LabTutor Computerized Textbook Uses LabVIEW and HyperCard to Teach Data
Acquisition and Laboratory Control on the Macintosh

January 27, 1993 - Austin, TX - John K. Eaton, a professor of mechanical
engineering at Stanford University and a member of the National
Instruments Alliance Program, announced today LabTutor, a new
Macintosh-based instructional tool for teaching concepts and techniques
about computer-based data acquisition, laboratory system control, and data
analysis. LabTutor includes a HyperCard-based textbook (hardcopy and
softcopy) and extensive programming examples and practice exercises
developed using the Macintosh and the LabVIEW graphical programming
software from National Instruments.

The LabTutor textbook begins with an introduction on how to interface
computers to programmable instruments and data acquisition hardware, and
explains what hardware is needed for setting up a typical laboratory
computer system. Subsequent sections describe using conventional
laboratory instrumentation, digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion,
analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion, parallel digital interfacing, GPIB
instrument interfacing, and data analysis techniques. Each section
contains a general overview and application examples, a description of how
the interface hardware works, and a discussion of how to use the LabVEW
programming examples and exercises.

LabTutor was developed with partial funding from Apple Computer and the
National Science Foundation. The package is designed for use as either
undergraduate or graduate college-level courseware or as a self-paced
tutorial for use in either an academic setting or private industry for
employee training or continuing education programs. Professors may
consider using the LabTutor package as a required textbook, which can be
purchased through university bookstores.

LabTutor is already in use in several college-level engineering courses and
labs, including Stanford University, University of Minnesota, and Tufts
University.

System Requirements 

LabTutor will run on any Macintosh computer capable of running HyperCard
with at least 2M of disk storage. To work the exercises provided, users
need a Macintosh NuBus computer with LabVEW, Version 2.0 or higher, and at
least SM of memory. The NBMIO-16 and NB-GPIB interface boards from
National Instruments are also required to perform the data acquisition
exercises with LabTutor.

Price, Availability, and for More Information 

LabTutor is available now from John Eaton for $35. Site licenses are
available. For more information, please contact John K. Eaton, 635
Salvatierra Street, Stanford, CA 94305, (415) 329-1171.

LabVIEW is available now for $1,995 from National Instruments. For more
information, please contact National Instruments 6504 Bridge Point
Parkway, Austin, TX 787305039, (512) 7941011, fax: (512) 7948411. Call
toll-free in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 433-3488.
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From the author:

LabTutor is multipurpose courseware which can be used as a traditional
textbook or can double as a laboratory guidebook. The main body of the
work covers the basic principles, concepts, and techniques of computer
interfacing and data analysis. LabTutor goes beyond this to describe use
of LabView, National Instruments graphical programming language for
laboratory computers. This language is an excellent tool for students as
well as working scientists and engineers. LabTutor provides extensive
worked examples and functions as a very effective tutorial for LabView.
Students are able to set up and program the hardware exercises entirely on
their own.

LabTutor has been used extensively at Stanford University for undergraduate
and graduate laboratory courses. In addition, many users have worked
through the tutorial independently learning the entire subject without an
instructor.

The present version of LabTutor runs under Hypercard on Apple Macintosh
Computers. A Microsoft Windows version will be available in mid 1993.
Development of LabTutor was partially supported by grants from Apple
Computer and the National Science Foundation.

LabTutor is new courseware which was developed to fill the need for a
modern textbook on computer-based data acquisition, laboratory system
control, and data analysis techniques. It was designed for use either as a
course textbook or alternatively as a self-paced tutorial.

LabTutor is computer-based so it can be read on the computer and includes
text, graphics, animation and sound providing a stimulating and easy to
understand presentation. LabTutor includes extensive hands-on examples
guiding the student through a fully interactive laboratory experience.

LabTutor may be purchased in single quantities for $35 which includes the
hardcopy volume and two diskettes. Site licensing is also available.

John K. Eaton, 635 Salvatierra St, Stanford, CA 94305 
(415) 723-1971

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