Path: csiph.com!usenet.pasdenom.info!weretis.net!feeder1.news.weretis.net!news1.tnib.de!feed.news.tnib.de!news.tnib.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!individual.net!not-for-mail From: "Paul E. Bennett" Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth Subject: Re: The Map Is Not The Territory Followup-To: comp.lang.forth Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:28:29 +0100 Organization: Hidecs Consultancy Lines: 70 Message-ID: References: <66982927-4753-49a2-83f6-cfc011d1f312@googlegroups.com> <053ad03e-0477-446a-9cf5-4469fb85feb8@t8g2000yqd.googlegroups.com> <128e2791-07d6-4f16-93a4-2627e9209c06@h9g2000yqi.googlegroups.com> <8a84e8d7-9815-4903-8ba4-96535ffaa099@a34g2000yqi.googlegroups.com> Reply-To: Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit X-Trace: individual.net HelxqmkRsF8FhLtoJU+Xxg7dm52HPlnaRkQ3qtCCdGecBVy6iMM1UOHqly+wJKGVms Cancel-Lock: sha1:H85Tuop+BfcrdEgeHBdIo64Xpq0= Mail-Copies-To: Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk User-Agent: KNode/0.99.01 Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.forth:13445 rickman wrote: [%X] >> The path here is well traveled, it is how games like Pong worked - they >> all generated the image on the fly, because memory was expensive back >> then. Games like Asteroids used even vector graphics and special >> monitors. >> >> Now, we don't have 1970 anymore, we have 2012. Memory is cheap, dirt >> cheap. We don't generate images on the fly, because we have frame >> buffers. Well, we actually do generate new images frame by frame, but >> we use double or even tripple buffering to make it smooth (one image is >> currently displayed, one image is ready-to-display, and one image is >> rendered to). We do that because memory is cheap. >> >> The only place where memory isn't cheap is power consumption. The main >> reason why smartphones can't and won't have standby times in weeks as >> dumb phones, is DRAM. DRAM requires constant refreshing, and by doing >> so drains a lot more current than is leaking through the capacitors. >> Maybe some memresistor device will change that, but not yet. > > Are you sure the DRAM is the cause of the short battery life of the > smart phones? I was just looking at a data sheet for SDRAM and it > lists a 1 mA current for the refresh function and 300 uA standby > current. I think most of the power goes to the 1 Watt CPU that uses > the DRAM, not so much the DRAM itself. > > >> In so far, as the map is not the territory, I think Chuck used an >> ancient path and wandered off what makes sense today. > > I think the F18 makes some sense, but it needs a LOT of work and in > particular it has to allow some deviations from the "simplicity" > syndrome to make it practical. If a 700 MIPS CPU can't implement a > high speed phy in software, then maybe a custom interface is needed. > If the 64 word instruction/data memory is not large enough to > implement a protocol, then maybe a few nodes need to have more > memory. At some point concessions need to be made to the app, not the > other way around. > > I haven't given up just yet. We'll see if I can tame this beast! Several of us are looking at the GA144 for potential applications. I am having an interesting time looking at the analogue inputs for the device at present (especially using the widest range of input mV possible while maintaining some sensible accuracy over the range - the polynomial correction factors are going to be most interesting). I am sure that the GA144 could probably do a better version of this device; . Maybe it won't have as many inputs as the model shown but could probably do a direct on-the fly representation of the signals and maybe even some data logging for good measure. Even if a separate USB interface or PHY is used it would not detract from the application brilliance. I think it just takes some good ideas to be brought to the device and implemented. I hope all those currently playing will, eventually, put in some of the input to the Application Notes themselves. I will for that which does not have NDA restrictions. -- ******************************************************************** Paul E. Bennett............... Forth based HIDECS Consultancy Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972 Tel: +44 (0)1235-510979 Going Forth Safely ..... EBA. www.electric-boat-association.org.uk.. ********************************************************************