February, 1965

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Space Ship Design Drawn by Computer 4 REASONS WHY MEMOREX LEADS IN COMPUTER TAPE (And what it means to you!)

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@t Bell System Circle No. 6 on Readers Service Card A:-&' American Telephone and Telegraph Co. and Associated Companies AN OFF-BIT HISTORY OF MAGNETIC TAPE ... #4 of a series by Computape

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The Trojans were ahead, by virtue of the points Paris had "The one we've been practicing all week," Odysseus scored with Helen on a completed pass early in the snapped. "X-971" game. But now the Athenians, sparked by their all-star "That old Wooden Horse chestnut 7 They'll never fall backfield of Ajax, Achilles, Diomedes and Odysseus, had for it ... " come storming back. The Trojans had their backs to the But you know the rest. The Trojans fell for old X-97 wall, and to make it worse Hector, Troilus and the rest of anyway. Which explains why, ever since, they've never the defensive platoon were hobbled with injuries. trusted a gift bearing Greeks. On third and goal, Odysseus sent Ajax and Achilles Ah. But even the most skeptical Trojan would trust into the right side of the line behind the mobile com­ Computape. And why not 7 Here is a heavy-duty mag­ puter* and it looked to be all over. But Zeus (who netic tape so carefully made that it delivers 556, or 800, doubled as referee and chief mischief-maker) blew the or (if you want) 1,000 bits per inch - with no dropout. whistle on the play. "The horses were off-side," he said, Now - if Computape can write that kind of computer and the score was called back. tape history - shouldn't you be using it 7 The clock showed time for one more play. Achilles limped back into the huddle, nursing a * The Greeks not only had computer tape - they had a word for bruised heel. "What now 7" he grumbled. it: kom-putron - meaning, "works like a Trojan".

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Circle No. 8 on Readers Service Card 4 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 - Computer produced drawings 0/ proposed space craft allow visual engineering judgment - see more information on page 27.

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FEBRUARY, 1965 Vol. 14, No.2 computers and data processors: editor and publisher the design, applications, EDMUND C. BERKELEY and implications 0/ assistant editors in/ormation processing systems. MOSES M. BERLIN LINDA LADD LOVETT NEIL D. MACDONALD 111 This Issue 12 WHAT CHOICE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES? contributing editors by Ned Chapin ANDREW D. BOOTH DICK H. BRANDON 15 COMPARING PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES by Jules I. Schwartz JOHN W. CARR, III NED CHAPIN DECOMPOSITION - SEVEN LEAGUE BOOTS FOR LINEAR ALSTON S. HOUSEHOLDER 18 PROGRAMMING PETER KUGEL by Dr. Jack Moshman 22 AN OPERATING SYSTEM WHICH INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY 40% advisory committee by F. H. Hill T. E. CHEATHAM, JR. GEORGE E. FORSYTHE RICHARD W. HAMMING 111 Every Issue ALSTON S. HOUSEHOLDER HERBERT F. MITCHELL, JR. across the editor's desk VICTOR PASCHKIS 27 COMPUTING AND DATA PROCESSING NEWSLETTER associate publisher editorial PATRICK J. MCGOVERN 6 Computers, and the Public Sector of the Economy production manager market report ANN B. BAKER 7 RCA's Spectra 70 Announcement Spotlights Five Market Strategies of art director Growing Importance in Computer. field RAY W. HASS throughput fulfilment manager 17 The New Breed of Software WILLIAM J. MCMILLAN, 815 Washington St. Newtonville, Mass. 02160, 617-DEcatur 2-5453 readers' and editor's forum 9 "Poor Man's" Time-Shared Computer Input: The Button Telephone, by advertising representatives Leon Davidson New York 18, BERNARD LANE 26 Programming Languages for Command and Control, by Theodore Singer 37 West 39 st., 212-BRyant 9-7281 26 Certificate in Data Processing, by R. Calvin Elliott Chicago 11, COLE, MASON AND DEMING 26 Comments on "People Who Do Not Work Well," by Harry R. Hein 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-SU 7-6558 44 Calendar of Coming Events Los Angeles 5, WENTWORTH F. GREEN reference information 300 S. Kenmore Ave., 213-DUnkirk 7-8135 42 Monthly Computer Census San Francisco 5, A. S. BABCOCK 47 New Patents, by Raymond R. Skolnick 605 Market St., 415-YUkon 2-395l 48 Books and Other Publications, by Moses M. Berlin 49 Who's Who in the Computer Field Elsewlfere, THE PUBLISHER 815 Washington St., 617-DEcatur 2-5453 index of notices Newtonville, Mass. 02160 50 Advertising Index

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COMPUTERS AND AUTOMATION, FOR FEBRUARY, 1965 c&a EDITORIAL

Computers, and the Public Sector of the Economy

Do we have to put up with very poor solutions to really bottom level, which is pretty terrible, which applies to the important problems in the public sector of our economy, apples in the buffet here, spoiled by worms and accidents, our democratic, capitalistic economy, operated under our green, small (but not sour), and which also applies to the government of the people, for the people, by the people? absence of any plug for the washbowl in my hotel' room­ so that I have to use as a substitute to keep the water in, In the private sector of our economy, in walking around a dirty rolled-up cloth. New York, for example, I find amazing, modern new sky­ "But I want to talk most about the Moscow subway. It scrapers, of glass and aluminum, such as the Chase Manhat­ is not only a clean and beautiful subway, filled' with re­ tan Bank building at Pine and Nassau Sts.-providing for served yet friendly people-but a big, efficient, fast subway. bank customers luxury that seems out of this world. In It has about 50 or 60 stations, and 7 or 8 lines; and it han­ quantities of office buildings, even old ones, I find gleaming dles an enormous amount of traffic every day. It has escala­ new automatic elevators, working much faster and better tors, much longer, wider, and faster than the escalators in than they worked under the vanished human beings that the New York subway. The schedules are efficiently ad­ used to operate them. All through the streets I see modern, justed to the crowds of Moscow people who use them. The powerful, good-looking cars. subway is· very well equipped with signs and directions that But in the public sector of our economy, I see cars crawl­ appear in all the stations so that a stranger, if he will puzzle ing through the narrow, inadequate sidestreets of New out the Russian letters, can easily tell which way to go and York-and I know that only the narrowness of the side­ whether he is oQ. the right platform. The fare everywhere streets prevents New York from being far more jammed is 5 kopeks (about 5 and Y2 cents). The How of people in with far more car traffic. In Brooklyn I see crowds and the wide escalators, the rapid loading and unloading of crowds of young people attending the old public schools trains even in the rush hour, the classic, museum-like quality in two shifts. In the New York subway, the express trains of many stations with many kinds of marbles and mosaics­ on the East Side Lexington line no longer run all night; but not all stations by any means-, and the cleanliness of the stairs are often much too small for the crowds; quanti­ the tracks and the trains-are almost too amazing for ties of fluorescent lamp holders are filled with dirt; etc. words. The ventilation of the subway produces always I was born in New York, and went to school and back on sweet-smelling air. The absence of signs saying "no smok­ the subway every school day from age 11 to age 14; and ing" or "no spitting" is breath-taking-it is not necessary. I used to be so proud of the splendid New York subway, Only here and there in the subway did I notice lamps out­ its nickel fare, and its continual, mighty expansion. an indication that at least one department of the subway In New York on Jan. 7, I rode up the long slow escalator is not on its toes. I estimate that some of the escalators from the subway platform at Lexington and 53rd St., and must be at least 300 feet long, much longer than any I I looked at the ceiling and tiled walls around the escalator, know in New York. In some stations there are four wide and saw thick hanging dirt in many places. My thoughts escalators together, two to carry people up, two to carry went back to the traveling that I did for myself in the people down. To me the subway is a monument to the subway of Moscow, U.S.S.R., in six days of September 1962 desire of the Moscow city government to treat its people shortly after the Congress of the International Federation like human beings." of Information Processing Societies in Munich, Germany. Later I looked up my notes, and found: I am convinced that the dec.ay, disorder, dirt, and decrepi­ "The most interesting part of my visit to Moscow has tude in many parts of the public sector of the economy of been, I think, in collecting observations about the people the United States is not necessary. It is a poor solution to and the way they do things. There seem to be four levels some really important problems, and we the people do not of quality of economic and social behavior: first, the level have to put up with it. of the Sputniks and the Moscow subway, which are far Why is this true? beyond anything in the rest of the world which I have seen, This country has been spending fifty billion dollars a and are magnificent by any standards; second, the level of year for weapons, for arms, for the capacity to make war, Soviet bread and ice cream and education and some more for defense, for military power to deal with situations. So things, which is just about equal to the good levels any­ far as any conflicts nowadays can be solved by weapons, by where in the world; third, a common everyday normal level, warships, guns, bombs, rockeJs, missiles, early and late w~rn­ which applies ,to the elevators in the Leningradskaya Hotel ing systems, etc., and methods of assorted violence, the where I am staying, old-fashioned, not very efficient, but breadth and magnitude of our current arsenal indicate that they do the job, and. they are serv~ceable; and finally, a (Please turn to page 24)

6 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 MARKET REPORT

RCA'S SPECTRA 70 ANNOUNCEMENT SPOTLIGHTS it behooves the computer manufacturer to develop FIVE MARKET STRATEGIES OF GROWING IMPORTANCE techniques which facilitate this program conversion IN COMPUTER FIELD to its own units from computers currently used by a generous share of its potential customers. RCA showed that it was a first-class electron­ ics company, if not yet a front-runner in the office As is true in other computer families, Spectra equipment field, with the announcement recently of 70 processors are program compatible in an upward its Spectra 70 computer series. The announcement direction. Spectra 70 also offers two methods of also highlighted several of the most important com­ program compatibility with other systems ... one, puter marketing trends of the last year, viz., direct, and the other via microprogramming.

(1) Program Compatibility Among To achieve the direct compatibility with Sys­ Competitive Computers tem/360, RCA designed Spectra 70 with the same data (2) Stress on Peripheral Equipment format and character codes as System/360 and incor­ (3) Use of Integrated Circuits porated the instruction repertoire of System/360, (4) Emphasis on Data Communication except for I/O instructions, in the command struc­ Systems ture of the model 45 and 55, and subsets of it in (5) Single-Fee Rental the model 15 and 25. This means that after modi­ fying I/O instructions through a special control Spectra 70 itself, as currently announced, con­ program Spectra 70 should be able to run System/360 sists of four processors, the 70/15, 70/25, 70/45, programs on a direct processing basis. and 70/55. The two smaller models, the 15 and 25, use conventional circuitry, while the 45 and 55 are In the microprogrammed method, Spectra 70's built with monolithic integrated circuits ... making model 45 can incorporate a read-only memory which Spectra 70 the first major computer series to in­ converts instructions written for another computer corporate these third generation circuits as basic into microprogrammed instructions understood by the components. (For more details, see page 34.) 45 •.. a technique identical to the "emulators" used by IBM in achieving compatibility between System/360 Price/Performance comparisons between competi­ and 1400/7000 series computers. Currently one of tive systems is an art replete with pitfalls ... for four read-only memories can be chosen with the model the resulting figures can vary significantly depend­ 45 to convert programs from RCA;s 301, 3301, 501 or ing on the equipment configuration and applications IBM's 1401 computer. selected for comparison. However our best calcula­ tions to date indicate that the Spectra 70 offers a Because the read-only memory method requires price/performance improvement of 50-60% in compu­ that each instruction be converted from one sequence tation speeds and 30-35% in throughput speeds over of signals to another before execution, the effi­ corresponding models in IBM's System/360. A major ciency of the resulting computer operation is re­ reason for the drop in relative throughput advantage duced ... sometimes by up to 1000%. The process is is that RCA does not offer the range of small to analogous to the reduction in efficiency of a busi­ large capacity random access memory devices offered ness discussion when all words need to be translated by IBM ... slowing Spectra 70's relative performance into a foreign tongue. The read-only memory is also on many file processing jobs with low activity expensive to develop and fabricate ... costing up to ratios. $150,000-$200,000 to develop and produce the first unit, while renting to the user for under $500/mo ... To offset this, RCA is planning to offer the so its development is usually justified only for popular IBM 2311 disk pack unit as an unencouraged computers of the broadest use ... for example, no option on a Spectra 70 system ... especially unen­ RCA 601 conversion memory is planned for Spectra 70. couraged to customers for rented systems now that IBM will no longer make its peripheral equipment The overwhelming advantage to Spectra 70 users available on lease to other computer manufacturers. of direct compatibility with System/360 is that the results of the huge investment in program develop­ Spectra 70 illustrates the five important mar­ ment being put in by IBM and by leading IBM custom­ ket strategies outlined above in the following ways: ers to support System/360 applications will also be available to them ... provided that program copyright Program Compatibility: One of the largest potential considerations don't prevent this annexing of expenses for an existing computer user in changing­ creati ve effort. over applications to a new computer system is the cost of rewriting existing programs in the language Stress on Peripheral Equipment: Ten years ago the of the new computer. Since about 70% of new ~omputer cost of peripheral equipment as a percentage of the orders are now coming from existing computer users, total computing system averaged 30%. This year it

