In 1980, the US Military Academy decided to move its 1300 freshmen computer course from a mainframe to micro computers. This paper describes the transfer exercise and the lessons learned in the process of making such a transfer.
{"title":"From mainframe to micro: Moving a freshman computer course","authors":"G. Galloway","doi":"10.1145/800173.809700","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809700","url":null,"abstract":"In 1980, the US Military Academy decided to move its 1300 freshmen computer course from a mainframe to micro computers. This paper describes the transfer exercise and the lessons learned in the process of making such a transfer.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"76 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124989889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The TurboDOS operating system is a product of Software 2000, Inc., and is trademarked and copyrighted by them. At MuSYS Corp., we have used TurboDOS in conjunction with various slave processor boards to construct a wide variety of S-100 based computer systems, ranging from two to over sixty users. TurboDOS is designed for multiprocessor networks of Z-80 based computers, although single user versions are available. Extensive use is made of the Z-80 instruction set to achieve a highly table oriented and reentrant architecture, which is very adaptable to the user's environment. In addition to MuSYS, many companies are selling TurboDOS for specific hardware configurations on an OEM basis. This is one of the primary distinctions with other multiprocessor operating systems, which are supported by only a single vendor.
{"title":"TurboDOSTM multiprocessor operating system","authors":"William A. Schultz","doi":"10.1145/800173.809717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809717","url":null,"abstract":"The TurboDOS operating system is a product of Software 2000, Inc., and is trademarked and copyrighted by them. At MuSYS Corp., we have used TurboDOS in conjunction with various slave processor boards to construct a wide variety of S-100 based computer systems, ranging from two to over sixty users.\u0000 TurboDOS is designed for multiprocessor networks of Z-80 based computers, although single user versions are available. Extensive use is made of the Z-80 instruction set to achieve a highly table oriented and reentrant architecture, which is very adaptable to the user's environment. In addition to MuSYS, many companies are selling TurboDOS for specific hardware configurations on an OEM basis. This is one of the primary distinctions with other multiprocessor operating systems, which are supported by only a single vendor.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125750086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
At the present time the existing operational information retrieval systems are designed to serve a diverse, remotely located user population by providing on-line access in real-time to large, centrally stored data bases. With the advent of the modern minicomputer storage and retrieval, services can also be extended on an individual basis to small, personal information files of the kind normally maintained in offices or private homes. The panel will review the state-of-the-art in personal retrieval systems and make predictions for the immediate future.
{"title":"Panel on advances in personal information retrieval","authors":"G. Salton","doi":"10.1145/800173.809731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809731","url":null,"abstract":"At the present time the existing operational information retrieval systems are designed to serve a diverse, remotely located user population by providing on-line access in real-time to large, centrally stored data bases. With the advent of the modern minicomputer storage and retrieval, services can also be extended on an individual basis to small, personal information files of the kind normally maintained in offices or private homes. The panel will review the state-of-the-art in personal retrieval systems and make predictions for the immediate future.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127776813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper presents the design of a relational data base machine which exploits features of the transposed file structure and the search capability of an associative memory to enhance the performance of relational database operations. The transposed file storage organization facilitates a significant reduction in the amount of data transfer, that is other-wise required for the processing of queries on very large relations of the database. Application of associative memories to the implementation of relational database operations, although promising, has shown to introduce several drawbacks. Utilization of these powerful search devices can be improved if they are designed according to the requirements of the application. The design proposed here is that of a hierarchically structured associative memory and a parallel pipeline processor which meet the potential requirements of relational database operations.
{"title":"A relational data base machine employing associative memories and transposed files","authors":"Hamid Farsi, J. Tartar","doi":"10.1145/800173.809727","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809727","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents the design of a relational data base machine which exploits features of the transposed file structure and the search capability of an associative memory to enhance the performance of relational database operations. The transposed file storage organization facilitates a significant reduction in the amount of data transfer, that is other-wise required for the processing of queries on very large relations of the database. Application of associative memories to the implementation of relational database operations, although promising, has shown to introduce several drawbacks. Utilization of these powerful search devices can be improved if they are designed according to the requirements of the application. The design proposed here is that of a hierarchically structured associative memory and a parallel pipeline processor which meet the potential requirements of relational database operations.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"63 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130941136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
“The number of people in the United Kingdom working with Visual Display Units (VDUs) as part of their job is increasing daily. A large proportion of them are prevented from getting the maximum use out of their VDU because they ere experiencing practical problems which make it more tiring or difficult to use. The source of these difficulties usually lies in poor ergonomic design (or adjustability) of the VDU, the workplace or the working environment. Because of this many UK and European users and their associated unions have, since the late 70's, insisted on minimum ergonomic standards for new equipment before it can be introduced. Some of the standards have been disputed, and in the United Kingdom (UK) it has resulted in a “Guidance Note on VDUs” (June 1983) from the Health and Safety Executive. This paper reviews the UK response along with current developments in this area in other European Countries”.
