The DMX 512 is a protocol based on RS-485 that is used to control both theatrical stage lighting and effects. The DMX 512 was developed in 1986 and revised in 1990. It is a standard developed by the Engineering Commission of USITT. Today the standard is also known as E1.11 or DMX 512-A.
The DMX 512 is a common method for linking controllers and dimmers. It can also control more advanced items such as fixtures, fog machines and moving lights. It should be noted that DMX 512 should not be used
[ read more ]
Computers can provide a wide range of functions which make computers useful for everyday situations. They can be loaded with software of various types to perform these functions for everyday use as well. They can be useful for work or recreation and make interesting experimental mediums.
Use of Computers for Research
Research for various endeavors can be done with a computer. Having access to the Internet can offer numerous and unlimited possibilities for research. Software
[ read more ]
A DAT file is used for a variety of reasons. Files with a DAT extension are generally composed of information stored by programs. Such information includes configuration information or simple data. Some programs will write codes that seem jumbled/messy into DAT files. Regardless of the application, DAT files can be opened and read by a variety of different tools.
The most common tool is a text editor. Text editors can easily open nearly any type of file. Notepad is a common text editor that i
[ read more ]
Screen captures are, literally, 'captures' of the images on a computer's screen. This is necessary when one needs troubleshooting help for an unexpected system error, in which case it would help if an image of the error message can be procured and sent to the technical support personnel. It can also be used to capture images embedded in web pages or PDF files.
Taking Screen Captures
To take screen captures, one has to use the "Print Screen" (or oft-abbreviated 'PrtSc' button that is usually fo
[ read more ]
The term Artificial Intelligence first saw use in 1955 when John McCarthy (now Professor Emeritus in Computer Science at Stanford University) used the term to refer to the scientific process involved in making "intelligent" machines and computers.
McCarthy credits the British mathematician Allan Turing (1912-1954) with the initial efforts to study artificial intelligence, citing Turing's 1950 article where Turing discussed the terms under which a machine can be considered intelligent. Turing
[ read more ]
The personal computer has brought many different luxuries and advancements to modern society ranging from personal finances to unlimited information. Unfortunately, computers are not foolproof and require maintenance from time to time. Fortunately, one of the easiest and most efficient means of maintaining computers and correcting problems is reformatting. Reformatting a computer can remove malware and viruses as well as fixing issues with the registry. All of these things can lead to better per
[ read more ]
UIF stands for Universal Image Format and has the .uif extension. The UIF is a very powerful compression format and is excellent for backing up CD and DVD data. It is currently owned by the MagicISO application and is compatible only with Microsoft Windows operating systems.
UIF files are reliable, quick to process, and packed with various features such as password protection, data encryption, and MD5 checksum support. The UIF image file is not just used for creating a complete data backup of
[ read more ]
Bar codes come in many shapes and sizes. Common 1-Dimensional bar codes use lines of black on a white background to encode data. Postnet, which is used by the U.S. Postal Service, uses bar height to encode data instead. Most U.S. state drivers licenses use a 2-Dimensional bar code like PDF-417 to enable them to encode lots of data in limited space. Special 2-D bar code scanners are required to read 2-D bar codes.
The coding formats vary from simple to complex. Some bar code standards also pri
[ read more ]
In this day and age, most people are exchanging the pen and paper for a computer with a word processing progamme. Nowadays, the alternative to sending messages via snail mail is the use of the Internet to send electronic mail. Sometimes people wish to remain anonymous when sending messages. This comes in handy for various reasons, whether for privacy protection, to avoid embarrassment of any sort, or to voice an opinion without fear of direct retaliation from another party. This is done through
[ read more ]
One of the biggest costs associated with owning an Epson printer is paying for new printer cartridges. The Epson Company follows the printer industry practice of selling the devices at a low price as a loss leader, and then make profit off of selling new ink cartridges. To combat the practice of consumers refilling cartridges on their own, Epson has manufactured the majority of their inkjet cartridges with “smart chips” since 2000. These chips transmit a signal to the printer when empty. The
[ read more ]