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 7 was closer to 60%. This is due to the greater num­ Single-Fee Rental: Like General Electric on the ber of small-scale systems installed as well as the Compatibles-600, RCA is offering Spectra 70 on a recognition by the computer user that the flexibil­ single-fee rental regardless of monthly usage. IBM ity with which he can apply his system is closely recently dropped its extra shift rental rate from related to the number and types of peripheral equip­ 30% to 10% of first shift rental .•. a move which was ment available with the central processor. widely interpreted as evidence of pr~ce cutting tn the computer industry. However we feel that the RCA has just over forty peripheral units avail­ trend towards eliminating overtime charges is more able with Spectra 70, including data communications correctly due to a shift in the typical use of a equipment. However it is in the "office equipment" co~puter. In the past most computer jobs were run type of peripherals where Spectra 70 seems to have on a batch basis, with all work grouped to run dur­ its greatest competitive weakness. RCA currently ing a single working shift if possible. However, does not make any of its own paper-handling periph­ with the advent of management information systems erals such as card reader/punches and printers. using data COllection/data communication terminals, Their slowest card equipment, an Uptime reader and and scientific computing centers using time-shared I.C.T. punch, rents for $1100/mo .... 38% more than inquiry stations, computers tend to be in a "ready the rental of the 70/15 processor and 30% more than to process" state round the clock although the actu­ IBM's 1402 reader/punch. This is the principal rea­ al net processing time during a day is probably still son why the 70/15 and 70/25 do not offer a particu­ less than eight hours ... therefore the de-emphasis of larly striking price/performance ratio when com­ extra shift charges. pared to a small business computer such as the H-200. Deliveries begin in the fall, 1965, for the We understand that RCA is striving to develop 70/15 and 70/25, and in spring, 1966, for the 70/45 its own card equipment and a non-impact printer in and 70/55 ... just six months behind the deliveries of order to claim a larger share of its computer sys­ corresPQnding models of System/360. To make these tems. In the meantime they are likely to stress deliveries as numerous as possible, RCA is beefing sales to System/360 customers where RCA processors up its marketing staff 20% in the coming year. To can be used in multi-computer data communication expand their European sales base, and to replace the networks with peripherals being primarily supplied lost marketing assistance from Bull, RCA recently by IBM. completed an agreement with Siemens & Halske A.G. for an exchange of patent licenses, technical in­ New among the RCA peripherals is the 70/237 formation and sales agreements which will enable card reader which also can accept mark-sense cards. the German firm to manufacture and sell Spectra 70 The 70/568 mass memory unit, an updated version of in the Common Market. An agreement between RCA and the 3488 magnetic card memory, is still one of the English Electric is believed to be in the works for most attractive multi-million character storage marketing Spectra 70 in England. RCA's existing units currently available. English market outlet, I.C.T., is currently devoting its attention to getting its own new computer series Use of Integrated Circuits: The monolithic inte­ off the ground. grated circuits used in the 70/45 and 70/55 are paper-thin silicon chips, no larger than the letter What's next from RCA? The model 35 may be an­ "0" on a typewriter, which are chemically treated to nounced this spring if read-only memory compatibil­ create a gross molecular structure able to perform ity provides an important sales factor. The 70/35 the logic functions which would require 15 transis­ is expected to have this microprogrammed capability tors, 13 resistors and the necessary wire connections also and when coupled with some lower cost card and found on an equivalent conventional solid-state cir­ printer peripherals currently under development, it cuit board. should make a very competitive small-to medium-scale computer for business applications. The giant of RCA foresees its advantages in using the mono­ the line, the 70/65, is expected to use a cryogenic lithic circuits as lower manufacturing cost, lower memory which will offer millions of bytes of storage maintenance cost, and smaller size, while lower op­ available in usec. speeds. If cryogenic memory de­ erating costs (less power) will please the user. velopment keeps on schedule at RCA's Princeton Labs, the 70/65 should be ready for announcement next fall. About 70% to 80% of the electronics of the 70/45 and 70/55 are integrated circuits, with RCA's In sum, Spectra 70 has lifted RCA into a vastly Components Division, Westinghouse and Fairchild be­ strengthened competitive position in the computer ing the approved vendors. industry, and clearly exposed a number of market strategies that have become quite important now that The production costs and speeds of integrated the majority of new computer orders are coming from circuits have apparently now reached the point where existing computer users. From the evidence to date, nearly all new computers announced in 1965 will use it appears to be selling well ... important news to integrated circuits. the EDP division who, according to RCA's Chairman Sarnoff, broke into the black for the first time Emphasis on Data Communication Systems: Since Spec­ this year with $100 million in revenues, and who tra 70 has direct compatibility with System/360, rounded out the year with over 140 systems booked RCA's largest potential market is System/360 users and with a 15% growth in revenues projected for who are seeking a second vendor for data processing 1965. systems ... but requiring that the computer system be able to work along side, rather than replace their existing equipment. Therefore RCA has been careful to develop a standard I/O interface and data commun­ ication terminal equipment which will allow memory­ to-memory communications between Spectra 70 and System/360, as well as the 301 and 3301. Spectra Associate Publisher 70 also offers·a combination of multiplexor channels which can cont:r:ol up to 256 I/O devices at one time.

8 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 c&a READERS' & EDITOR'S FORUM

"PO,OR MAN'S" TIME-SHARED COMPUTER This situation is defined sufficiently by the fact that the INPUT: THE BUTTON TELEPHONE next button to be pressed will necessarily have to be one of the ten "digit" buttons, since all input character entries, Leon Davidson whether alphabetic or numeric, must always start with the New York, N. Y. appropriate "digit" button on which the desired character I should like to call attention to a simple procedure for appears. using the new push-button telephones as alphanumeric Using the above procedures, mixed alphanumeric input, computer input devices, for remote inquiry or data entry. even within the same word, is handled without special The method is so easy and cheap that the regular office or consideration being needed. Programmers and systems household button telephone of the future, without any designers will recognize that the decoding routines to proc­ modifications or attachments, may be used as the "poor ess this type of input string are trivially simple, if they man's computer input terminal." Such usage will not in­ scan from right to left. Special computer input channel terfere in any way with all the ordinary uses of the tele­ hardware requirements are negligible, consisting only of an phone. interface containing the standard telephone-industry tone­ The essence of the procedure is that one uses the twelve­ decoding circuits and a counter to recognize (say) three or button version of the new telephone dials. The button dial more consecutive taps of the "Left" or "Right" buttons, mechanisms are built on a 4 x 3 matrix even in the standard respectively, as the end-of-message signals. IO-button phone versions, and a full 12-button model is By putting the characters "space," "Q," and "." on the already in limited production. The extra two dial buttons "1" button, which carries no letters on present-day tele­ lie on the bottom row on either side of the "zero" button. phones, and by putting the characters "Z," "-," and "+" They are considered to have no digits or other symbols of on the "zero" button, a full 40-character alphanumeric set the character-set showing on them; they will be referred is provided. This set has the capability of handling arith~ to here merely as the "Left" button and the "Right" button, metic applications, such as adding machine or calculation res pectively. services. It also can handle alphanumeric work such as It should be noted that it is not permissible to press any file inquiries based on name or stock ticker symbols, or two buttons simultaneously in using the push-button dial, based on mixed alphanumeric part-numbers for inventory since this would generate a faulty tone. Note also that systems. Other symbols are easily provided when needed, pressing any buttons after a connection is made does not such as for example by using the "X" or "M" character as break the connection; this is what makes it possible to use a multiplication sign in doing adding machine work. these phones as data input devices. Output may be handled by a "voice-answer" system such The alphabetic input procedure is quite simple. To en­ as started operation at the American Stock Exchange in ter an alphabetic character, one first presses the particular 1964, sending computer-generated voice reply messages digit button on which that character appears. Thus, for through the user's telephone receiver. example, to send the letter "D" or "E" or "F," one first An alphanumeric input scheme such as described above presses the "3" button, since the letters "D, E, F" appear on has been actually tested in a large-scale time-shared real­ the "3" position ot the standard telephone dial layout. One time computer system, and determined to be completely then presses the "Left" button or the "Right" button or satisfactory and feasible from the viewpoints of human both, in some sequential combination, to define which of factors, hardware, and programming. With the current the three letters is actually wanted, namely the leftmost spreading of push-button telephone dialing equipment letter, the rightmost letter, or the middle letter. across the country, the computer industry is now in a posi­ It is easy to devise anyone of many sets of detailed se­ tion to expand into the average home or office with time­ quences of use of the "Left" and "Right" buttons to specify sharing "multi-terminal" systems completely accessible the identity of the desired letters (left, middle, or right). through the regular push-button telephone. In fact, it may be possible to develop an elegant scheme in Thus a whole new world of service would be provided which one never has to press more than two buttons in all, easily and directly to the average citizen, office worker, to define any of the characters. professional man, shopkeeper, executive, etc., and last but The numeric input procedure is (quite properly) even not least, to the student of any age who will be living in simpler than the above alphabetic procedure. If the digit the "computerized" world of tomorrow. "3" is to be entered, one merely refrains from pressing the "Left" or "Right" buttons after the "3" button is pressed. (Please turn to page 26)

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 9 Wasting a big computer to convert data? Can't justify an off-line unit because of dollars or inflexibility?

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Circle No. 7 on Readers Service Card COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 11 Programming Languages: Choices, Comparison, and Evaluation In preparation for this special feature in the February issue of Computers and Automation, we wrote to several people in the computer field and put the following questions in front of them: '!What choices of programming languages would you recommend for what kinds of problems? Why? What are the advantages and disadvantages? For point of view, you might imagine yourself giving advice to the new head of a new large computer • installation with a variety of assignments." We take pleasure in presenting the responses of two distinguished computer people" in the following two articles: "What Choice of Programming Languages?" by Ned Chapin; and "Comparing Programming Lan­ guages," by Jules 1. Schwartz. -THE EDITOR

WHAT CHOICE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES?

Ned Chapin Data Processing Consultant Menlo Park) Calif. 94026

3-An algebraic compiler language. In most cases of late, Types of Languages this has looked like a variant of FORTRAN. But in What is this about a choice of programming languages? in a few cases, where the manufacturer has not seen Many are the computer users who see the "choice" in very a significant computational market for the computer, narrow terms. Once a user has picked out his computer­ the manufacturer has made available no algebraic or had it picked out for him-this is the line-up of pro­ com piler language. gramming languages provided by the manufacturer with 4-A report program generator language. Even when the computer: the computer manufacturer has viewed the computer I-A machine language. This has had its devotees as as adapted to "business" applications, the manufac­ the language of general choice, but that age is rapidly turer has often made available no report program waning, although all of the computer manufacturers generator language. Some manufacturers ao not re­ offer a machine language for each computer. gard a report program generator as a programming 2-A symbolic assembly language. For different compu­ language a tall. ters, these range from close to machine language to 5-A business-oriented compiler language. It is not distant. But given the size and model of the com­ generally provided for the smaller computers yet, or puter and the input-output and storage configura­ for the computers the manufacturers aim mostly ~t tion, generally only one or sometimes two symbolic the computational market. COBOL is far from be­ languages have been made available. ing the only business-oriented compiler language

