Added: Feb 28, 2008
From: drewh0208
Duration: 4:6
Here's an example of distributed computing used to create a Mandelbrot Set fractal. Both the primary and secondary programs are written in BASIC, but I also used an assembly program called 'ZENTER', written by Spyder Byte (from ticalc.org), to help the calculators communicate. Basically, the secondary program/calculator is just a function that takes in the current x position and returns columns x to x+2 to the primary calculator. It then retrieves a new x value to the secondary calc., and the primary calc. draws the received information. In the video, this is happening when the black column on the left of the white gap quickly disappears. In BASIC, the 'get(' function used to retrieve data only works when the other calculator is in an idle mode, such as 'Pause'. In order to automatically get the other calculator out of 'Pause' mode, it uses the command 'asm(prgmZENTER)' to unpause the other calc. I estimate that this distributed computing increases the net processing speed by around 2.5 times, as, in the same time span, the secondary calc. completes 3 rows shortly before the primary calc. completes 2 rows. Testing with similar hardware (another TI-84+ instead of the shown TI-84+ SE) showed an average speed increase of about 109%, though some more modifications could improve that. My friend in the video is Cache Hawkes; check out his sweet parkour videos. If you have any questions about how the program works in detail, or whatever, feel free to ask.
Channel: Tech
Tags: calculator computing distributed mandelbrot set ti-84+
Rating: 3.75 (4 ratings) Views: 767 Comments: 0
