Development of Analog/Hybrid Terminals for Teaching System Dynamics. AFIPS Conference Proceedings. Volume 37.

Analog/hybrid terminals may be superior to conversational mode terminals for teaching engineering because they allow more computer/student interaction. This paper defines requirements for an analog computer terminal system to be used to teach system dynamics. There are seven requirements for such terminals: capability to vary at least five different parameters in a specific problem, access to three to five function switches, ability to select at least four different problems at any terminal, response time of one to three seconds, a storage screen oscilloscope or refreshed display for x-y plots, four or five output channels for display on the oscilloscope, and an instructor's terminal with a large screen display that the whole class can observe. Such a system will be tried out in three courses at North Carolina State University and will consist of 16 student terminals, one instructor terminal, a digital "mini-computer" with an input/output device for programing, and a control interface to the analog computer. A functional description of this terminal, including diagrams, makes up the major section of the report. (JK)