University Daily Kansan / Monday, Aug. 28, 1989
7B
Center puts KU on software forefront
By Travis Butler
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas may be taking the lead in a new category of computer software with its new Center for Excellence in Computer-Aided Systems Engineering, said Carl Locke, dean of engineering.
Computer software is a set of instructions that teaches a computer how to perform a certain task. Engineering software, for example, tells a computer how to perform engineering-related tasks.
"We're designing engineering software that cuts across the disciplines." Locke said.
Traditional computer software for engineering design is essentially a glorified version of the standard drafting table.
"It is used to design specific components of a machine, but it is not designed to do an entire machine," Locke said.
The software that the center will be working on goes beyond that, allowing engineers to do things in a more efficient way, he said.
In the past, engineering software
only allowed a designer to work on one piece of a machine at a time, without considering how the pieces worked together.
"It (the new software) allows engineers to design systems, as opposed to individual pieces," Locke said. "It allows you to develop and work with something made of interacting pieces. You can try a lot of different combinations of parts without making an actual physical model."
This ability involves new technologies that the computer science department teaches and researches, said Allen Ambler, associate professor of computer science.
"They're pushing the state of the art in two ways," he said. "They're trying to build tools that haven't been built before, and there's no model on how to do it. They need to know what the tool should do, and they have to figure out how to set it to do that."
Researchers at the center plan to develop the software mostly for engineering work stations, Locke said.
power of minicomputers that fill half a room and cost more than $100,000 in a package that sits on a desk and costs around $10,100 to 20,000, Locke said.
Engineering work stations are a new breed of computer that has become increasingly popular in the past year. They offer most of the
"They provide more power, memory and speed than personal computers." he said.
Locke said he was not worried about having a market for the software.
"When we were planning the center, we invited a large number of companies, both inside and outside Kansas, to Lawrence for their input," he said. "One component of the center will be to work on the projects these companies want."
Ambler said, "The idea behind the center is to take advantage of research being done at KU. We hope it will stimulate growth of industry in surrounding technological areas in the state of Kansas."
He said this could happen in two ways. The center could build and market a product through a spin-off company, or it could work with other Kansas industries to develop and market a product.
"I don't see the center being an product."
Locke hopes the center will be in operation this fall.
industry of its own." Ambler said.
"It depends on when funding is available," he said. "If fall funding comes through, we may start this fall."
Loose said he had applied for funds for the center from the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp., a state-owned development organization.
"The KTBC supports other centers in the state in the same way." Locke an
Students will be a large part of the center when it does begin operation,
"The faculty will use students to carry out the research," he said. "We will have six or so graduate students to start with, with our core funding. Funding for specific projects may add more students."
The center will fall under the umbrella of the office of research, graduate studies, and public service. Locke said.
"It will be very similar to other organized research groups, like the Tertiary Oil Recovery Project," he said.
Lawrence's city manager wants drug-test plan
While the nation's attention continues to focus on the ever-growing problem of drug use, city manager Buford Watson wants to make sure that Lawrence does not contribute to that problem.
By Christopher Evans Kansan staff writer
Watson recently presented, "A Report on Drug Issues" to be Lawrence City Commission, which calls for a revision of Lawrence drug policies and programs. Specifically,
the proposal asks for pre-employment drug testing for all city employees and for periodic drug testing, based upon suspicion or probable cause, after employment.
"We have tried to form a beginning step to take care of problem areas." Watson said. "If there's a problem with someone on staff, we'll look into it. If there's an area that involves drugs, we would test that individual."
In the report, which he has been organizing since early summer, Watson said that the proposed programs were still in the planning stages and that every possible alternative should be considered before they were put into effect.
"The issues involve personal experiences, legal implications, social conscious and values," he wrote in the report. "Careful consideration should be given before any programs are implemented."
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John Baughman, head pharmacist at Watkins Memorial Health Center,
has helped with drug testing seminars for the Academy of Students of Pharmacy. He agreed that caution should be used, but that city employees should not be apprehensive about the tests.
Baughman said that sometimes people were concerned that over-the-counter and prescription medications would show up in a test as illegal substances. He said that was a valid fear because even decongestants had traces of illegal drugs that could show up in testing.
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