You are in your kitchen – QUICK, multiply 347.2 times 15.8 –
Well let’s see, I could go down to the den, turn on the computer, wait for Windows® to boot up (have a cup of coffee), start my spreadsheet program, and type in “=347.2*15.8<enter>,” read the answer – “oops, no pencil
time 9 minutes.
— OR —
Take the free Time Magazine calculator out of the junk drawer in the kitchen and press 347.2 X 15.8 = and read the answer (5,485.76 for you curious types).
Same example, except now you are not in your home but in a research lab you are visiting, and see a pocket calculator lying next to a turned off monitor for a workstation. Now the considerations become more complex – does the workstation work at all? Is it an operating system I understand? Does it have a spreadsheet program at all? Would turning the monitor on and trying to start a spreadsheet disrupt some important research? Which device would you choose to get the answer?
Last example – you are not computer literate, the only PC in the house belongs to the expert (your 12 year old daughter and she is at a neighbor’s working on the web site for their dot.com startup). “Oh, for gosh sakes, just hand me the calculator already!”
Despite the attempted humor, the same considerations apply to matrix versus TW or wireless intercom systems. Matrix systems (like PCs) are good for complex things, and they can also do simple things, but if PCs really were good for the small jobs, why do you still have that calculator, pencil, pad of paper, photocopier, and fax machine in your office? The answer is because, like with an intercom system, sometimes all you need to do is to scribble “call Paul” on a
TW and wireless intercom systems are generally simple to operate, transport, hookup (configure), and do not require an expert to setup. This is especially true if the system in question does not need to change on an
Interconnection between components may be a simple as thin air (wireless), microphone cable (PL), coax or twisted pair for matrix, but is more likely to be
To change the configuration of a PL system, you can likely just change which units are tied together by changing cables, or by turning some switches on an assignment panel. In a matrix system, you will likely need to connect a PC and run the configuration program.
Figure 4.9 Use of Source Assignment Panels such as this SAP-1626 allow the rapid reconfiguration of PL systems without changing any cables
58 H a n d b o o k o f I n t e r c o m S y s t e m s E n g i n e e r i n g