12 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 provided by the computer manufacturers, but it is availahle, both of which use less storage space, compile becoming more common. faster, and run faster, with little to no loss in the value of So where does this leave the typical computer user? For the diagnostics. Several augmented versions of FORTRAN his computer, it leaves him a choice of one each of these for the IBM-1620 have been prepared, as well as some five types of programming languages. But is one each a additional subroutines. The IBM-1620 SPS language has choice? also been modified by a user to approximately double the Character of Choice size of the programs that can be compiled, at a cost of some restrictions in the format of some instructions. And Then just what is this choice being talked about? Is it other IBM-1620 users have prepared implementations of blue sky talk on the order of "Let's ~retend you ~lav~ a other programing languages such as ,\1.GOL and IPL-V. multi-million dollar budget, space, staff, and authorIzatIon Work such as this increases the scope of choice. But do to acquire and utilize three or four different coll1put~rs the users of the smaller computers generally make use of of varying sizes and configurations?" Now here a .cho.I~e these additions to the supply of programing languages of programming languages means something, for thIS lIfts • available? By and large, the answer appears to be "no," the major restriction on choice imposed by the model and for several reasons. configuration of the computer. But few indeed are the First, at the cost of some personnel and machine time, computer users in this position. these users have taught their personnel enough about the What about the others? The monthly Computers and manufacturer-provided languages they do use to eliminate Automation Census shows some 23,000 computers installed. the obvious inefficiencies that at first arise when working What about the nearly 19,000 of this total that are small in with the new and the strang~. Hence, they can give the size, or with limited input and output configurations, or for impression of working efficiently and productively, even which the computer manufacturer has often not even made when the language they are using is not as well suited to available representatives of all five types of languages? the job at hand as some alternative language. About four out of every five computer users find them­ Second, many of these users apparently do not know selves in this boat. This is certainly the case of the users of the alternatives available to them for the asking, and of the four most popular computers today, the IBM-l401, they do not know whom to ask. Third, many of these the RR-1004, the IBM-1620, and the IBM-l440, which to­ users are not sufficiently inconvenienced by the use of only gether account for better than one half of the computers the manufacturer-provided programing languages to feel in use. What is the situation for these users? motivated to look beyond that choice, and do not sense the The situation is that not all of the five types of lan­ gain possible in some situations from changing to some of guages have been im plemen ted for all of these. com p~.lters. the other languages. For example, no algebraic compiler language IS avaIlable for the RR~1004, no report program generator language and Factors in Choice no business-oriented compiler languages for the IBM-1620 Among the five types of languages provided by the com­ or the RR-I004, and no business-oriented compiler language puter manufacturers, among the user-provided versions, for the smaller configurations of the IBM-140l. But two and among the user-provided additional languages, what symbolic assembly languages are available for the larger are some of the dimensions of choice open? What are the configurations of the IBM-l40l. guide lines or rules for choice? Observation of a selection The choicejn short appears narrow, but the user does of computer users suggests that the choice is a matter of have a choice among the basic five-for example, should judgment, but that it usually reflects at least the majo~ity a symbolic or algebraic language be used for the job at of the factors listed below, and sometimes others. The Im­ hand? Viewed in these terms, a choice certainly exists, but portance of each of the factors varies considerably from many users are of the view that this is really no choice, person Lo person making the choice, and from situation to because the knowledge of the staff and the type of the job situation. These factors are: together often dictate unequivocally which available lan­ First is personnel competence. For example, a person guage from the five types to use. The borderline cases are skilled in FORTRAN (7) programming can usually pro­ often handed to the programmer who selects to fit his duce a workable program using FORTRAN regardless of own convenience. (1)* the nature of the problem or of the other factors. The Actually, the choice is not quite that narrow, for the same is true of persons skilled in machine language pro­ computer users have in some instanc~s tak~n the b~ll by graming, in symbolic, etc. For this reason, the language of the horns. Faced with the shortcommgs of the avaIlable choice often is the language that is known best at an in­ languages and by applications that are different ,to pro­ stallation. gram or run effectively with the computer manufacturer Second is the nature of the job. When the problem or provided languages, they have revised or prepared new application can be conveniently expressed in mathematical ones. But unlike the noteworthy SHARE efforts, these notation, an algebraic compiler language such as ALGOL or language implementations have often been the res~lt of FORTRAN is usually the language of choice. ALGOL (5) dedicated work by individual persons. For example, m the is usually favored when the job involves more than iterative San Francisco Bay Area alone, Mr. Ruppert Lissner had computation, especially logic operations. NPL (9) when made major improvements in the IBM-l401 SPS (8) (a it becomes available will incorporate features of FORTRAN symbolic assembly language) to broaden it, eliminate many and ALGOL, and borrow a few from COBOL. When the of the format restrictions, and incorporate some of the job involves only minor amounts of computation and con­ features of the IBM-l401 Autocoder (a symbolic compiler siderable amounts of data arrangement, COBOL (6) or a language) (8). And Mr. Robert McAllestcr l~as e~pan~ed symbolic language is usually the language of choice. In IBM-1401 Autocoder to incorporate debuggmg aIds, Im­ such cases, when good documentation and speed of pro­ prove data editing, provide additional macrocommands con­ graming are sought, COBOL may be favored. When a venient for file maintenance work, and improve input and job involves more than routine file and record maintenance output operations. and manipulation, symbolic languages (8), report program On a wider geographic basis, and taking the IBM-1620 genera tor languages, * or tabular decision languages (11) as an example, two improved versions of FORTRAN are * Information on these is still best available in the manuals * References will be found at the end of this paper. pul out hy the cOlllputer lIlallufactlll'l'rs.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 13 may be more convenient. However, except for the symbolic Eighth is the debugging aid provided with the programing languages, these, including some sorting capability are language. Typically the machine and symbolic languages in the process of being added to COBOL on an optional include no debugging aids, but the higher level languages basis. The symbolic languages are more general purpose such as COBOL in particular sometimes provide extensive than the others and are usually the languages of choice diagnostic assistance to the programer to catch possible when operating speed or economy of storage are important. violations in the use of the language as well as in specifying When the job is heuristic or involves primarily lists of data the data to be operated upon. But the value of such aids with very little computation, list-processing languages such varies widely from one implementation to another of the as COMIT (13) and IPL-V (10) are usually favored. For various programing languages. simulation work, SIMSCRIPT (4) and DYNAMO (12) are The important point about all of these factors is that the sometimes used. differences between the implementations available of all Third is ease of use. Conceptually, speed or efficiency but the machine languages for each of the various com­ factors should probably outrank this factor, but as a puters, may exceed the differences arising from other practical maHer, it is important. The higher-level languages reasons. for example, the differences on some factors be­ are consistently the easier to use, such as COBOL, ALGOL, tween the weakest and the strongest of 'lhe COBOL com­ FORTRAN, etc. (1, 2, 3). Less convenient are the report pilers available for different computers are for practical program-generator languages, tabular-decision languages, purposes as great as the difference between some symbolic and symbolic languages because of their greater restrictions and higher level languages. As a practical matter therefore, on the use of mnemonics for identifying the operations to the characteristics of the implementation of the languages be done and for the data to be operated upon. For con­ available to a particular computer installation (because of venience in learning, the higher-level languages are favored, the computer available), have to be examined carefully. because less knowledge of the details of the working of the These characteristics are in addition to the general factors, computer are needed. such as the eight noted above, that for any given situation Fourth is the speed of operation of the object program may be considered in selecting the programing language of (the program in its machine language form). Faster speed choice. is worth money in most installations, especially on applica­ tions to be run repeatedly. In this regard the higher-level languages have been criticized extensively as being prodigal References with machine time, and in some instances the charges have Three general books on programing, selected from among been assuredly true. But not always. For example, some the many available, are: COBOL and FORTRAN produced object programs are (1) Dick H. Brandon, Management Standards for Data as good in speed of operation as would be likely obtained Processing (Princeton, N. J.: D. Van Nostrand Co. Inc., from an intermediate level programer using a symbolic 1963). See also this same author's recent articles in language, although a skilled and experienced senior pro­ Computers and Automation. gramer could usually if given time to polish the code pro­ (2) Ned Chapin, Programing Computers for Business Ap­ duce a faster running ·program. plications (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., Fifth is speed of compil{ltion and sjJeed of programing. 1961). This book illustrates the use of a variety of This like the preceeding and following factors is one that differen t languages. varies considerably from one implementation to another of (3) Herbert D. Leeds and Gerald M. Weinberg, Computer any given programing language. And here again faster Programing Fundamentals (New York: McGraw-Hill speed is worth money, but this speed is most important in Book Co., Inc., 1961). This book illustrates program­ installations with a subSitantial volume of new or revision ing for a large computer with emphasis on a symbolic programing, as in job shop facilities, or in installations language. where the average operating life of a job tends to be Nine books and one article on specific programing lan­ measured in weeks or months. Here the machine time guages, from among the many available, are: spent in compiling and assembly operations can become a (4) H. M. Markowitz, et al., SIMSCRIPT (Englewood burden if speeds are slow. Although generally slower in Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1963). compilation speed than the symbolic languages, the higher (5) Daniel D. McCracken, ALGOL (New York: John level languages such as ALGOL and COBOL allow pro­ Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1962.) graming work to be done more rapidly than is possible with (6) Daniel D. McCracken, COBOL (New York: John the symbolic languages, given an equal degree of programer Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1963). experience. For limited life jobs, the higher level languages (7) Daniel D. McCracken, FORTRAN (New York: John on this basis alone may be the languages of choice. Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1961). Sixth is economy of storage. This economy is a measure (8) Daniel D. McCracken, IBM-1401 (New York: John of how little storage capacity is used by the object program. Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1961). Both SPS and Autocoder A1though economy of storage can be gained at the cost of are covered. a slower speed of operation, the sought-after balance is a (9) Daniel D. McCracken, "The New Programing Lan­ combination of economy of storage and speed of operation. guage," Datamation (V. 10, No.7) July 1963, pp. 31-36. Control over this balance is most easily achieved with the This is on "NPL" symbolic languages, but only at the cost of considerable (10) Alen Newell, et al., Information Processing Language-V programing time. In the larger and more complex com­ Manual (Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., puters, this balance may be no more easily attainable in 1964). this way than by relying upon the built-in features of the (11) Solomon Pollack, DETAB-X (Santa Monica, Calif.: higher level languages. RAND Corp., 1963). This is a decision-table language. Seventh is the availability of macrocommands to handle Several articles by other authors have been carried common situations. These help make an otherwise indif­ recently by Computers and Automation on decision­ ferent language adequate. For example, square root macro­ table languages. commands, and input and output macrocommands are (12) Alexander L rugh, DYNAMO User's Manual (Cam­ features of some symbolic languages. The higher-level bridge, Mass.: M. I. T. Press, 1961). languages typically use macrocommands very extensively, (13) V. Yngve, COMIT Reference Manual (Cambridge, cvell to the point of being founded upon them. Mass.: M. I. T. Press, 1962).

14 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 . COMPARING PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

J 1lles I. Schwartz System Development Corporation Santa Nlonica) Calif.

Imponderable Complexities prove very little about the languages). Less extreme When one considers the appropriateness of various pro­ variations in the operating system, such as accessibility gramming languages for use in the solution of the universe to libraries and input-output equipment, may influence of computing problems, one is generally faced with some the results of any comparison of languages. highly imponderable complexities. Some reasons for these • Users are not standard complexities are: As a fourth dimension in the comparison of languages, • Languages are not standard one must consider the vagaries of the different us~rs. A To compare language A with language B adequately, language described in glowing terms by one set of users one would hope to at least be able to define languages may be disliked or ignored by another set. This can be A and B precisely. This is usually not possible. There­ due to academic or professional background, corporate fore, one must compare language Ai with Bu' loyalty, personal animosities, lack of education, or just obtuseness, but in any case, it is a fact of programming • Comptlers are not standard life. Result: A ijk1 vs. B Uywx' In those relatively rare cases where a single official docu­ We have thus far discussed four dimensions of language ment exists to define a language, there is another dimen­ comparisons. Given adequate motivation, we could possibly sion to the problem. The fact that more than Ol).e com­ extend our array dimensions so that we would run out of piler exists for the language usually implies that more lower-case Roman letters for subscripts. However, let us than one version of the language is actually implemented. accept the fact that no comparison can be precise. At best, This is most often true when the compilers arc on we can present some general statements about some general different computers but is even frequently true when language systems and (after filtering out the author's two different compilers for language A run on the same biases) discuss the subject on a common, though insecure, computer. Thus, the languages have proceeded from ground. scalars to two-dimensional arrays: Aij vs. Buv' • Operating systems are not standard Some Bench Marks In some cases, the supposed advantages (or disadvantages) First of all, we can make some basic assertions: of language Aij actually reflect the power of the operating • Machine-language coding (on any computer) produces system under which the compiler and compiled program the "best" code. "Best" here implies less storage space operate. An extreme case is the comparison of a language for the program's instructions and generally shorter run in an on-line environment as opposed to one run operating time. Of course, this is somewhat a function offline. Even for the same language and the same com­ of the programmer, but it is normally a fact that today's piler, the results of this comparison can be striking (but compilers cannot produce as good a code as can a good

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 15 machine-language programmer. It is also true that the programs in these languages can be reliably modified is shorter the program, the better machine language will considerably less than with higher level languages: Where compare, and programs that tend to be modified quite changes in the data size or form are needed, those lan­ a bit will begin to lose some of the advantage. However, guages that deal with unstructured data (e.g., LISP, machine code is still "best" in this sense. IPL-V) are modified most easily. Languages that permit o "Algebraic" languages (e.g., FORTRAN, ALGOL, MAD, little use of the computer-word structure to be reflected JOVIAL, etc.) are generally popular with, and good for, in the program (e.g., FORTRAN, ALGOL) also permit, non-programmer, hard-scientist computer users. These in the trivial sense, relatively easy changes to be made languages, despite their individual failings and peculiari­ (since not much can be done in the first place without ties, combine reasonably well the requirements of a stored resorting to tricks). JOVIAL is a language ,that attempts computer program with the mathematical form of ex­ to provide compromise between giving access to the pression generally known to the engineer or mathemati­ computer and keeping the program relatively free of cian. machine-oriented references. Thus, theoretically, one o "List-processing" languages are most valuable for pro­ can take advantage of the computer and modify ,the data grams requiring considerable access to unstructured data. structure without seriously affecting the program. In Languages like IPL-V and LISP have been used quite practice, it works reasonably well. . successfully by computer and non-computer experts to o No programming language has yet been entirely com­ program a large number of extremely complex mechan­ puter-independent. Although much has been stated and isms, for which associations within the data arc more im­ the aims have been high, no language has yet been found portant than any implied association of data to the to be completely capable of transfer. Some, like computer. FORTRAN, that make very little use of the computer o Some languages can be used to program almost anything. structure, can be relatively easy to transfer, except that, It is probably true that, supplied with enough library because of some of the lacks in the language, machine routines, one can use any language to program anything language has been utilized to some extent in many large (although it may turn out in some cases that the basic programs. Languages such as LISP and IPL-V also permit program is nothing more than calls to subroutines). Some relatively easy transfer, but so far, the implementations languages, however, were designed with the specific goal of them on different computers have varied somewhat. of making almost anything programmable with the basic These languages, however, seem to be the closest-to­ language (i.e., that language defined in the official docu­ transferrable, since they are considerably removed from ments). JOVIAL * is such a language. NELIAC is the actual computer. Again, in JOVIAL, an attempt was another. The basic technique used in these languages to made to divorce the data structure from the program, so allow a wide range of programming capabilities is the that changes of computer would have an effect only on provision of reasonably straight-forward access to ,the the data definitions. This has had some success, but as computer down to the bit level, while the algebraic flavor with the others, it has suffered from the normal ills of of the language is still preserved. This is accomplished implementation differences, vast differences in input­ with a wide range of structured-data-definitioncapabil­ output on different computers, etc. ities. It is quite true, however, that certain kinds of routines, particularly those which can be best expressed Choices Between Languages recursively or which require dynamic changes to data The preceding set of principles ranges from those which storage allocations, are expressed in a less-then-optimum are generally acceptable to those on which there are grounds fashion when these languages are used in their basic for debate. In any case, they represent some of the con­ form. clusions of the author. • For most kinds of programs, the algebraic languages can In reviewing these conclusions and conceding the earlier produce "beaer" code than can the list-processing lan­ remarks admitting that all such comparisons are unreliable, guages. Again, "better" implie~ faster, shorter code after we shall now state which languages are most suitable for a compilation. Since the algebraic forms of expression variety of problems. One can assume that qualifications tend to approximate the actual computer-storage and exist in all cases, even where none are stated. instruction hierarchy more than the others, it is easier to • Numerical programming-where the prime purpose is "tailor" the program to produce better code. Also, trans­ the input and output of numbers, and where the trans­ lation from the program statements to machine language formation between input and output can be stated in the is much more direct when the statements are basically terminology of elementary algebra and trigonometry­ arithmetic. can be reasonably well programmed in-any of the alge­ o The initial programming of a problem is not the major braic languages (e.g., FORTRAN, BALGOL, ALGOL, obstacle in program production. When one considers JOVIAL, MAD, NELIAC, etc., etc., etc.). the total life of a program including the design, coding, o Mathematical programming-where the solution of the checkout, change, re-checkout, etc., one finds a relatively problem can be expressed considerably better with re­ small percentage of the time devoted to the initial cod­ cursive operations-can probably best be done in "pure" ing. Therefore, the ease with which any language permits ALGOL (if one can be found). LISP also should be the writing of code is not too significant. It is true that examined in such a case. the programming language to be used may influence the o Text manipulation-where the main requirement is the design of the program. For example, some rather intri­ manipulation of strings of symbols-seems to be ade­ cate processes may be almost immediately available in a quately handled by languages such as COMIT. Also, language like LISP, making the design of the program IPL-V has been successfully used for such problems. much easier and thus faster. • Control programs-such things as executive routines and o The main advantage of programs in higher level lan­ time-sharing monitors-usually have a severe restriction guages is their capability to be changed. Because of the on space and time as well as a requirement for access to inherent strangeness, cietail, and possibility for tricks in most of the fundamental machine registers and instruc­ a lower level (machine) language, the ease with which tions. Thus, machine language has been most often used for this application. However, where space is not a severe • Disregard any bias on the part of the author. (Please turn to page 26)

