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To: glove-list@karazm.math.uh.edu
Subject: Re: Transputers... 
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Wed, 23 Oct 91 10:22:20 MDT."
             <9110231622.AA28492@alfred.math.utah.edu> 
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 91 10:28:31 -0700
From: James Helman <jim@kaos.stanford.edu>

    A cpu for input devices, a cpu (or more) for stereo output, a cpu
    for sound, a cpu for the motion platform, a big cpu to coordinate
    things, and a collection of cpu's to model objects.

This is very close to what Division Ltd. system does.  Their ProVision
system even uses transputers (Iann Barron from Inmos is Division's
chairman) with a couple i860's thrown in for FP speed.  MP systems can
provide better price/performance.  The big question is whether the
general purpose MP's (off the shelf PCs, Suns or SGIs) will get cheap
enough, fast enough.  If not, special purpose systems whether home
brewed or off-the-shelf like PROVision look attractive.

-jim

Jim Helman					Lab:  (415) 723-9127
Stanford University				FAX:  (415) 591-8165
(jim@KAOS.stanford.edu) 			Home: (415) 593-1233

"The power of the computer is locked behind a door with no knob."
							-B. Laurel