“在英国,将视觉显示单元(vdu)作为工作的一部分的人数每天都在增加。他们中的很大一部分人无法最大限度地利用他们的VDU,因为他们遇到了实际问题,使其使用起来更累或更困难。这些困难的根源通常在于VDU的人体工程学设计(或可调节性)差,工作场所或工作环境。正因为如此,自70年代末以来,许多英国和欧洲的用户及其相关工会坚持在引进新设备之前,必须达到最低的人体工程学标准。其中一些标准一直存在争议,在英国(UK),健康与安全执行局(Health and Safety Executive)于1983年6月发布了“vdu指南说明”。本文回顾了英国的反应以及其他欧洲国家在这一领域的当前发展。
{"title":"1983 Acm annual conference: “Health and safety aspects of office automation - the European scene”","authors":"G. Briscoe","doi":"10.1145/800173.809706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809706","url":null,"abstract":"“The number of people in the United Kingdom working with Visual Display Units (VDUs) as part of their job is increasing daily. A large proportion of them are prevented from getting the maximum use out of their VDU because they ere experiencing practical problems which make it more tiring or difficult to use. The source of these difficulties usually lies in poor ergonomic design (or adjustability) of the VDU, the workplace or the working environment. Because of this many UK and European users and their associated unions have, since the late 70's, insisted on minimum ergonomic standards for new equipment before it can be introduced. Some of the standards have been disputed, and in the United Kingdom (UK) it has resulted in a “Guidance Note on VDUs” (June 1983) from the Health and Safety Executive. This paper reviews the UK response along with current developments in this area in other European Countries”.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131195612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The question of information retrieval in the office environment must be considered in two contexts: personal and organizational. In the personal context the issue is increasing individual effectiveness and productivity; in the organizational context it is one of increasing an organization's overall effectiveness and productivity, partially by improvements at the level of the individual but primarily by improvements to the systems and procedures through which individuals work together. The end user requirements of the two contexts are quite different, a fact which must be taken into account when designing information retrieval systems for the office environment.
{"title":"Information retrieval in the office environment","authors":"M. T. Pezarro","doi":"10.1145/800173.809735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809735","url":null,"abstract":"The question of information retrieval in the office environment must be considered in two contexts: personal and organizational. In the personal context the issue is increasing individual effectiveness and productivity; in the organizational context it is one of increasing an organization's overall effectiveness and productivity, partially by improvements at the level of the individual but primarily by improvements to the systems and procedures through which individuals work together. The end user requirements of the two contexts are quite different, a fact which must be taken into account when designing information retrieval systems for the office environment.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121086637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
There is considerable debate over whether current practices of office computerization represent a continuation or reversal of “scientific management” principles. This issue will be discussed in light of case study research being conducted at the head office of a large insurance firm. The company is in the process of introducing on-line systems at the clerical level in the policy administration area. As part of this process and the concomitant reorganization of the company along territorial lines, the new jobs being created show a marked reduction in task fragmentation and some lessening of hierarchy, both regarded as characteristics of Taylorian organization. However, other features of scientific management, including skill dissociation, separation of conception from execution and control by monopoly of knowledge, are still very much in evidence, with computer systems playing a central role. Taylor's ghost may be dressed in modern garb, but it is certainly recognizable in computerized offices.