16 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 c&a THROUGHPUT

The New Breed of Software

Contemporary writers in the field of data processing, Languages: The Extended Assembly System much like TV writers, apparently firmly believe in the COBOL "breeding" of the talent required in the data processing FORTRAN industry. Thus one might take a systems analyst and a Report Program Generator programmer of appropriate opposite sexes and hope to Input-Output: File Control Processor-the input-output create a new "breed" of programmer with an inheritance control system fit to deal with a total information system. Communication Control System-the communfcations­ It is perhaps more reasonable therefore to apply the handling subroutines. term new breed to software. There have been many Utility Systems: Sort/Merge changes in basic software, and the term is perhaps justified. Peripheral Control System-Tape-to-card, card-to-tape, For example, in 1957, the software line-up for the IBM 705 etc. comprised the following: System Library Maintenance Routines-a set of four Languages: A symbolic assembly program programs to update the library. A simple version of Autocoder Random Access File Maintenance Routines-the utility Sorts: A sort for the buffered 705 (TRC) programs for disc loading and maintenance. A sort for the unbuffered 705 (TCU) The major differences are in emphasis on control, transla­ Input-Output: A 300-instruction "package" for error, end­ tion, and in general, reducing the cost of programming. of-file and restart De-emphasis of sorting and utility programs, as "hardware Utility Systems: A number of simple testing systems, such as extensions" has resulted. Speed test and Drumtest. New features are the advanced languages, and the Memory print, tape print, tape duplicator, drum print, "meta"-assembler. the Extended Assembly Program. By al­ and other simple card programs-the remainder of the lowing procedure statements, the user can make the as­ package. sembler work on any types of statements which he defines, Application Pachages: None thereby providing him with some compatibility with his Subroutines: Miscellaneous contributions from various users present language. This is an old concept, but renovated to and the beginning of a macro-library which most pro­ allow the Spectra series to be totally compatible with the grammers disdained. IB.M 360; privileged instructions can be assembled in the The 1965 software line-up is far different. For example, "meta"-language. the newly announced RCA-Spectra/70 has an impressive Other features important to the user are the complete battery of software, with no less than eight complete "oper­ maintenance routines, and the enforcement of a testing ating" systems for as many configurations. The new cate­ monitor on all tape systems. Although the subroutine gories of software, as exemplified by the Spectra, emphasize library and the application package have not been defined, the "executive" or control program. This program moni­ they can be expected to be substantial, by comparison to tors system operation, assigns facilities, handles interrupts, 1957. communicates with the operator, and in general provides In seven years, the gains have been substantial, in fact, scheduling and control. major-through the recognition of user requirements by The software systems offered for Spectra are: the manufacturers. 70/15 Programming System These gains, however, are by no means as significant as 70/25 16K Tape Operating System the hardware gains: the 705 handled 6 bits in 17 micro­ 70/25 32K Tape Operating System seconds; the Spectra 70/55 handles 32 bits in .84 micro­ 70/45, 55 16K Tape Operating System seconds; almost a 100 to I improvement. 70/45, 55 32K Tape Operating System A software improvement of 100 to 1 would be of great 70/45, 55 65K Tape Operating System significance in maintaining the growth rate of the computer 70/45. 55 65K Disc Operating System and data processing industry which otherwise may well be 70/45, 55 262K Disc Operating System hampered by a lack of sufficient talented personnel. The largest package, the 262K Disc system, contains the following: Operating Control: The Executive-for supervision of the system's daily use The Monitor-a testing system used for sequencing and editing of tests and load-and-go routines.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 17 DECOMPOSITION - SEVEN LEAGUE BOOTS FOR LINEAR PROGRAMMING

Dr. Jack Moshman Vice President, Professional Services C-E-I-R, Inc. Washington, D. C.

Over the past ·five years linear ·programming has proved greater commercial use of LP as a management tool, al­ to be one of the most useful of the new management tech­ though, as will be seen, then~ still remain formidable niques made practical by the advent of the electronic com­ psychological and intellectual barriers to its more general puter. LP's acceptance in the business world, however, employment. has been "good" only in a relative sense. Those companies This is not surprising. An understanding of the full which employ LP extensively in the day-to-day management significance of Decomp LP presupposes in turn an under­ of their activities have been confined to a few industries, standing of basic linear programming. Alas, this is not largely ·those involved in complex industrial processes very often the case, even among those who are profes­ such as oil, steel, chemicals, and food preparation. The sionally involved with computers and their usage. This is great majority of business enterprises have as yet had no unfortunate since linear programming is one of the most involvement with LP. functional as well as elegant combinations of mathematics The mathematical complexities of linear programming and machin.es devised by the minds of men. have been a major factor in barring a more general utili­ zation of the technique, but at least as important in pre­ What Is Linear Programming? venting its more widespread use have been the size in­ In basic terms, linear programming is a technique adequacies of most available LP codes. Until recently, whereby a maximum or minimum quantity of some ob­ LP codes just did not have the capacity to accommodate jective function-cost, speed, etc.,-can be derived subject many business management problems that were in theory to a set of related linear equations describing the limita­ susceptible to solution by LP. The qualification, "until tions of policy and the physical situation. Working man­ recently," is permitted by the development of a new LP ually, mathematicians can solve sets of linear equations code by C-E-I-R based on the "Decomposition" principle, involving a relatively small number of unknowns to called "Decomp LP" or "Decomp." optimize whatever objective function they have in mind. For larger linear problems, manual solutions are impracti­ 99 Times Better cal because no one person, or team of persons, can manipu­ The development of Decomp LP has increased the late the figures and be sure of discovering the true optimum number of linear restraint equations that can be included of the objective function that is sought in any reasonable in any given LP problem by a factor of 99. Whereas in span of time. the past most codes could accommodate at most 1,024 Many high school students are familiar with the pro­ equations in anyone probltm, Decomp can handle up to cedures for solving sets of linear equations in which there 99,000 equations. The practical effect of this tremendous are the same number- of unknowns as there are equations. increment is ·that many typical linear-type problems en­ In such a set, or problem, only one solution exists, and it countered in business and industrial situations are now is a straightforward process-even if tedious to discover eligible for solution through linear programming. In short, working by hand__ to arrive at the solution. A more typical Decomp LP has breached the biggest physical obstacle to problem situation in the real world, however, is one in

18 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 I I

FIGURE 1

which the number of unknowns exceeds the number of and through what transportation media? In solving these equations describing the problem. In these cases, there problem~, the company, of course, wants to achieve a may be an infinity of solutions that will satisfy the set of balanced -condition of minimum cost, maximum profit and descriptive equations. In a situation like this, linear pro­ best customer service. gramming comes into its own because it has the capacity to This example gives just the bare bones of a typical oil select, of all possible solutions to a complex set of linear industry problem, but it does suggest the vast number of equations, that one which is the "best" or optimum answer. variables which have to be considered in the decision­ Through linear programming a business user can mini­ making process of a contemporary oil executive. Unaided mize or maximize some objective function-for example, intuition is not equal to the task of fully assessing the total cost incurred, or total effort expended on a given impact of all alternative choices and determining the best project-while remaining consistent with those constraints one. Some better means is needed if the executive is to which exist within the framework of the problem. Con­ cope with complexity of operations on this scale. Such a straints, for example, may be the number of machines or means does exist in linear programming. workers available in a plant, or the costs of electricity or freight rates, or the total possible market demand for a What Is Linear? product. Before going any further, I had better first explain the An Example reason for use of the term, "linear." A linear relation Let me give a simplified version of an LP problem. Take, exists between two quantities if a change in one always for example, an oil company which has two refineries some produces a change in the second that is proportional to the 500 miles apart at which some twenty different kinds of change in the first. Thus, if we say A=f (B), where f is petroleum products are produced. At each refinery, costs a linear function, then any change in A is some constant of producing these products vary. They vary not only times the change in B. An example of a linear function is because of the different manufaoturing efficiencies of the A=3+.5B. If B=20, then A= 13. If we double B, making refineries but because of differences in labor costs and the it 40, then A=23. If B is 10, then A equals 8. In each cost of transporting finished products to markets. case, A changes by an amount of 50% that of the change Suppose, additionally, the two refineries serve an over­ in B. Expressed in graph form, this relationship is repre­ lapping geographic area: that is, it's feasible to supply the sented by a straight line-hence, linear. In a commercial same geographic region wjth various petroleum products seuing, a linear situation would exist, for example, where from either refinery. The products can be transported by an increase in the number of workers or machines increases tanker, barge, truck, rail car or pipeline, each of which has production, or an increase in advertising expenditures different rate structures. The oil company's problems in­ expands product sales. clude determination of what products to produce at which There's nothing more mysterious to a linear relation refinery, in what quantity, to service what geographic area, than that. Difficulties arise when there are assembled a

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 19 number of these linear relations encompassing many-not matical thought. This complexity makes Decomp difficult just two-variables pertaining to a physical situation. The to describe fully in simple terms, but its broader principles trick then is to describe a maximum or minimum condition can be explained in non-technical terminology. which does not violate any of the linear relations represent­ ing the problem's constraints. Through the use of linear The Broader Principles o·f D'ecomp programming codes, the speed and memory capacity of the Basically, Decomp is a powerful tool for solving large electronic computer can be utilized to take into account linear programming problems possessed with a special all the linear factors and constraints bearing upon a given structure. This special structure can be presented schemat­ problem, check out the ramifications of different possible ically as shown in Figure 1. decisions and determine, for example, the most profitable The figure suggests how a large linear problem can be or the most rapid or the least costly solution. segmented into disjoint subproblems. Successful segmenta­ tion requires, among other things, the existence of a small Effectiveness of Linear Programming number of linking equations, and the appearance of a Historically, linear programming has proven to be espe­ number of common variables in each of the subproblems. L cially effective in analyzing and optimizing involved in­ The great utility of the Decomp code is that it permits the dustrial processes. These are the processes connected with computer to determine optimum answers for each sub­ converting raw materials to a finished product through a problem, and evaluate their applicability to the optimum series of manufacturing phases, and their subsequent solution for the total problem. This ability to compare '11 distribution to the consumer. In the production of steel, and evaluate various proposed solutions to each subproblem for example, iron ore and coke are the main raw materials. is critical. The optimum answer to any given subproblem These are freighted to a central production point and put may not necessarily be optimum when considered in light through a complex manufacturing process, at the end of of the total problem. Decomp provides a means whereby which various grades and kinds of steel are produced. many possible answers to subproblems can be compared These products are subsequently shipped to various distri­ one against the other and evaluated in total problem terms. bution points and warehouses around the country. Com­ This is achieved through a complex process of iteration, plex questions arise in the course of these activities which occurs within the computer at the direction of the concerning what, where, how much, and to whom. They LP codes. can largely be resolved by -the use of LP. The basic theory of decomposition reduces to two distinct That, very briefly, is linear programming. Its poten­ aspects. The first relates to the way subproblems-the sets tialities have been known to use for almost 17 years. of equations involving only a particular subset of the Professor George Dantzig of UCLA is generally credited variables of ,the problem-are fed into the master problem. with describing the basic ground rules on computer-based The second concerns the method of deriving relevant LP with his "Simplex" method in 1947, a technique that proposed solutions from these subproblems during the remains with us to this day, although evolutionary improve­ course of the computation. Solution is indicated when a ments have been introduced. (The Simplex method has condition is arrived at where further proposals from each close ties to the geometrical theory of convex polyhedra subproblem to the master problem are not worth introduc­ and its algebraic counterpart, the theory of convex sets. ing. It is also imbedded in the allied algebraic theory of linear Controlling the Decomp process can be described as a inequalities.) game, the object of which is to minimize the size of the matrix of the master problem while optimizing the answer The Effect of thel Electronic c.omputer for the over-all problem with the greatest speed. One of the It was the dramatic emergence of the electronic computer rules of this game is to optimize for all the subproblems at as a practical business tool that permitted implementation as early a stage as possible, without letting them go off on of LP theories, but at ,the same time the computer had pointless excursions. In each subproblem, a highly com­ built-in limitations that seemingly made it impossible to posite objective function is used, consisting of all the com­ apply standard LP codes to' problems containing more mon rows in the subproblem. Proposals to the master than one or two thousand equations. This was the maxi­ problem are formed and are automatically updated at every mum size of the equation matrix that could be accommo­ iteration for later revision into the master problem. (It dated in the memory of an IBM 7090 and 7094 class com­ is quite within the rules to start a Decomp run with an puter. With other makes and models of computers, infeasible master problem in the expectation-or hope­ comparable limitations applied. that the infeasibilities will be removed by the addition of The need ,to overcome this limitation set the stage for proposals from the subproblems.) Decomp. C-E-I-R was among the first companies to market Decomp as a management technique is a functional, linear programming as a management tool. Since the late working product now in use by a number of companies, 1950's, its proprietary LP codes have been commercially although additional refinements to the code are being made available. They have, of course, been joined by codes constantly. The organization of the decomposition code is developed by other computer service companies and by a basically quite simple and takes advantage as far as is number of computer manufacturers. All suffered from practicable of the various special routines and agenda the same size defect. While the -theoretical possibilities of already present in C-E-I-R's standard LP 90/94 code. Decamp were known at an early date, physical and mechan­ ical obstacles prevented theory from being realized in An Application of Decomp practice. One of the first applications of Decomp was made by a It was the work of several years to overcome these major international oil company. Its experience shows how barriers. At C-E-I-R's Washington Center and at C-E-I-R, a business enterprise can make good use of Decomp as a Ltd., in London, England, our British affiliate, a cadre of tool of top management. The problem concerned the computer-oriented mathematicians and linear programming production of oil from several different fields needed to specialists toiled long .and hard on the development of a meet a fixed over-all target over a finite span of years. In functioning Decomp LP code. Unlike some mathematical this oil company's holdings there were seven major oil developments which seemingly occur overnight, the De­ lfields which fed into three refineries. The span of time to comp code was the product of a long, painstaking process be considered was twelve years. The problem was formu­ requiring many man-years of involved and complex mathe- lated as a linear problem, the object being to set quotas

