An Evaluation of Interactive Laboratory System Software, ILS-PC/DOS, A Digital Signal Processing Software Package.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Interactive Laboratory Systems ILS-PC digital signal processing software package. This is accomplished in three ways. First, identifying the need for digital signal processing software and the basic computational operations that a software package of this type should perform. Secondly, by describing the operation of the software and development of a conceptual thought process that incorporates ILS in solving digital signal processing problems. Finally, by using ILS to solve a number of problems and evaluating the software package by comparing its capabilities and limitations with existing tools available for digital signal processing at the Naval Postgraduate School. As modern technology tends more toward digital methods in signal processing and analysis, the need for software that consolidates and decreases the computational burden of these methods becomes apparent. Time savings are realized if the software is interactive and requires only input parameters. From an academic perspective, use of this software can improve instructional effectiveness and increase the research productivity of students. Solutions that require redundant computations such as, for example, determining the frequency response of a filter, can be completed without substantial programming. This increases the flexibility and availability of computer generated solutions for analysis. Finally, use of this software helps the student remain abreast of available analysis tools.