Reverse video

Abstract: Color is added to the standard video display (18) of a computer numerical control system for controlling the operation of a machine tool (10) in the performance of specified operations with respect to a workpiece. Color assignment records (62) are included in the machine setup data (MSD) source file (54) for implementing background color, reverse video color, forms character color, data character color, errors and/or alarm color, operator required response color, and high-lite color. The MSD source file (54) is processed to generate a binary MSD file (56) which is then read into the numerical control basic (NC) software (24) which operates to generate both text and graphic displays. The original or default color assignments may be dynamically modified or changed through an MSD file editor (58). Additionally, the background color and data character color are programmed to change to other colors to bring the operator's attention to an error or alarm condition through the machine control logic (MCL) (28) which generates calls through a software interface (26) to the NC software (24).

Abstract: Highlighting (HI), for example of menu options, is usually considered as improving information processing efficiency. Particularly relevant are the attention effects of valid (target) highlighting, when contrasted with the effects of highlighting distracting information (invalid HI). A visual search experiment was conducted to analyze the requirements of such an overall performance gain under valid HI. The efficiency of six different modes of highlighting (brightness increase, reverse video, color [red], reverse color, blue‐on‐yellow, and red‐on‐green) on a black screen background was determined. Sixty‐two subjects indicated the presence of a prespecified menu option in a list of CAD menu options, of which a subset was highlighted on every trial. Also varied was familiarity of highlighting. Dependent measures were the absolute performance scores (search time and accuracy) and highlighting benefits. Significant absolute performance differences between the modes were found. They were accompanied by a marked...

Abstract: A dual mode raster scanned character display system has a text mode of operation in which characters having a first matrix size are displayed on a CRT screen and a high resolution mode of operation in which display information is bit mapped on the CRT screen. Programmable font characters are stored in a memory and are accessed by controller characters generated in response to display requests supplied by an associated information source, such as a computer or a keyboard. Each controller character includes a special screen attribute multi-bit portion which is used to modify the font characters when coupled to a video signal generator unit to display reverse video, provide underline or strike through, specify one of two fixed intensities, suppress the character or provide a software function, such as CURSOR. In text mode, each character block has a fixed size appropriate to alphanumeric character generation, i.e. ten columns by sixteen rows; in high resolution mode of operation, each character block has a size appropriate to high resolution bit mapped graphic display, i.e. sixteen columns by sixteen rows. Both display and brightness are controlled by 3 bit digital characters supplied from the keyboard, the digital characters being converted from digital-to-analog form and used to control the brightness signal and the contrast signal level. The font characters are programmable from the associated information source, i.e. the computer.