20 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 for each field to meet the over-all production target and at the same time to maximize an expression representing the net profit over the time span being considered. This problem decomposed easily into subproblems because the BRANDON linking equations between the various fields were few in number. APPLIED SYSTEMS, INC. As we've seen, the basic decomposition principle shows and how to take advantage of the special structure of linear programming problems that can be considered as separate : ", " subproblems with a relatively small number of linking U equations. The linking equations are grouped together .. and automation into what is termed the master problem, while each sub­ are pleased to announce the third series (Spring, problem contains those constraints and equations that can 1965) of six naturally be grouped together. In this problem the operations of each oil field under TECHNICAL SEMINARS consideration were expressed in separate subproblems. .IN DATA PROCESSING The constraints in the subproblems dealt with the con­ - conducted by Brandon Applied Systems, Inc. struction of new production facilities in each of the years being considered. These facilities included new oil wells - sponsored by Computers and Automation and also plants such as gas/oil separators which are re­ Six seminars are offered, in four courses: quired to handle the oil once it has reached the surface. "Management Standards for Data Processing" There were also equations representing the productive a 2-day course for managers and senior person­ capacity of both existing and new wells, and constraints on nel on management control and standards. This the upper limits of the capacity of the field. A solution course is based in part on the book of the same to a subproblem is a way of operating a field, i.e., a set name, by Dick H. Brandon. (D. Van Nostrand of annual productions with the corresponding investments Company, Inc., Princeton, N.J. 1963.) Two semi- required to make the productions possible. nars: The master problem consisted of the linking equations Washington, D.C. - April 14, 15 dealing with the supply of oil from fields to the refineries. New York, N.Y. - May 17, 18 It also dealt with the possibility of exploring for new oil ll fields. And, of course, it contained the main supply equa­ "Computer Selection and Characteristics Analysis tions which said that the sum of productions from all the a 2-day course on techniques used in equipment fields must in any year equal the over-all target for that selection and the various characteristics of hard­ year. ware, software and the manufacturers of current Having defined the problem, we set about i:Itroducing equipment. The course is designed for manage­ the Decomp into the picture. A twelve-year problem could ment personnel with responsibility for equipment have been solved in undecomposed form, but it was likely selection. Two seminars: that the machine time required would be excessive. Where­ Washington, D.C. - April 28, 29 ever possible, an effort was made to make use of features New York, N.Y. - June 9, 10 of our standard LP code. Some of these· did indeed prove ll extremely helpful. IIComputer Systems Analysis Techniques The Decomp program showed a saving in running time a new 2-day technical course on the techniques for problems of the order of 300 to 500 rows, though the of systems analysis and computer feasibility exact point at which the program becomes economic com­ study. This course is designed for experienced pared with standard LP 90/94 depends entirely on the prob­ analysts and supervisory personnel. One seminar: lem under consideration. A particular 450-row problem New York, N.Y. - June 16, 17 which took 40 minutes of 7094 time to solve using LP 90/94 IISe lecting and Planning a Computer Systemll was solved in 37 minutes when decomposed. As the number a 2-day summary course defining the tasks and of rows increased, the advantages of Decomp became more functions of the entire computer implementation striking. Before we had the Decomposition program working, we program, after feasibility has been established. made a ten-year run on the oil field problem in undecom­ This course presents techniques, procedures and posed form in about 5 hours. Subsequently we solved standards for use by management and super­ twelve-year runs on this problem when decomposed in visory personnel. One seminar: about two hours. With machine time costing perhaps Los Angeles, Calif. - May 20, 21 $500 an hour, the savings potential here is obvious. To These courses are also given in london, Stock­ make a direct comparison of these two times is unduly holm, and Tel Aviv. flattering to the Decomp program. The twelve-year runs, though larger, were "easier" in the sense that the various For the Spring 1965 course catalog write or field productions were more constrained. More importantly, phone or mail coupon: we were able by that stage to specify very good starting BRANDON APPLIED SYSTEMS, INC. bases and sets of trial solutions. We could not, of course, 30 East 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10017 have specified trial solutions to the undecomposed ten-year 212-YUkon 6-1518 problems, but we could, in the light of subsequent runs, have specified a better starting basis. Taken all in all, however, Decomp in this problem and TO: Brandon Applied Systems in others of a related nature has earned its spurs. As 30 East 42 St., knowledge of the general over-all utility of LP becomes New York, N.Y. 10017 more widespread in non-technical circles, we may expect Please send me the Spring 1965 course catalog. to find increased interest to be shown in the potentialities My name and address are attached. of Decomp. Circle No. 9 on Readers Service Card

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 21 AN OPERATING SYSTEM WHICH INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY 400/0

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F. H. Hill} Manager of Business Programming and Systems Litton Industries Guidance a.nd Control Systems Division Woodland Hills} Calif.

When a data-processing staff becomes so busy that it In general, the operating system integrates these various can't handle special requests for service in addition to types of programs into a single consistent system. The normally scheduled processing, you either need a larger staff result is an inherent efficiency which might otherwise be or an operating system. Faced with this problem, we chose sacrificed for the sake of expediency. Language processors the operating system. We now get 40% more productivity or compilers, for example, are entirely consistent with one out of the computer, and have relieved the staff of many another and with the monitor so that each compiler of the details of machine operation. translates a programmer's source statements into the same The Litton Industries Guidance and Control System type of relocatable instructions. Division's data processing installation at Woodland Hills, California, processes both commercial and engineering in­ Properties of an Operating S.ystem formation problems. An IBM 7010 computer is installed These processors have several important aspects: for commercial work and an IBM 7040 for engineering • Translated machine language instructions have rel­ ~ork. This article discusses the operating system employed ative rather than absolute addresses so that programs by the 7010. can be assigned to any location in memory that is convenient at run time; What is an Operating System? • Programs translated by different compilers, or by the An operating system is basically a program which super­ same compiler at different times, can be assembled vises the running of other programs. Although an operat­ and run as a single program; and ing system would seem to be primarily for computer • A single program can be updated and changed operators, it has many other important benefits. It speeds quickly both in the source and object versions. the flow of work on the computer by eliminating much of Four major benefits are achieved with the operating the between-job delays; it facilitates program writing, system; program testing, and processing of such jobs as sorts and • Faster programming of production jobs; merges; and it simplifies the transition of programs from • Two-and-one-half times faster testing of programs; one computer to another. • Up to 17 times faster compilation of COBOL state­ The operating system consists of: ments; and • a supervisor or monitor program (usually installed • Up to 50% more production from computer. in the computer's memory), which oversees job-to­ The operating system accomplishes about 50% more job transition and handles interruptions when they work by eliminating unnecessary stops between successive occur; computer runs and materially reducing any setup time • a standard input-and-output-control program which required between jobs. Moreover, the maze of clerical is used by all other programs; functions which operators previously performed are elimi­ • standard utility programs for card-to-tape-type op­ nated. Operators' tasks are now guided by a single set of erations; standard procedures. • sort programs, which are also used by other pro­ grams; and Stacking for Continuous Processing • language processors for COBOL, FORTRAN, and All 7010 programs handled by our department are Autocoder. stacked for continuous processing. This includes programs

22 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 to be processed by the compiler, production programs and Conversion required a considerable amount of computer sort programs. time, but the efficiency gained through use of the operating To stack a sequence of jobs, the operator uses control system for the normal workload provided us with more cards to create an input tape which calls for jobs, assigns than enough time to handle it. tape drives and provides all necessary "data. The control With the operating system facilitating source program cards tell the operating system what to do. They describe maintenance, we expect that any future conversion re­ the programs being run under the monitor; and indicate quirements will also be simplified. Future computers will what the job is, the location of the necessary files, work undoubtedly make use of monitor supervision, and our tapes, monitor and output tapes, and the sequence of current efforts will provide valuable experience. By organ­ events for those programs using one or more elements of izing our workload to take advantage of elements of operat­ the operating syS'tem. The input tape is simply a collection ing systems, future systems will not require drastic changes of these control cards plus data to ~e used by the program. on our growing library of production programs. Control cards can also be fed directly to the processor via a card reader. This method is used when changes in Retraining sequence or interruptions are required. In our department, Retraining is a concern because of the caliber of people the control cards are transferred to an input tape, along required to program and operate almost any data-processing with data, so that pro'cessing time is not wasted on a rela­ system. Non-productive study time is necessary for systems tively slow-speed task, such as calling data from a punched­ analysts and programmers, and machine time is lost, while card reader. they learn. Also, mistakes are made in programming, system Litton has developed a 1401 program to keep track of organization, and setup. This makes retraining costly. all the tapes, including the input tape, that have to be used. The operating system simplifies programmer and operator In this way, tapes with programs and data are located tasks, and makes training easier. In the first place, compile, rapidly and employed correctly, enabling operatol's to test, and go facilities provided by the operating system organize each run efficiently. usually speed the programmer's work back to him on the When the operating system concept was first considered, same day, and also, require less operator supervision. we reviewed the benefits hoped for and our own long-term In the second place, both programmer and operator are requirements. Four important requirements were applied guided by more rigid operating-system rules. This means to the operating system: 1) interchangeability, 2) con­ that their work is more consistent, less apt to require on­ vertability, 3) training, and 4) efficient performance. the-machine debugging, and less apt to be hampered by simple oversights. Programs, for instance, are not depend­ Interchangeability ent on specific tape units; setups are guided explicitly by Interchangeability means that we require a system which instructions ,that match the control card. permits us to generate programs that run on either of the The standard input tape contains all the control cards two computers. With this flexibility, the department can and data required to schedule the machine during the day. meet most effectively a fluctuating workload for both Since the Litton-created control for scheduling and tape­ business or scientific programs. Jobs can be diverted to library automatically lists tapes required as well as the the processor with the more time available. drives upon which they are to be mounted, the operator Fortunately, th~ 1410/7010 operating system includes makes far fewer mistakes. both business-oriented and scientific-oriented language proc­ Efficient Performance essors. Therefore a programmer can prepare his problem in the more convenient language, FORTRAN or COBOL. Efficient performance, streamlining both the preparation Although we primarily use the 7010 for commercial prob­ and running of programs, is the major advantage in adopt­ lems, it can handle scientific problems as well. ing an operating system. We have experienced significant The key to interchangeability, however, is that the 1410/ improvement in both areas. 7010 operating system is quite similar to the 704017044 Also, the operating system has made it possible for us to operating system. Commercial problems written in COBOL interrupt scheduled processing to do special projects with­ for the 7010 can be run on the 7040 system with a few out disrupting the day's work. The 'computer automatically program instruction changes. Once a 7010 COBOL pro­ holds up scheduled work and returns to it when the special gram is written, it takes the programmer less than an hour project is completed. The only penalty paid is the time to code the additional set Of environmental statements and required to process the special project. procedural changes necessary for the problem to be proc­ The operating system also opens the way for new dimen­ essed on the 7040 system. sions in the data-processing function. Having an'pperating system, we can now plan a management information sys­ Convertability tem that can respond to inquiries at any time of day with­ Convertability is another important consideration be­ out regard to the batch processing work. Interrupt routines ca use today' s data-processing cen ter must an tici pa te. moving in the monitor enables the machine to temporarily halt into larger or more efficient processing systems. Today's work on one job, answer the inquiry, and then return to the programs should not chain us to today's equipment. batch job-all automatically. The operating system makes it feasible to keep source Another advantage provided by the operating system is programs active and up to date; in other words, program­ in sorting. About 60% of the commercial work we do on mers don't have to start from the beginning when faced the 7010 computer consists of sorts. We have improved with conversion to a new system. Conversion programs sort times by 25 to 35%. This represents a significant im­ written by the manufacturer can thus be used to make provement. A sort that took 3.5 hours when first written source programs which are valid for a new system. for the 1410 can now be done in 1.1 hours on the 7010 with For example, we were able to use IBM's conversion pro­ the operating system. (If it were run on an operating sys­ gram for programs written in Autocoder before the operat­ tem equipped with the 1410, the sort time would have been ing system was announced. This conversion program took reduced to 2.5 hours-a 28 % time reduction.) our Autocoder statements and converted them by machine All the sort routines which we use are stored on the into source statements. These statements, in turn, were system tape or systems operating file. From there, they can then converted to machine language by the operating be called up as needed by the job cards which a program­ system's processor. mer prepares for his work.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 23 Modifications to sorts are quite simple. One of the modi­ All non-converted programs are recorded in absolute­ fications provides for each sort program employed to use card-image format on a single reel of magnetic tape. The the job number to find control cards in a sort control card programs are initiated by a control card which calls for the library. This library contains some 400 sets of control cards search program on the input tape. The search program which can be used on the five sort programs. rewinds the input tape, sets up a code in memory so that . Another modification permits the operator to indicate a rewind won't be started when the operating system is the order of a merge, based on the number of magnetic brought back. The search program then locates the desired 'tape units available at any given time, and to tell the program on the non-converted program tape and places system how many reels of tape are to be sorted. the "standard loader" program in memory. This program, When the department first implemented the operating in turn, loads the non-converted program into memory. system, two 1410's were installed. One had 40K of core The computer then processes the program. memory with seven tape units and the other had SOK with To have the operating system resume control, the opera­ nine tape units. Since that time, the 1410's have been tor presses the tape-load key to get the monitor back into replaced with an IBM 7010 with 14 tape units and lOOK memory and types, on the console typewriter, the job of core memory. number to be selected next from the input tape. The tape-oriented operating system puts all major seg­ This method of handling these non-converted programs ments of the system on magnetic tape. The operating file, has enabled us to save a considerable amount of repro­ I, the GO file, and library are on tape. One tape unit takes gramming time and still function in an operating-system care of the "standard input," and provides source program environment. Eventually these programs, will be redone and test data when processing a source language. Other to incorporate improvements in our data processing appli­ tape units hold output for the printer, output for the cations so that all programs will be dependent on the punch, and a core image file. operating system in a few years. An alternate input unit is the 1442 card reader, which is Our operating system, as it stands today, has given us used to reestablish job priorities, to insert a nonscheduled more than an efficient supervisory program. It has rein­ job, or to skip to a job originally scheduled to be run forced order and consistency in our data processing efforts. later. To bypass a job, an operator merely enters a code By smoothing the flow of work through the machine and into the console typewriter keyboard. by encouraging the use of rigid standards, it enables us to concentrate on the services for which the department Two System Operating Files was created in the first place. And that's what we were We have decided to employ two distinct system tapes or looking for. system operating files. A single file of all the operating system components would require too many compromises in the arrangement of the elements. By having two, we get COMPUTERS, AND THE PUBLIC maximum efficiency in arrangement based on two ap­ SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY proaches. One of the system tapes is organized to run (Continued from page 6) production programs; the other is organized for compile this problem is probably more than 99.99% solved. As a and test operations. result, for example, the Hanford plutonium works of the The organization of the system tapes is a critical factor Atomic Energy Commission arc being converted to civilian for efficiency in a tape-oriented system. In the interest of industries because our nuclear weapon stockpile is far more saving time we try, as much as possible, to eliminate search­ than overflowing; and overkill is overkill. The Secretary of ing the tape for a required element. Instead, we sequence operating system elements (non-resident monitor, linkage Defense has begun very sensibly to reduce our expenses for loader, compilers, sort routines, and utilities) in the order many weapons. in which they will be used. Multiple copies of elements A.ctually, however we could do very well in defense with such as the loader and transitional monitor are usually less than half of that ~50 billion a year. Why? spaced along the tape where they will be needed. We find Because almost everybody knows that big nuclear wars it is more economical to maintain multiple copies than to cannot be fought any lllore without unacceptable destruc­ execute a long search routine that would include tape tion. For the United States to "win" such a war means that rewind. perhaps 5 to 10 million of our people will be left alive out of 190 million people-and that all our big cities, all our The importance of arrangement has been shown by the medium-sized cities, lllOSt of our small cities, all our forests, reduction in compile-and-test times brought about by im­ etc., will have disappeared in nuclear explosions, radio­ proving system tape organization. Our first compile-and­ active dust, and firestorms. test jobs were running about 20 minutes. With the elimina­ So conflicts will essentially have to be settled in other tion of search time, they now average between seven and ways. eight minutes. Then there would be at least 25 billion dollars a year -The segment of the systems tape arranged for compile­ ready to be diverted to building up the public sector of our and-test operations indicates how elements are arranged. economy: the subways and the schools, the cities and the The COBOL compiler is first, followed by linkage loader, libraries, the slums and Appalachia, the hospitals and IBM library, tape-file generator, core-dump and tape-print medical services, etc.-the public benefits and advantages of programs. This allows compile-and-test operations to pro­ the Great Society. ceed by moving the systems tape in a forward direction Soon this general idea will get into the heads of enough only. The tape-file generator program written by our staff civilians in this government of the people, by the people, automatically produces the files required for program and for the people. Then good solutions to the really im­ checkout. portant problems in the public sector of our economy will Up-Dating start pouring out of our political, social, ancl economic studies and research powered by computers. Additional programs as well as program changes may be incorporated into the production-operating file as often as three times a week. This updating process takes about 40 ~c.~ minutes of machine time for each run. EDITOR

