Microcomputers: Introduction to Features and Uses. Final Report
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PG MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS STANDARD RFT THENCE tv7AT 1-41/1110I0a (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 7) DOCUMENT RESUME ED 247 896 IR 011 245 AUTHOR Hecht, Myetn; And Others TITLE Microcomputers: Introduction to Features, and Uses. Final Report. r.INSTITUTION SoHaR Inc., Los Angeles, CA. SPONS AGENCY National Bureau of Standards (DOC), Washington, D.C. Inst. for Computer Sciences and Technology. REPORT Nth-- NHS -SP -500 -110 PUB ,DATE Mar 84 CONTRACT NB82SBCA1654 NOTE 148p. AVAILABLEFROMSuperintendent of pocuments, U.S. Government Printing Office, -Washi'ngton, DC 20402. -PUB TYPE . Guides General (050) -- Reports -.Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS _*Computer Software; Costs; Design Requirements; *Federal Gomernmenti Glossaries; *Government Employees; *Microcomputers;'Public Agencies; *Systems Development IDENTIFIERS *Computer Users ABSTRACT This introduction to microcomputers and theite-sw implementation and use in federal agencies discusses both basic concepts in microcomputers and'Uteir specific uses by clerical, administrative, professional, sand technical federal personnel Issues concerned with the use of specialized application software a.nct integrated packages--word processing, data management, spreadsheets, graphics, and communicationsare examined, as well as management and usage issues, and the types of microcomputer systems currently available and their appropriate uses. The motivations, costs, and risks of microcomputer use are identified,, and recommendations for successful implementations are provided. A five-page reference list, a glossaiy,' and a.six-page annotated bibliography are included. (Author/LMM) AI/ a. *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * fro g! the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTI 1 UTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (TRIO **111t..D1s doc"mont has boeu reproduced as recelved Iron( iho poison Or otonnpeon U.S. Department (0,00:0thuo Munn (11101()(0. 11,1va been made 10 tniptove of commerce ComputNr Science reproductuni qualav National Bureau Points of v.ew (0 000..on5 staled 10 111,s deco / and Techno gy- meat do u01 ucce.siudy oRicoal NIE of Standards 1)0561011 0) ',oh( y .0,041 01 VtiSSpecialPublication,50-110 kl o toj bV. Microcomputers: Introduction to Features and Uses .4? I NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS The National Bureau of Standards' wasestablished by an act of Congress on March 3, 190i. The BUreati's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation'sscience and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benc.tit. To thiseV, the Bureau conducts research and plovides: (I) a basis for the Nation'sithysiedmeasurement system, (2) scientific -and technological services for industry and government, (3) atechnical basis 19r equity in trade, and (4) tectthical services to promote public safety. The Bureau'stechnical work js per- formed by the Nationaj Measurement Laboratory, the NationalF.ngincering,Laboratory, and the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, 44' THE NATIONAL MEASUREMENT LABORATORY provides thenational systen1 of physical and chemical and materials measurement; (coordinates the system?vitt measurement systems of other nations and furnishes essential servicesleading to accurate and uniform physical and chemical measurement throughout the Nation's scientificcommunity, industry, and commerce; conducts materials research leading to improvedmethods of measurement, standards, and data on the properties of materials needed by industry, cortimerce,educational institutions, and Government; provides advisory and research services toother Government agedcies; developioproduces, and distributes StandardReference Materials; and provides calibration services. The Laboratory consists of the following-centers: 4 Absolute Physical Quantities2 Radiation Research Chemical Physics -- Analytical Chemistry -- Materials Science THE NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY providestechnology and technical ser- vices tp the public send private sectors to address nationalneeds and to solve national problems; conduCts research in engineering andapplied science in support of these efforts; builds and maintains competence in the necessarydisciplines requited to carry out this . research and technical service; develops engineering data.and measurement capabilities; provides engineering measurement traceability services;develops test methods-And proposes engineering standards and code changes; develops and proposes newengineering practices; and develops and improves mechanisms to transferresults. of its research to the ultimate user. The Laboratory consists of the following