Distributed control system

A distributed control system (DCS) is a control system for a process or plant, wherein control elements are distributed throughout the system. This is in contrast to non-distributed systems, which use a single controller at a central location. In a DCS, a hierarchy of controllers is connected by communications networks for command and monitoring.

Example scenarios where a DCS might be used include:

Elements

A DCS typically uses custom designed processors as controllers and uses both proprietary interconnections and standard communications protocol for communication. Input and output modules form component parts of the DCS. The processor receives information from input modules and sends information to output modules. The input modules receive information from input instruments in the process (or field) and the output modules transmit instructions to the output instruments in the field. The inputs and outputs can be either analog signal which are continuously changing or discrete signals which are 2 state either on or off . Computer buses or electrical buses connect the processor and modules through multiplexer or demultiplexers. Buses also connect the distributed controllers with the central controller and finally to the Human–machine interface (HMI) or control consoles. See Process automation systems.

Null character

The null character (also null terminator), abbreviated NUL, is a control character with the value zero. It is present in many character sets, including ISO/IEC 646 (or ASCII), the C0 control code, the Universal Character Set (or Unicode), and EBCDIC. It is available in nearly all mainstream programming languages.

The original meaning of this character was like NOP—when sent to a printer or a terminal, it does nothing (some terminals, however, incorrectly display it as space). When electromechanical teleprinters were used as computer output devices, one or more null characters were sent at the end of each printed line to allow time for the mechanism to return to the first printing position on the next line. On punched tape, the character is represented with no holes at all, so a new unpunched tape is initially filled with null characters, and often text could be "inserted" at a reserved space of null characters by punching the new characters into the tape over the nulls.

Today the character has much more significance in C and its derivatives and in many data formats, where it serves as a reserved character used to signify the end of a string, often called a null-terminated string. This allows the string to be any length with only the overhead of one byte; the alternative of storing a count requires either a string length limit of 255 or an overhead of more than one byte (there are other advantages/disadvantages described under null-terminated string).

Revelation (Peter Andre album)

Revelation is the sixth studio album released by Australian singer-songwriter Peter Andre.

Background

Following a further three years away from the music industry, Andre had been quietly writing and recording new material. Andre was offered a recording contract with Conehead Management following the success of his ITV2 fly-on-the-wall documentary, Peter Andre: The Next Chapter. Andre began recording with Conehead in January 2009. On 9 August 2009, "Behind Closed Doors" was revealed as the first single from Andre's upcoming album. The track was co-written by Andre, AC Burrell and Francesca Richard. "Unconditional" was revealed as the second and final single from the album, due for release on 9 November 2009. However, the track had already charted on the UK Singles Chart, following promotion and download sales. Upon the physical release, the track peaked at #50, Andre's second lowest charting single to date. The video for the track premiered on The Box on 16 October 2009. The album itself was released on 19 September 2009, peaking at #3 on the UK Albums Chart, and selling more than 300,000 copies to be certified platinum. The album's tracklisting was confirmed via Play.com on 14 August 2009.

Austin John

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Austin John Winkler (born October 25, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter best known for being the former lead singer of the American rock band Hinder. Winkler was one of the founding members of Hinder and recorded a total of one EP, four studio albums and released twenty-four singles to radio while with them during his 12-year tenure with the band. Since his departure from Hinder, Winkler has continued his career as a solo artist.

Winkler is set to release his first studio album as a solo artist titled Austin John in late 2015 to early 2016.

Time with Hinder 2001-2013

Before forming Hinder with alongside bandmates Cody Hanson and Joe "Blower" Garvey, Winkler sang in a Oklahoma City cover band up until July 2001. While playing at a college party, Winkler met Hanson and Garvey and shortly thereafter the three formed Hinder. Hinder released their debut EP titled Far From Close in 2003 under the independent label Brickden Records, the EP went on to sale around 5,000 copies.