{"title":"Computerization and managerial control in large offices","authors":"A. Clement","doi":"10.1145/800173.809729","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809729","url":null,"abstract":"There is considerable debate over whether current practices of office computerization represent a continuation or reversal of “scientific management” principles. This issue will be discussed in light of case study research being conducted at the head office of a large insurance firm. The company is in the process of introducing on-line systems at the clerical level in the policy administration area. As part of this process and the concomitant reorganization of the company along territorial lines, the new jobs being created show a marked reduction in task fragmentation and some lessening of hierarchy, both regarded as characteristics of Taylorian organization. However, other features of scientific management, including skill dissociation, separation of conception from execution and control by monopoly of knowledge, are still very much in evidence, with computer systems playing a central role. Taylor's ghost may be dressed in modern garb, but it is certainly recognizable in computerized offices.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116676603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The evolution of unmanned and manned spacecraft indicates that significant degrees of autonomous operation for onboard health, fault, or performance management are becoming important. In particular, technology and mission studies of a permanently manned, evolutionary space station have surfaced the need for new computer system concepts incorporating autonomy and perhaps artificial (machine) intelligence. An evolving autonomous system with mixed degrees of autonomy, interdependent autonomous functions, and perhaps disparate artificial intelligences will require orchestration of the behavior of the entire system. An advanced concept of decision control, involving an explicit sequence of goal-directed decisions, is proposed as an executive machine-intelligent process by which the multiple, specialized “smart programs” or “machine intelligences” of an autonomous system could be controlled.
{"title":"Autonomous systems intelligence","authors":"John L. Anderson","doi":"10.1145/800173.809741","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809741","url":null,"abstract":"The evolution of unmanned and manned spacecraft indicates that significant degrees of autonomous operation for onboard health, fault, or performance management are becoming important. In particular, technology and mission studies of a permanently manned, evolutionary space station have surfaced the need for new computer system concepts incorporating autonomy and perhaps artificial (machine) intelligence. An evolving autonomous system with mixed degrees of autonomy, interdependent autonomous functions, and perhaps disparate artificial intelligences will require orchestration of the behavior of the entire system. An advanced concept of decision control, involving an explicit sequence of goal-directed decisions, is proposed as an executive machine-intelligent process by which the multiple, specialized “smart programs” or “machine intelligences” of an autonomous system could be controlled.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129454307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transferring human factors technology to designers involves complex issues: training, human factors data, interdisciplinary communications, designers' preferences, and organizational trends. Training is a structured, formalized method for improving human factors technology transfer. Some of these formal approaches in academia and industry are explored, and recommendations for a systematic approach to training development and evaluation are offered.
{"title":"Human factors training and awareness","authors":"D. Grimes-Farrow","doi":"10.1145/800173.809704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809704","url":null,"abstract":"Transferring human factors technology to designers involves complex issues: training, human factors data, interdisciplinary communications, designers' preferences, and organizational trends. Training is a structured, formalized method for improving human factors technology transfer. Some of these formal approaches in academia and industry are explored, and recommendations for a systematic approach to training development and evaluation are offered.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132405233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brown University recently completed the installation of a $1.3 million, broadband communications network which ties together 130 buildings. The network backbone consists of two 300 MHz mid-split CATV systems and is run completely underground. More than 1100 terminals, computer ports and other devices in the first sixty internally wired buildings are operating on the network. The network is meeting the need for reliable communication for data and television using commercially available components and systems. Selection and design criteria, a cost analysis of different stages of implementation, initial applications and performance of the network will be described. Like many other educational, industrial and business organizations, Brown has been confronted with an ever increasing demand for computing and information services. As early as 1977, various university planning groups began to assess our future data communication requirements and to discuss possible ways of satisfying them by means of a local network. But even the most far-reaching of these early studies failed to accurately predict the growth in computing we are now experiencing, the range of devices and services which would have to be accommodated, and the cost and problems associated with continuing to rely upon the local telephone company to meet our data communication needs.
{"title":"The Brown University network","authors":"H. Webber","doi":"10.1145/800173.809682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/800173.809682","url":null,"abstract":"Brown University recently completed the installation of a $1.3 million, broadband communications network which ties together 130 buildings. The network backbone consists of two 300 MHz mid-split CATV systems and is run completely underground. More than 1100 terminals, computer ports and other devices in the first sixty internally wired buildings are operating on the network. The network is meeting the need for reliable communication for data and television using commercially available components and systems. Selection and design criteria, a cost analysis of different stages of implementation, initial applications and performance of the network will be described.\u0000 Like many other educational, industrial and business organizations, Brown has been confronted with an ever increasing demand for computing and information services. As early as 1977, various university planning groups began to assess our future data communication requirements and to discuss possible ways of satisfying them by means of a local network. But even the most far-reaching of these early studies failed to accurately predict the growth in computing we are now experiencing, the range of devices and services which would have to be accommodated, and the cost and problems associated with continuing to rely upon the local telephone company to meet our data communication needs.","PeriodicalId":306306,"journal":{"name":"ACM '83","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133176832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}