centers: I Applied Mathematics Electronics and Electrical Engineering2 Manufacturing Engineering Building Technology Fire Research Chemical Engineejing2 THE INStITUTE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCESAND TECHNOLOGYconducts research and provides scientific and technical services to aidFederal agencies in the selection, acquisition, application, and use of computer technology toimprove effectiveness and ecoi1nmy in Government operations in accordance withPublic Law 89-306 (40 759), relevant-,Executive Orders, and other directives; carries out thismiAsion by managing the Federal Information Processing Standards Program,developing Federal ADP standards guiplines, and managing Federal participation in ADP voluntarystandardization activities; provides scientific and technological advisory services andassistance to Federal agencies; and provides the technical foundation for computer-related policies ofth# Federal Government. The Institute consists of the following centers: Programming Science and Technology. Computer SystemsEngineering. 'Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg. MD, unlessotherwise noted; mailing address Washington, DC 20234. 'Some divisions within the center arc located at Boulder,CO 80303. Computers Science and Technology NBSSp.ecial Pu lication540-110) 11flicrocomputers-: Introduction to Features and Uses Myron Hecht t 3 Herbert Hecht Laurence Press SoHall Incorporated 1q40 South LaJolla Avenue Lob Angeles, CA 0035 Sponsored by:. Institute for Computer Sciehces and Technology National Bureau.of Standards Washington, DC 20234 4,41.001 1101 4titY U.S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Malcolm Balddge, Secretary National Bureau of Standards Ernest Ambler, Director Ift Reports on Computer Science and Technology The National Bureau of Standards has a special responsibility within the Federal Government for computer science and technology activities. The programs of the NBS Institute for Computer Sciences and Tebhnology are designed to provide ADP standards, guidelines, and technical advisory_siervices to improve the effectiveness- of computer utilization in the Federal sector, and to perform appropriate research and development' efforts as foundation for such activities and programs.This publication series will report these NBS efforts to the Federal computer community as well as to interested specialists in the academic and private sectors. Those wishing to receive notices of publications in this series should complete and return the form at the end of this publication. National Bureau of Standards Special Pul5lication 500-110 Natl. Bur, Stand. (UrS.), Spec. Publ. 500-110, 144 pages (Mar. 1984) CODEN: XNBSAV 4 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 84-601005 4 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFHCE WASHINGTON: 1984 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington. DC 20402 I1 TABLE OF COMM LIST OF FIGURES v LIST OF TABLES vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY viii ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS 1 1 INTRODUCTION 2 1.1. Motivation 2 1.2. Federal Regulations Affecting Microcomputer Procurement and Use 4 1.3: Contents of this Report 5 1.4. Disclaimer and Trademark Identifications 6 2 OVERVIEW OF MICRO MIPUI'ERS 7 2.1. What Is a Microcomputer 7 2.2. Microcomputer Hardware 7 2.3, Systems Software 25 2.4. Programming Languages .30 2.5. The User Interface 36 2:6 Types of Microcomputers 38 3 FEDERAL USERS 42- 3.1. Clerical Users 45 3.2.Administrative Users 47 3.3. Professional Users 49 3.4. Technical Users 52 4 MICROOMPUTER APPLICATIONS 54 4.1. Word Processing 55 4.2. "Data Management Software . 58 4.3. Spread Sheet Processors % 64 4.4. Graphics Software f8 lk. 4.5. kMicrocomputer Communications P 77 4.6. Specialized Software 85 .4.7. 'Application Integration 86 1 TABLE OF (XIITENIS (continued) 5 NANXIMENr ISSUES OF MICHOOORPUTERS., & OOOOO 90 5.1. Motivation fOr Using Microcomputers 90 5.2. Costs of Microcomputer Systems 92 5.3. Risks of Microcomputers , 94 5.4. Prevention of, Problems 97 5.5. Sources of Microcomputers 100 6 CCICLUSION 00000 41; 0000 - . o 105 6.1. Summary of Key Points 105 6.2. Useful Areas for. Guidelines and Standardization ACtivities . 107 REFERENCES 111. APPENDIX A - GLOSSARY 118 APPENDIX B ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY' 127 LIST OF MURES Figure Title Page 1-1 PrOjected Growth* Microcomputer Installations 3 2-1 Microcomputer Hardware Devices 8 2-2 04I Characters Displayed as a Series of Dots 17 2-3 Integrated Circuit and Socket 23 2-4 Printed Circuit Board ," 23 2-5 Assembly Language and igh Order Language Representations o a Division of Two ambers 31 4-1 Representation of Data ia File Management System 59 4-2 Report Created by the Data Management System 60 4-3 Sample Spread Sheet Model 65 \ \ 4-4 . Types of Graphics for Display