“Hardware versus Software” Moderated by Carl Machover
Conference:
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Entry Number: 06
Title:
- Hardware versus Software
Presenter(s)/Author(s):
Moderator(s):
Additional Information:
This panel considers the assertion that workstations incorporating special devices – coprocessors, array processors, tiling engines, geometry engines – offer hardware solutions to specific functions that are more effective than traditional software solutions. However, not all practitioners agree with that contention. Some people believe that performance, flexibility and price are compromised by incorporating unique hardware solutions. In a sense, issues that the graphic field has faced for the last three decades are being reconsidered. Early on, the battle of hardware-versus-software character generators, hardware- versus-software vector generators and hardware-versus-software wireframe rotators was fought. Today, people are suggesting putting drafting packages on a chip.
This panel brings together proponents of both points of view to discuss arguments and to fore- cast where each path might lead.
