General CPU Simulator Features

GENERAL CPU SIMULATOR FEATURES

Each CPU Simulator has a set-up region and two or more palettes. Each palette consists of a set of tools and elements with properties that can be set by student or instructor. The instructor also has complete control over which palettes appear on the screen, which elements and tools appear in a given palette, and which properties will be accessible to the student.

For example, the Light & Color Lens Images Simulator has an Elements Palette, Measurement Tools Palette, Control Palette (turns propagation of light rays on and off), and a Shapes (graphics) Palette (see left picture below). There are options to show or not show any of these palettes (middle picture) Also, within each palette, there are options to show or not show each element or tool. The picture on the right shows that the Measurement Tools palette has been hidden, and within the Elements Palette the eye and square obstacle elements have been hidden.

Each element also has a property box, where parameters can be changed. The instructor also has the option of "hiding" some of these properties. For example, the student can normally choose either a convex or concave lens in the lens property box, but the instructor (via a security password) can hide that choice.

Every simulator comes with a button panel that allows users to easily save and load simulator setups; make an image of the simulator for printing; save a simulator web page that automatically loads the current setup; paste JPEG and GIF images into the simulator; and access help pages that document every feature of the simulators. The Save and Load buttons are available with the Multi-User Installation only.

Each CPU Simulator has a set-up region and two or more palettes. Each palette consists of a set of tools and elements with properties that can be set by student or instructor. The instructor also has complete control over which palettes appear on the screen, which elements and tools appear in a given palette, and which properties will be accessible to the student.
For example, the Light & Color Lens Images Simulator has an Elements Palette, Measurement Tools Palette, Control Palette (turns propagation of light rays on and off), and a Shapes (graphics) Palette (see left picture below). There are options to show or not show any of these palettes (middle picture) Also, within each palette, there are options to show or not show each element or tool. The picture on the right shows that the Measurement Tools palette has been hidden, and within the Elements Palette the eye and square obstacle elements have been hidden.

Each element also has a property box, where parameters can be changed. The instructor also has the option of "hiding" some of these properties. For example, the student can normally choose either a convex or concave lens in the lens property box, but the instructor (via a security password) can hide that choice.