The funds from this award will provide the biological sciences at Clemson University with the instrumentation necessary to instruct students in 1) the techniques utilized for interfacing instruments with microcomputer and 2) systems for the monitoring for biological data. The grant will supply funds for the purchase of 10 computers, 10 A/D interfacing boards with software, 10 amplifiers and the various transducers needed to transport biological information to the amplifier and computer. Funds will also be used for procurement of electronics and transducer components for configuration of student stations that will allow for the direct "hands on" experience in the understanding of the basic electronics associated with transducer interfacing to biological systems. An extensive "hands on" approach to the use of bioinstrumentation will be available to the students with theory behind the instruments and their limitations stressed in the lectures and the laboratory of a bioinstrumentation course. The students will be exposed to the basis electronics and limitations of transducers, amplifiers and input circuits to the microcomputer. In addition to providing the students with the circuits, amplifiers and transducers needed for the configuration of computerized physiology monitoring systems in this course, students will have these monitoring stations available in the various physiology courses. Portions of the lab exercises from the bioinstrumentation course will also be utilized in the physiology labs to provide the student with a working knowledge of the basics of transducers, amplifiers nd computer interfacing hardware. The grantee institution is matching this NSF award with funds from non-Federal sources.
