display results, both numerically and graphically, in colour or mono on such displays as a BBC micro, Tektonics 4010, Sigma, or any micro emulating a Tektronics terminal. The graphical output can also be sent to an advanced plotter such as a CALCOMP or BENSON plotter. Interactive access to the software can be from a standalone workstation, over a ring network, or over a wide area network such as JANET.