Our goal is to provide readers with leading-edge technical information presented in a user-friendly context.
It's been four years since the first issue of Vision Systems Design magazine was published. During that time, there have been numerous changes in the design and development of machine-vision and image-processing systems and in technical market conditions. For example, ISA-bus boards have given way to PCI-based cards, 100-MHz processors are being replaced by 1-GHz Pentium processors, and dumb, low-resolution cameras have progressed to smart megapixel cameras with built-in data conversion and signal processing. Simultaneously, the Internet has emerged as an omnipresent competitor and presenter of voluminous information and has seized the attention and time of the technical community.
With the increase in bandwidth, manufacturers of image sensors and high-speed cameras continue to abandon broadcast-based standards, such as RS-170, and opt for digital outputs based on FireWire, Channel Link, or other digital standards. To process and store such images, board-level vendors are incorporating the latest high-speed digital-signal processors, pipelined-processing platforms, and megabytes of memory chips. As a magazine chronicling these changes, Vision Systems Design has tracked how the processing capability of general-purpose CPUs has increased four times and how various vendors have dealt with balancing the design parameters of image sensing, processing throughput, and analog and digital inputs and outputs.
To take advantage of the Internet's success as the source of useful information, Vision Systems Design established a Web site at www.vision-systems.com, which offers access to all of its present and previously published information. Readers can peruse any or all of the past 48 issues. By typing in a keyword, our search engine will bring you just the data you need.
Just four years ago, the Internet and Vision Systems Design were both relatively new and untested. With time and experience, the Internet has re-energized information access, display, delivery, and storage in an unprecedented manner. Similarly, over the same period, Vision Systems Design has vaulted into the pre-eminent position in the vision and imaging publication field. It has continuously presented a targeted editorial package on emerging machine-vision and imaging technologies, products, and applications that has continuously met the needs of engineers, systems integrators, and technical managers who design and develop machine-vision and image-processing systems for the industrial, medical, scientific, and military/aerospace markets.
A NEW LOOK
Now, the Internet is being reexamined and readjusted to meet increasing user demands for improved and faster access, cleaner and unobstructed display, and more useful information presentation. Just as Internet-related companies and developers of OEM machine-vision and image-processing products must constantly re-evaluate their products according to the latest market specifications, developments, and trends, Vision Systems Design has completely refined the way its added-value editorial is presented. It has been artistically redesigned to enhance its look and feel by our art department, specifically Suzanne Heiser, art director; Meg Fuschetti, ATD group art director; and Mari Rodriguez, ATD production director.
The changes are all aimed at making its editorial sections easier to find, read, and understand in a modern and contemporary setting. The goal is to provide readers with leading-edge technical information presented in a user-friendly context.
Over the next few years, OEM vision/imaging and Internet companies are expected to apply new technologies that will make their products work even easier, faster, and better. Likewise, Vision Systems Design will periodically incorporate new concepts for enhancing its publication. Let us know how the new look is helping you do your job.
by Andy Wilson[email protected]