21 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 1,SOo,OOO.bit "scratch pad'"

Bere's a Fabri-Tek memory system approaching "scratch pad" speed but with lull memory capacity. It has a X-usec cycle time and a 4so-nsec access time. Coincident-current memory organization takes advantage 01 all the component economies inherent in this type 01 system. All silicon semiconductors plus the well-known Fabri-Tek maintenance leatures re­ suIt in exceptional reli­ ability and maintenance ease. The Fabri-Tek BIPAC stack is one 01 the reasons lor the high speed and wide operational margins 01 this system. BIPAC stack density and circuit design result in much bigber switcbing speeds at moderate drive currents. Delay per bit is pbenomenally low (approx. xo psec.). Tbis oscillo- gram sbows all x's being read and restored. Scale ,;"~ is .x usec per divi­ sion. lYitb this new Fabri-Tek Series MF X-usec Memory System you can do anything you're doing now - but do it laster and more economically! For Radar data processing - cut down the number 01 components and solve real-time problems with greater savings in

II time and equipment. lYhere computer time is money - get more lor your dollar! For more inlormation on the Fabri-Tek Series MF X-usec Memory System, phone, write, or wire Robert E. Rile, Fabri-Tek Incorporated, Amery, lYisconsin. Congress 8-7XS5 (Area 7X5), TlYX: 7XS-Z9Z-0900.

Circle No. lOon Readers Service Card COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 25 READERS' AND EDITOR'S FORUM COMPARING PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES (Continued from page 9) (Continued from page 16) PROCRA'MMINC LANGUAC,ES FOR problem, or until it becomes one, a language such as COMMAND AND CO,NTROL JOVIAL, which permits access to most of the machine, is Theodore Singer recommended. It has also been postulated that a language Workshop Chairman such as IPL-V, or at least the IPL-V Interpreter, which IEEE Computer Programming Committee has many of the required control features, could be used Mitre Corp. almost directly for some control programs. Bedford, Ma'ss. • "Heuristic" processes-programs that are by nature con­ A RAND report issued in January, 1963, considered the tinually changing and expanding (without human in­ question of programming languages and standardization in tervention) so that little space allocation can be planned Command and Control and concluded that it was too early and the relationships among the data are quite "tree-like" ,I). to standardize. But the quantity and kind of work done on -benefit from languages like I'PL-V and LISP. n and with such languages since that time suggests that the • LISP-a general process-solving language-seems quite question might well be reopened. In order to bring to­ powerful for producing programs capable of indefinite gether people working in this area, the IEEE Computer integration, symbolic equation solving, predictions of Programming Committee is planning a workshop at which terms in series, and other such processes where manipula­ the problems can be aired, the progress can be assessed, tion of symbolic variables and mathematical terms is and the different viewpoints can be presented. paramount. To ensure a good representation at the workshop, we are • "Large" system programs-where the uhimate program is asking for your assistance. Following is a notice we would actually composed of many subprograms and probably like to have included in your ne}Ct issue, and drawn to the -Nritten by more than several programmers-require a attention of any interested persons. good operating system for their construction as much as a good language for their programming. However, the The Computer Programming Committee of the IEEE language must be amenable to an operating system and Computer Group is planning a workshop on Programming permit reasonably complex, yet flexible, data definitions. Languages for Command and Control. Anyone active in this NELIAC and JOVIAL were designed for this purpose, area interested in participating in such a workshop is in­ with JOVIAL having somewhat more flexibility. It has vited to send his name, address, and a short resume of his also been recommended that large systems be experi­ work in this area to the workshop chairman: mentally implemented with languages like LISP and Dr. Theodore Singer IPL-V, since these languages permit an extreme degree The MITRE Corporation of freedom in change of data design and, thus, permit Box 208 observations of proposed system features before "locking" Bedford, Mass. them in with more conventional coding techniques. A time and place will be selected, depending on the • "Business" programs-which usually require vast quanti­ response, and invitations will be sent to a limited number ties of data and some (relatively small) amounts of of persons active in this field. manipulation-can probably be programmed in almost anything, although certain languages, such as COBOL, have gone to lengths to provide adequate input-output CERTIFICATE IN DA,TA PROCE'S,SINC as well as internal definitions for implementation of R. C,alvin Elliott these processes. R. Calvin Elliott Executive Director Conclusions Data Processing Management Association The above considerations can almost always be tempered Park Ridge, III. with a number of qualifications, as stated earlier. In any Thanks for running the Certificate in Data Processing case, it does seem that a language that combines the mathe­ announcement in you November issue. The results have matical capability of ALGOL, ,the structured-data-definition been overwhelming. capability of JOVIAL, the uns~ructured data and powerful We appreciate your cooperation since the Certificate expression capability of LISP, and the ability to express Program is one that we are very proud of, and we think it input-output file operations in a general fashion would will go a long way to assist in professionalizing those in permit ,the programming of just about any kind of problem. data processing. Such compilers have been produced (e.g., SLIP, which combines list-processing and algebraic capabilities), amI others are being produced now. Perhaps this one grand COMMENTS ON "PEOIPLE WHO DO NOT language is the solution. On the other hand, perhaps with WORK WELL" some of the newer techniques for generating compilers Harry R. Hein (c.g., from the syntex description of the language), one will eventually be able to generate compilers rapidly for any Supervisor, Cuidance, Counseling, and Testing Dept. of Education unique program. State of West Virginia It is certainly true that an arbitration board would have Charleston 5, W. Va. a difficult time comparing languages today. Some have been Your editorial on "People Who Do Not Work Well" in used fairly well for almost every conceivable application, the October issue is precise and hard hitting. although they weren't intended for all. Other languages May I have your permission to reproduce this material, that are superb for certain applications on a small scale with appropriate credit, in our G,uidance Servicer? This fail completely when their program's data requir-ements publication has a circulation of approximately 1,200 copies. get large. It is read by educators at both the public school and college ~ One sometimes wonders how long programming lan­ level. guages will be as much a matter of taste as they are matters [Permission was granted.] for careful comparison.

26 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 "ACROSS THE EDITOR'S DESK"

Computing and Data Processing NewsleHer

. \

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Applications. .27 New Products 34 New Contracts . 30 Jobs and Opportunities 39 New Installations .31 New Literature 40 Organization News . 32 Business News . 40 ... ' ""~ ;':',:. Education News . . 33 Computer Census 42 'f

APPLICATIONS

COMPUTER DRAWS hours of laborious engineering a significant advance in engineer­ SPACE SHIP DESIGNS calculations. ing design techniques. Computers now are being used as tools to design space vehicle RADAR ANTENNA PRECISELY shapes. Boeing Company's Aero­ POINTED BY COMPUTER Space Division applied mathematics organization (Seattle, Wash.) has What is probably the world's developed a technique called geo­ most precise antenna point and metric computing which can design tracking system is in operation at vehicle configurations capable of the Haystack space tracking station controlled flight through the in Massachusetts. earth's atmosphere on a re-entry path, with savings in time, money The Haystack antenna beam is and material. automatically pointed by a high­ speed Univac computer, and begins Using a computer, Boeing's a tracking operation, as instructed applied mathematics personnel can by an operator through a console develop raw engineering data and -- Three-dimensional per­ typewriter. While tracking a tar­ prepare it for the computer. It spective drawing of re­ get, the operator may instruct the is then fed into the machine which entry vehicle was drawn computer to guide the antenna in draws a three-dimensional shape of by a computer in Boeing's any of 18 different tracking modes. the proposed spacecraft, based en­ Aero-Space Division. Ex­ tirely on the figures provided by act replica of shape can Pointing instructions are com­ the mathematicians. be carved in aluminum by puted and transmitted to the anten­ a tape-controlled machine. na system once every 4 msec. As This computer-drawn design reference information in making can take the form of a line draw­ Flight technology engineers the calculations, the computer has ing for visual study or a tape point out that geometric computing stored on tape complete ephemeris which, when fed to a machine, dic­ does not eliminate the need for data from the Nautical Almanac for tates what shape will be carved in engineering calculation or test­ the sun, moon, 8 planets, and five metal according to the computer ing, but it does allow some pre­ radio stars. Alternatively, the design. liminary design work to be per­ operator may provide orbital ele­ formed quickly and easily. ments of any desired satellite, or These mathematical drawings a desired direction in space, in of spacecraft provide graphic in­ Geometric computing also can radar, or in celestial coordinates. formation for engineering evalua­ be used to establish the position tion and analysis. Engineers in of major subsystems within a shape. Four magnetic tape units are Boeing's flight technology depart­ It would have required 35 weeks to used with the computer: Unit 1 ment, with assistance from the ap­ design radiation protection sys­ stores the master program; Unit 2 plied mathematics organization, tems for deep space vehicles using stores the Nautical Almanac ephem­ have worked out equations for fig­ conventional methods. The computer eris information; Units 3 and 4 uring surface pressures and aero­ did the work in two weeks. alternate storing tracking data. dynamic heating rates in'hypersonic The computer programs themselves flight. When these equations are Similar computer work is being use 28K positions of memory out of given to the computer, the lift, done by other Boeing divisions a total capacity of 32K. drag, and control characteristics aimed at solving design problems or advanced re-entry vehicles also for their own product lines. The In addition to pointing the can be calculated, saving many new Boeing capability is considered antenna, the computer can be used for processing, recording and plot-

