Title: Distributed Systems Enabling Technology
Performer(s):
Ashok K. Agrawala
Department of Computer Science
University of Maryland
A.V. Williams Building
College Park, MD 20742 |
Cluster: ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
Contact Information:
Phone: 301-405-2525
Fax: 301-405-6707
email: agrawala@cs.umd.edu
|
1. Instructional Focus:
Content areas/topics: Not applicable.
Process skills: Not applicable.
2. Target Population: CAETI team members.
3. Summary Description: This project involves development and implementation of a time-based operating system to enable temporally determinate execution of programs to support applications such as multi-media, distributed simulation, etc. The performers will be enhancing Maruti Version 3.0 to enable it to support the necessary capabilities for multi-media, etc., and will be making it available for use by other CAETI teams. The first proposed use of Maruti for CAETI purposes is a multi-media workstation capable of synchronized audio and video presentation. The performers will also develop a temporally accurate distributed simulation environment suitable for complex training exercises.
4. Training and Staff Development:
- Teacher prerequisite skills/knowledge needed: Not applicable.
- Student prerequisite skills needed: Not applicable.
- Training needed/provided: None specified.
- Technical support needed/provided: None specified.
5. Technological Resources Needed: 486 or later model PC compatibles. Maruti OS works on standalone machines. Minimum processor - 486DX with 8 M memory. The exact configuration is yet to be determined.
6. Intended Outcomes:
Students: Not applicable.
Teachers: Not applicable.
7. Instructional Time Required: Not applicable.
8. Role of the Pilot Teacher(s): Not applicable.
9. Example(s) of the Use of this Product (Scenario): Maruti Technology is applicable for any educational applications in which accurate rendition of time is important. Here are some such applications:
Multi-media Applications - In multi-media applications a synchronization between the video and the audio is necessary. Among the first applications we are building are the multimedia platforms on which we can implement applications with full synchronization among not only audio and video but also any demos one may want to run. As Maruti permits a stand alone operation, lessons could be organized and put on disks which can be distributed easily and booted directly.
Simulation of Dynamic Systems - Simulations may be used as pedagogic tools for physics, mechanics, differential equations etc. When we want to show how some variables change with time accurately Maruti can be used as a base for such modeling.
Distributed Virtual Environments - In virtual distributed environments multiple activities taking place at geographically distributed sites have to coordinate their actions while communicating over a net. Accurate and timely interaction is essential for such environments. Maruti technology is well suited for such applications.
We will work with any performers who are developing such applications and provide them with Maruti technology support for their development efforts.
