FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information, contact:
Shari Worthington, PR Counsel, LABTECH, 508-755-5242
New Windows® NT-based Software for Data Acquisition & Process Control Provides Full Multiprocessing and Priority-based Scheduling
LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL applications are first to allow multiple copies of software to run on single PC
Andover, MA (April 19, 1999). LABTECH® Corporation, pioneer in the field of high performance data acquisition and process control software, today announced the Windows® NT version of its software family: LABTECH NOTEBOOK™, NOTEBOOKpro™, CONTROL™, and CONTROLpro™. This latest release of the company's instrumentation and control software features a number of major innovations, including true multiprocessing capabilities, priority-based scheduling, and a new open architecture design.
LABTECH's new multiprocessing feature allows multiple copies of NOTEBOOK and CONTROL to run on the same system, saving users significant resources, both in terms of finances and labor. The new priority-based scheduling capability, unavailable with packages based on DOS or Windows 95/98, provides users with a deterministic design that delivers predictable performance—at the application and I/O level. In addition, the new LABTECH software takes advantage of Microsoft's COM technology, offering users the advantages of a universal, open standard that allows interoperability between the company's software and the largest number of I/O devices of any data acquisition software developer.
These new features are all part of LABTECH's easy-to-use, object-oriented software environment that requires NO PROGRAMMING. LABTECH software also includes real-time remote access to data via the World Wide Web. Also known as "Internet Hot Links," this technology was invented and first introduced by LABTECH in March 1996; it is now a part of all the company's software as the LABTECH NetTrender module.
"LABTECH is committed to providing its customers with the latest data acquisition and control software technology," stated Dr. Fred A. Putnam, President of LABTECH. "As such, we are pleased to be the first instrumentation and control software company to provide sophisticated multiprocessing and priority-based scheduling capabilities. Together, LABTECH software and Windows NT are now ready to take on even more sophisticated laboratory and manufacturing processes."
Multiprocessing Capabilities
LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL for Windows NT are unique among PC-based data acquisition and process control software packages in that they provide full multiprocessing capabilities. All LABTECH software is architected for multiple processes, such as data acquisition and data display. But with its new multiprocessing capabilities, LABTECH is able to provide true, real-time multiprocessing, much like the old real-time minicomputers of the 1980's (albeit at a much lower price as users are now able to leverage the power of the PC).
Multiprocessing provides a number of advantages, including the ability to run multiple copies of NOTEBOOK and CONTROL on the same PC. The software can run independently, yet share the same hardware. This saves users significant amounts of money on hardware purchases, both at the PC and I/O levels, as well as labor. As an example:
For 5 test stands, in the past, you would need 5 copies of LABTECH CONTROL software, 5 PCs, and 5 multi-point I/O systems, for a total cost of $23,500.
Taking advantage of the new multiprocessing capabilities of LABTECH CONTROL, you would need 1 copy of LABTECH CONTROL, 1 PC, and 1 multi-point I/O system, for a total cost of $6,500.
That's a difference of $17,000, saving 72% of the system cost. Add in the savings in labor when you move from five line operators to one and the user is looking at savings in the six figure range.
Multiprocessing also allows each module of the LABTECH software (e.g. Build-Time, Run-Time, VisionPro) to run on separate parallel processors. This way each processor can be configured for optimal handling of the particular software module's function. In addition, multiprocessing allows users to assign LABTECH software a priority when running with other software packages.
Open Architecture
The lack of interoperability among products offered in today's data acquisition market makes it difficult for a system designer to mix and match products from multiple vendors. This often leads to conflicts between performance and ease of use. By taking advantage of Microsoft's COM technology and ATL (Active Template Libraries), LABTECH has come up with an innovative solution to this problem in the latest version of its software.
COM is a mature specification that allows for the development of modular, component software. This is ideal for data acquisition and control software products like LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL as they must include drivers for dozens, if not hundreds, of I/O boards. Using COM technology, LABTECH is able to offer an open interface and true interoperability between data acquisition devices. This provides users with new levels of application design flexibility, allowing them to pick and choose from among a wealth of I/O—including a number of new PCI bus data acquisition cards.
Graphical User Interface
Designed for programmers and non-programmers alike, LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL allows users to create sophisticated user interfaces, generate real-time animated graphics, graphically display data, and directly control processes in real time, all without the need for programming. The software is connected by "hot links" to data sources through LT-Speedway, the company's high speed software bus.
In addition to its graphical front-end, all LABTECH software allows users to create their own Visual Basic or C++ applications with full access to all the software's capabilities.
Note that all of the company's software products are Year 2000 compliant. This means that users of CONTROLpro, CONTROL, NOTEBOOKpro, and NOTEBOOK will not experience any issues related to the clock change at the transition of the year 1999 to 2000.
Pricing & Delivery
Pricing for the Windows NT version of LABTECH's software is as follows:
LABTECH NOTEBOOK, $695 for a single workstation license or $990 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract;
NOTEBOOKpro, $1195 for a single CPU license or $1640 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract;
LABTECH CONTROL, $2495 for a single CPU license or $3320 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract;
CONTROLpro, $3495 for a single CPU license or $4640 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract.
Upgrades to Windows NT from Windows 95/98 start at $250. All software is available immediately.
Since 1981, LABTECH Corporation has been keeping scientists and engineers on the cutting edge of data acquisition and process control with their products: NOTEBOOK, NOTEBOOKpro, CONTROL, and CONTROLpro. First to leverage the World Wide Web for remote access to real-time applications with its NetTrender technology, LABTECH focuses on providing innovative software for end-users, systems integrators, and OEMs in manufacturing, automated test, and laboratory automation.
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EDITORS: PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
Please send lead inquiries to:
LABTECH Corp.
2 Dundee Park, Suite B09, Andover, MA 01810
+1 978-470-0099, Fax: +1 978-470-3338
E-mail: info@labtech.com, Web: http://www.labtech.com
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