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 27 Newsletter

ting incoming data, and for moni­ Based upon the test results, Up to 50 specimen carriers can toring and controlling the per­ two reports are printed and re­ be loaded on a cylindrical storage formance of electronic equipment; layed to the ward nursing station. tower which has a spiral ramp.(see it also can be used to answer such The first is a Ward Summary Report picture below). Tne first two questions as "When will the moon which is produced at intervals -­ carriers are held in position mag­ rise on November 27th" or "What usually every two hours. This netically, and are released one at will Jupiter be doing for the next lists the progress of testing up a time onto a belt transport that three months?", for planning addi­ to that time and is used by the carries them towards the test in­ tional experiments. nursing station to give results strument. The other carriers to physicians during the day and stored on the tower slide forward The antenna structure itself to answer inquiries. one position. was designed by three independent computer programs which were used The other report is prepared As the released specimen car­ by engineers to determine in detail at the end of the day for every rier reaches the reading station the structure's performance char­ patient tested that day. This along the belt feed, the specim9n acteristics before it was built. Patient Summary Report shows on a container is upended and its con­ single document the chronological tents are poured into a glass fun- results of all tests performed during a patient's hospitalization. Abnormal results are flagged for IBM DEVELOPS 1401 PROGRAMS, the physicians. EXPERIMENTAL DATA ACQUISITION EQUIPMENT FOR CLINICAL TESTS

IBM's Advanced Systems Devel­ opment Division has developed a computer program to be used by hospital pathology laboratories. The program is designed to elimin­ ate clerical work performed by nurses and medical technologists during test ordering and process­ ing. Experimental laboratory nel. A colorimeter is used to de­ equipment developed by IBM pro­ termine hemoglobin value of blood vides an automatic means to iden­ samples by determining the amount tify and handle specimens through of transmitted light. The result­ the test cycle. The new IBM pro­ ing voltage signal represents the gram data acquisition and equip­ hemoglobin value of the sample. ment were demonstrated recently at the combined Annual Meeting of the In clinical laboratories today, College of American Pathologists -- Dr. A. E. Rappoport, medical technologists read this and American Society of Clinical left, director of lab­ signal on a dial and perform manu­ Pathologists in Miami, Florida. oratories, Youngstown ally the mathematical calculations Hospital Association, to determine the hemoglobin value. Punched cards with pre-scored Youngstown, Ohio, and sections can be used by nurses to W. J. Constandse, an With this experimental IBM order laboratory tests which physi­ IBM engineer, examine equipment, the voltage signal is cians have requested. Information a report summarizing read by a control device, converted from this card as well as other tests conducted during : into digi tal form, and punched ina identifying facts about the patient a patient's hospital­ 'card. At the same time the speci­ are then transmitted to the central iza tion. men was being analyzed by the col- computer. orimeter, the specimen and patient t Three sources of information identification was read from the ,I After several tests have been enter the data acquisition eq~ip­ punched card stub on the back of ordered, programming instructions ment. One of these is the stub the specimen carrier as it passed to the computer cause it to print portion of an IBM card containing the reading station. This informa­ out a specimen collection schedule. patient and test identification tion is punched in the card along This schedule, prepared for each information. The other two are with the digitized voltage signal. ward, includes the names of patients the patient's specimen and pre­ along with the type of test ordered numbered, pressure-sensitive label The card, along with other and other data. As specimens are taken from the original test req­ cards with similar information about collected, prenumb9red labels from uisition card and placed on the other tests, is then entered into an the original requisition card are specimen container. All of these IBM 1440 data processing system. A placed on the speciment containers items are placed in an L-shaped reference curve developed from to assure positive identification. carrier. The card stub rests standards was previously stored in vertically in a slot along the the computer. The computer program One computer-produced test back of the carrier where it can uses this reference curve to calcu­ card is also prepared for each test be read at the time that the test late the hemoglobin value, automat­ ordered. The medical technologist is made. Positive identification ically adjust the computed results uses the same card to report inform­ of the specimen with the patient for drift, if necessary, and prints atlon about test findings to the is thus assured throughout the out the test findings for review by computer after the specimen has handling and processing period. the pathologist and the patient's been analyzed. physician.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 19<15 Newsletter

DESK-TOP COMPUTER 1964 TAX RETURNS BEING of filing instructions and a spe­ KEEPS TRACK OF OUR PREPARED BY NEW cial "diagnostic" or audi t report FISH POPULATION CSC COMPUTER SYSTEM for the accountant. A TR-IO desk-top computer and The first broad-scale use of The computer's diagnosis of the 1110 X-Y Variplotter (manufactured computers to analyze, compute and taxpayer's return is based on a by Electronics Associates, Inc.) print Federal and State income tax library of current tax laws and is keeping track of our fish popu­ returns for individuals is being Over 45,000 programmed instructions lation for the U. S. Bureau of undertaken for 1964 filings. An stored in its memory. In preparing Commercial Fisheries. estimated 500,000 taxpayers in New this report, the computer checks York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the return based on current law to According to EAI, the computer in California, Texas, Washington, determine whether there are incon­ uses known facts and statistics on Nevada and Arizon3 are expected to sistencies or omissions in a return, the reproduction ability, weight use a new service called COMPUTAX, if deductions exceed tax limitations, ·t increase, life span and similar employing two UNIVAC 1107 computers and for more advantageous methods of data on fish species to project located in Mineola, N.Y., and Los preparation. There are over 100 information about fish population Angeles, Calif. different diagnostic checks which for the Bureau, both under con­ the computer can relay to the tax trolled conditions and in cases COMPUTAX was developed by Com­ preparer. where information is incomplete. puter Sciences Corporation, El From the information provided by Segundo, Calif., and will be avail­ The COMPUTAX service has been the computer, the Bureau can esti­ able through accountants and tax programmed to handle virtually any mate, by also noting actual com­ preparer services. CSC estimates indi vidual return regardless of the mercial fish catches, whether that by 1970 a minimum of degree of complexity. Similarly, population of a given species are 10,000,000 taxpayers throughout prices vary according to the amount increasing or decreasing. the country will have returns pre­ of information which is submitted pared by COMPUTAX. to the computer. A typical complex To learn fish population dyn­ return using Form 1040 and includ­ amics when all facts are known, The new service eliminates ing three additional schedules and the Bureau is conducting actual the need for accountants or tax various lists of itemized deduc­ tank tests. However, to learn the preparers to make arithmetic calcu­ tions, detailed income and capital dynamics of commercial fish popu­ lations. All COMPUTAX returns have gains would cost the tax preparer lation when catch statistics are been completely free of arithmetic about $8. known, but only limited biological errors. When using COMPUTAX, the data can be assembled, the Bureau accountant or tax preparer com­ Principal advantages of the is constructing mathematical popu­ pletes a group of special forms COMPUTAX service are to reduce the lation models on the computer, designed by CSC with basic tax­ accountant's time in performing reading out the results on the X-Y payer information. These "input" many routine clerical tasks and to plotter. forms are then delivered to local assure maximum accuracy, neatness CSC offices where information is and speed in the preparation of The computer generates a func­ keypunched, verified and fed into returns. The accountant remains as tion representing the life history the magnetic tape system of the the controlling center of the sys­ of each brood. Throughout that Univac 1107 computers. tem since COMPUTAX does not exer­ history the brood is mathematically cise judgment or make discretionary subjected to various rates of nat­ At this point, the computer decisions in the preparation of ural as well as fishing attrition, begins its operation by reviewing returns. For example, the account­ and the fish grow in mathematical the data it has received, calcu­ ant must tell the computer which weight to an asymptotic size at a lating the return several times depreciation method it must use to steadily declining rate. Broods using different methods and then calculate the return. Although the present in each year's stock are selecting the most favorable method computer can perform this function, summed graphically to determine of computing the return (e.g., by it cannot foresee the accounting to tal stock. Thi s factor tell s the itemizing deductions, taking the strategy which is most advantageous Bureau biologists the initial sizes 10% standard deduction, or the to the taxpayer. of broods enterinlJ the commercial minimum allowable deduction). The fishery X years hence. computer performs all of these To supplement marketing of the 1 calculations in less than five COMPUTAX program this year, CSC has Already the method has been seconds and prints completed re­ authorized franchises for four ac­ uscd in a pelagic (open ocean) turns at the rate of 700 lines or counting and data processing organ­ fishery and a demersal (bottom) 2.3 Federal and State returns per izations to service their respec­ fishery. Once it is fully devel­ minute. Several printers on each tive areas. These include CompuStat oped it will be applied to fisher­ computer are used to speed the Systems, San Francisco and Santa i(!s where available biological data printing process following which Barbara; Electronic Computer Serv­ nre scanty. This applies to all returns are collated and delivered ic~ Inc., San Diego; Bit, Inc., but a few of the largest and oldest to the accountant. With both com­ Sacramento, and Integrated Financial COIl1I11C rcial fi sheries. puters operating at full speeds, Service, Inc., Seattle. Over 1200 CSC can produce over 540 returns tax preparers will use the CSC per hour. service this year.

For each taxpayer, COMPUTAX provides three copies of both Federal and State returns includ­ ing all necessary schedules and attachments, a taxpayer's letter

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 Newsletter

CTI RECEIVES by April 1965 and the second by NEW CONTRACTS STUDY CONTRACT October 1965. FROM NASA Control Technology, Inc., Long Beach, Calif., has received TECH/OPS AWARDED a study contract from the National OVER $2 MILLION DSI WRITING ASI 6020 Aeronautics and Space Administra­ DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM ARMY RESEARCH CONTRACT tion, Manned Spacecraft Center, A $2,130,000 contract has been Houston, Texas. CTI is to provide Decision Systems, Inc., Tea­ awarded by the Army's Boston Pro­ an error analysis of hybrid com­ neck, N.J., has received a contract curement District to Technical Op­ puter simulation of six-degree-of­ from Advanced Scientific Instru­ erations, Incorporated of Burling­ freedom equations of motion. This ments Division of Electro-Mechan­ ton, Mass., for research and sci­ study is for a period of six ical Research, Inc., Minneapolis, entific combat development studies. months and will take place at CTI's to write the diagnostic program Long Beach Facility. for the new ASI 6020, a medium­ The award calls for scientific scale digital computer for scien­ analysis, war games, simulations The prime object of the study tific, engineering, and on-line and field-test for long-range Army is to determine the optimum use of systems applications. planning. Studies under the con­ the digital differential analyzer tract will be conducted through computer at MSC when used in com­ Thomas A. Wood, president of December 1965. The contract, which bined operation for aerospace ap­ DSI, said the program will be de­ is the largest ever received by plications, with particular atten­ signed with a view toward making Technical Operations, will be per­ tion directed to man-in-the-loop the arithmetic unit portion modula~ formed at Fort Belvoir, Va., and studies. A prediction of the ac­ so that the same program can be Fort Benning, Ga., by the company's curacy to be expected from such a modified for use with the ASI 6040 Combat Operations Research Group combination operation is a major a computer in the same series. ' (CORG) under the direction of part of this study. Martin N. Chase. A diagnostic program is used for regular maintenance checks on computers, and for spotting the EMR TELEMETRY TO MONITOR cause of specific malfunctions. LEEDS & NORTHRUP TO SUPPLY LARGEST MOBILE STRUCTURE COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR FOR NASA MINE-MOUTH POWER STATION The National Aeronautics and CONTROL DATA DIVISION Leeds & Northrup Company, Space Administration has awarded RECEIVES CONTRACT FROM Philadelphia, Pa., will supply two a contract to Electro-Mechanical DEFENSE ATOMIC SUPPORT AGENCY digital computer systems and boiler Research, Inc. (EMR) , Sarasota, control equipment totaling more Fla., for FM telemetry equipment The System Sciences Division than $1,000,000 for the new worth over a million dollars. Over of Control Data Corporation has 1,800,000-kilowatt Keystone power 1000 vOltage-controlled oscilla­ received a contract from the Defense station -- the world's largest tors and 70 discriminators will be Atomic Support Agency to provide mine-mouth power plant -- now under supplied to NASA for two Mobile systems design, systems engineering, construction near Elderton, Pa. Launcher Vibration Data Acquisi­ and a real-time systems programming tion Systems. These systems will effort in support of a large data The two LN4000 digital comput­ monitor the Mobile Launcher while processing requirement. The con­ er systems, ordered by Gilbert it is being moved to the launch tract award includes all of the Associates, Reading, design engi­ site and during the launch of the analysis, design, and demonstration neers for the project, will be used ApOllo-Saturn V rocket. of techniques necessary for the im­ for performance monitoring, alarm plementation of the ultimate system. scanning, data logging and effi­ The Mobile Launcher, the ciency studies on the No.1 and largest mobile structure in the No.2 generating units at Keystone. world, weighs 11.5 million pounds Additionally, the systems will pro­ unloaded and is approximately 100 COMPUTER APPLICATIONS vide sequence monitoring and opera­ feet taller than the Statue of WINS NASA CONTRACT tional guides for starting and Liberty. It will hold the 360- shutdown of the units. foot-tall Apollo-Saturn V in the Computer Applications Inc., huge NASA Vehicle Assembly Build­ New York, N.Y., has received a con­ The boiler control system, in~ under construction at Merritt tract approximating $1 million in ordered by Combustion Engineering Island, during rocket assemblr value from the National Aeronautic Inc., Windsor, Conn., utilizes the and checkout and then will be and Space Administration's Goddard L&N Direct-Energy-Balance (D-E-B) moved three miles to the launch Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. method of control. With this tech­ pad by a crawler-transporter, a nique, automatic regulation of com­ 7600-hp tractor device. According to John A.:DeVries, bustion and feedwater supply to the president of CAl, the three-year boiler is coordinated with the EMR's equipment ·forms part of agreement will cover a variety of turbine governor to provide the the ground support equipment, con- computing services associated with desired electrical output. sidered the most advanced ever programs conducted at Goddard Space built. It will measure and code Flight Center. The work under the over 1000 vibration points on the contract actually will be performed, enormous structure. EMR will Mr. DeVries said, by Computer Con- supply the first system to NASA cepts, Inc., a wholly-owned sub- for installation at Kennedy Space sidiary of CAl located in Silver Center, Merritt Island Spaceport, Spring, Md. 30 L.OMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 Newsletter

