My idea is why don't we have a Standardized way simulators are documented .
Out of many such great tools made by humans one is simulation by computer programs . they help us study without breaking our heads setting up for experiments .Being an electronics engineering student , I understand the necessity as they might cost you billions :P.
Most of the research , I feel first goes into modelling a system/material/whatever . This opens up the scope for all the other people with brilliant ideas to come in. And this new things (invention/discovery) catches fire .. all the researchers around the world come up with possible applications in their respective domains. Hence , the world progresses much faster.
[This blog is mainly inspired from Professor N.N.Sharma , his lecture on simulation and modelling behavior of materials/physics in micro-domain ]
If one looks at the history , the universities/research groups would publish a model. And these publications can only be understood by researchers who were working in that field.
If somebody wonders how these models look like ? Then they are not beautiful at all, like our (super)models :P . In fact ,they might be some long differential equations of some 8-9 order . Too complicated for anyone to solve these models on paper.
With the increase in production of computers , these things became a bit easier . But still ,some one had to teach (program) those stupid computer :P.
Now we have fast but still stupid computers . In the mean time we have developed some good platforms (Java,.NET,) and graphics etc.. . We were all equipped to make simulators , which did all the number crunching without users knowledge. Doors were open for guys from other disciplines to try-out somethings that their techniques. Still, most of the simulators would return some numbers , hence required some knowledge of programming was essential to use it efficiently.
Approaching this age of interdisciplinary research , mostly due to saturation in the core disciplines . Simulators have played a very important role in pacing up the research.
As industries saw potential and took interest in simulation softwares . We have landed into a world where we have 3D graphics , animation , math solvers ,etc .. all integrated into simulators. Now , people think simulators are the only ones which can show some graphical output , which includes some of out faculty members .
This is not it . We have 3D graphics , fine . Good interface , fine . We have all the features can be simulated , great . But , I have worked so hard to understand the previous simulator why would I switch to something else , and why is it necessarily so different ? I look at the getting started tutorials trying to relate what my old simulator had ? When i go through the Help and documentation , the layout seems to be completely different, takes a whole lot of time to figure out where to look for ?
My idea is why don't we have a Standardized way simulators are documented .
There are lot of open source groups who have standardized their documentation , so that they could increase readability , as they get contribution for lot of people around the world and any body should understand it . If a person understands the basic way how to look up a reference maual / user-manual , he should be able to switch to the new ones faster .
Attempts are being made by companies to provide special manuals for smooth transition from others products to theirs , but all these can be saved, if this happens .