NEW INSTALLATIONS KASSLER & CO. USES H-400 personnel, improved buyer's reports TO PROCESS LOANS and staple stock control. The pro­ cessing center is currently handling Kassler & Co., Denver~ Colo., accounts receivable, direct mail one of the nation's leading mort­ advertising, and sales reporting KELLOGG-CITIZENS NATIONAL gage banking firms, has installed for print punch ticketed INSTALLS IBM SYSTEM a Honeywell 400 data processing departments. system to process mortgage loan Kellogg-Citizens National data for more than 90 banks and Bank, Green Bay, Wis., has in­ institutional investing firms. stalled an IBM system which is be­ ELECTRONIC DATA CORP. ing used in all departments of the The computer, which is located INSTALLS HONEYWELL 200 downtown financial center to handle at Kassler & Co.'s headquarters in demand deposit accounting, savings, Denver, consists of a central pro­ Electronic Data Corp., an af­ installment loans, mortgage loans, cessing uni t with 3072 words of filiate of Administration, Inc., trust, proof and transit, payroll memory, five high-speed magnetic Boston, Mass., has installed a and customer service functions. tape units, a 900 line-per-minute Honeywell 200 business computer printer, and a card reader-punch. at its service center. EDC will The new system consists of an be using the H-200 to provide an IBM 1440 computer with random ac­ integrated data processing service cess disk storage, card reader and for local business and industry, punch, printer and a magnetic ink SMITHSONIAN OBSERVATORY according to Harold Symington, reader-sorter capable of process­ ORDERS CONTROL DATA President of EDC, and to increase ing 950 checks per minute. COMPUTER SYSTEM the effectiveness of administra­ tive backup being provided clients The Smithsonian Astrophysical of Administration, Inc., which is Observatory, Cambridge, Mass., has one of the leading business advisory BROKERAGE HOUSE INSTALLS ordered a Control Data 3200 com­ firms in the Boston area. NCR COMPUTER SYSTEM puter system for use in connection with satellite tracking and its Among the more unusual assign­ Shields and Company, New York, broad program of scientific studies ments to be handled by the H-200 N.Y., has announced the installa­ of celestial phenomena, the upper are: the purchase and sale of tion and purchase of a half-million­ atmosphere, and the earth. trust fund holdings for Boston law dollar computer system from the firms having their own trust de­ National Cash Register Company. The Smithsonian Astrophysical partments; projecting for colleges Observatoryr:naintains a world-wide their requirements for development The system will eventually network of-L2-photographic track­ funds; and documenting case his­ link Shields' branch offices and ing stations for satellites, under tories of patients for hospitals. headquarters with stock exchange a grant from the National Aero­ The computer also will be involved floors for immediate and direct nautics and Space Administration. in all of the more normal data pro­ processing of securities trans­ It will use the Control Data 3200 cessing activities required by actions. Shields expects to be the computer system in connection with EDC's clients. first brokerage house to be opera­ scientific analysis of data ob­ t i 0 nal "on-line" when it inaugu­ tained by these tracking stations. rates a remote inquiry system among its departments and branches and an NEW YORK CITY NCR 315 computer next July. DEPT. OF TRAFFIC BULLOCK'S TO INSTALL SECOND INSTALLS UNIVAC 1004 NCR 315 COMPUTER SYSTEM A modern data processing sys­ MOBIDIC SYSTEM DELIVERED Bullock's-Magnin Company, a tem has been installed in the New TO PRATT & WHITNEY division of Federated Department York City Department of Traffic to Stores Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., handle operational and maintenance Systems Engineering Labora­ plans to install a National Cash records. One of the principal tories, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Register 315-100 computer as a tasks of the new system will be to Fla., has delivered to Pratt & satellite to an NCR 315 system keep installation, control and Whitney Aircraft's Florida Research already in use. m~intenance records for traffic and Development Center, West Palm lights at approximately 9000 sig­ Beach, a Mobile Data Acquisition The additional system will nalized intersections and 60,000 System called MOBIDAC III. The share the same site at Bullock's parking meters located throughout system is a 50-channel Data Ac­ Downtown Los Angeles data pro­ New York City's five boroughs. quisition System that accepts low­ cessing center. It will be used voltage signals that represent initially to convert the company's Heart of the new data process­ temperatures, pressures, straines, chain of I. Magnin & Co. specialty ing system is a UNIVAC 1004 Card etc., and produces a computer com­ shops to electronic processing. Processor, designed and built by patible magnetic tape. The system The larger system 'is already on a the Sperry Rand Corporation's will be used by Pratt & Whitney two-shift-plus-Saturday basis and UNIVAC Division. Aircraft engineers in testing en­ averaging 90 to 110 hours per gines which are being developed week. The new system will provide for the United States defense and detailed records of every traffic space programs. Additional programming sched­ signal light, pole, controller, de­ uled for the over-all sy~tem in­ tector, parking meters and other cludes accounts payable, payroll- associated equipment on the city's

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 31 Newsletter

streets. It will also record re­ a system capable of processing to the solution of commercial and ports of defective equipment and more than 3 million instructions government information handling the time of repair in order that per second. It will be installed pro blems . the department will have assurance in Warren Weaver Hall, a new of prompt repairs by its mainten­ building now being completed near The William C. Allen Corpora­ ance contractors. Washington Square to house the tion is a Management Consulting Courant Institute of Mathematical firm providing services in the In addition, the equipment Sciences. areas of manufacturing, informa­ will ke~p a complete record of tion processing, and economic traffic accidents in the city. The Courant Institute, one of progress. It conducts studies These data will help the depart­ the nation's most important re­ for commercial and government users ment's traffic engineers to pin­ search facilities, operates both as well as for major equipment point dangerous and potentially as a graduate mathematics depart­ manufacturers. dangerous intersections requiring ment for NYU, and as a Center for corrective traffic control meas­ Advanced Training and Research ures. Future applications include supported by government agencies, inventory records for its sign private foundations, and corpora­ RCA AND PRENTICE-HALL and signal shops, motor vehicle tions. It will use the Control NEGOTIATE MERGER records, payroll, time keeping, Data 6600 to develop methods for budget operations, personnel and using very high-speed digital David Sarnoff, Chairman of accounting operations. computers for applied mathematics the Board of Radio Corporation of and mathematical physics, through America, and Richard P. Ettinger, numerical and non-numerical Chairman of the Board of Prentice­ techniques. Hall, Inc., have announced that W ABCO ORDERS DDP-116 FOR negotiations for a merger of RCA FREIGHT CAR SORTING and Prentice-Hall are taking place.

The Union Switch and Signal The negotiations are still in Division of the Westinghouse Air ORGANIZATION NEWS the preliminary stage and are sub­ Brake Company (WABCO) has ordered ject to approval by the Boards of a DDP-116 digital computer from Directors of Doth companies; final Computer Control Company, Inc., agreements will be submitted to Framingham, Mass. The DDP-116 C-E-I-R BUYS the stockholders of both companies will be installed at the Southern RCA DATA CENTER at a later date. Pacific Company's Classification Yard in Eugene, Oregon. The com­ C-E-I-R, Inc. has purchased puter will be the central control the Radio Corporation of America's element of an Automatic Classifi­ Electronic Data Processing Center CONTROLS, INSTRUMENTATION cation Yard System which will ap­ in Washington, D. C. The acquisi­ AND AUTOMATION GROUP ply the latest technical develop­ tion became effective January 1, FORMED BY ITT ments for sorting railroad freight 1965. Although the sale price was cars. not disclosed, the original value International Telephone and of the equipment installed at the Telegraph Corporation has announced The Automatic Classification Center exceeded $1 million. the formation of a Controls, Instru­ Yard System provides automatic re­ mentation and Automation Group (CIA) tardation and automatic switching The Center employs some 40 to direct the activities of four of freight cars so that they can people and operates a large RCA ITT units, with combined annual be assembled into trains for com­ 501 data processing system and a sales totaling approximately $50 mon destinations. The DDP-116 smaller 301 computer. The facility million. These sales involve a will be programmed to control the has been in operation more than variety of valves, meters, counters, relays, switches, actuators and alignment of track switches so four year" :providi~g data process­ that cars will be routed to the ing servicei for banks, associa­ similar process and control devices, proper classification track. De­ tions and ~ Wide:r~nge of business and the instrumentation associated tecting devices (field transducers) enterprises. with these products. feed information to the computer which in turn determines the proper The organizations comprIsIng retardation required in order to the group are: ITT General Con­ deliver the freight car to its WASHINGTON, D.C. FIRM trols, Glendale, Calif.; ITT classification track at a safe ACQUIRES'. . .' . Hammel-Dahl, Warwick, R.I.; ITT coup li ng speed. PHOTO MAGNETIC· 'SYSTEMS Process Systems, Lawrence, Mass.; and Barton Instrument Corporation, The WilliamC, Alfen Corpora­ Monterey Park, Calif. tion of Washin~ton, D_C. has ac­ NYU ORDERS quired Photo Magnetic Systems, a ITT's vice president and group CONTROL DATA 6600 research and development firm spe­ executive, John C. Lobb, stated, cializing in the ~reas of informa­ "The CIA group gi ves ITT a much New York University's Courant tion storage and retrieval, data wider coverage and a deeper pene­ Institute of Mathematical Sciences displays, and optical character tration into the process control has ordered a Control Data 6600 recognition. The acquired firm and instrumentation field. The new Computer System. The new computer, consists of research, engineering, organization encompasses a broad scheduled for delivery early this and management experts in the ap­ coverage of the residential, com­ year, will provide New York Uni­ plication of advanced graphic in­ mercial, industrial and process versity students and faculty with formation processing technology markets for automatic controls .... "

)2 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for february, 1%5 Newsletter

tion, the State Department of Edu­ of the material to be tailored to EDUCATION NEWS cation and the local advisory com­ the individual's capacities. mittee. Each instructor is quali­ fied by education and experience In addition to testing the to teach ~ata processinJ subjects, potential value of computer'assist­ and each IS approved by the Iowa ed instruction, the project will DAVENPORT AREA State Department of Public furnish University faculty members TECHNICAL SCHOOL Ins t ru c t ion . with specific data on student learn­ ing processes. This information The Davenport Area Technical Iowa schools are among the will enable educators to investigate School (Davenport, Iowa) last Feb­ most advanced in the nation in the characteristics of individual ruary initiated a two-year train­ recognizing the need for more ed­ instruction arid its best use by the ing program which includes 2820 ucational programs centered around classroom teacher. hours of instruction in punched the electronic computer. Computer card and computer principles. training programs are being offered The study also will serve to 'I at the secondary level in Des measure student acceptance of the This "hands on" EDP training Moines and at the post-high school computer as an instructional aid program is centered around a GE-225 level in Ottumwa. A fourth city and its relation to other instru~­ electronic computer with a card in Iowa, Cedar Rapids, is planning tional techniques. FSU educators reader, card punch, high speed a course at both levels. al~o are seeking to discover any printer, magnetic tape equipment differences in the effectiveness of and disc storage device, It is the computer technique at all grade under the direction of Richard levels, from reading readiness in Livingston, coordinator of the FSU STUDIES COMPUTER kindergarten to course work for school's EDP Division and is geared graduate degrees. to male and female students 16 POTENTIAL IN HELPING years of age and over, who have a PUPILS LEARN high school diploma or the equiva­ An experimental program to lent The course includes an in­ examine the potential of the elec­ tensive, four-semester training HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, tronic computer in meeting the in­ schedule. OFFERED SPECIAL COURSE dividual learning needs of students BY MSU -- from kindergarten through grad­ Students are introduced to the uate school -- has been started at "Learning computer language principles of flow-charting, sym­ Florida State University (Talla­ is like learning a foreign lan­ bolic coding, English language pro­ hassee). The project is being guage," acco rdi ng to the di rector gramming, and such supporting sub­ undertakenpy FSU with the cooper­ of the Michigan State University jects as the principles of account­ ation of the Florida State Depart­ Computer Institute for Social Sci­ ing and cost accounting. Computer ment of Education and IBM Corpora­ ence Research. "It requires no applications to receive particular tion. prerequisites, it is on about the attention in the program are pay­ same level of difficulty, and it roll, accounts receivable, accounts The project uses a typewriter­ is easier to learn early in life." ~ayable, invoicing and billing, and like keyboard terminal linked by Inventory control. Emphasis is on telephone wire to an IBM computer Confirming his statement are business data processing applica­ some 1200 miles away at the com­ 30 Lansing-area high school stud­ tions. However, the basic con­ pany's Thomas J. Watson Research ents who have been taking a special cepts of scientific data processing Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Evening College course on computer will be introduced in the second programming which he arranged., The year of this two-year college level FSU's experiment will use com­ decision to offer a special course p:ogram. Upon satisfactory comple­ puter assisted instruction, a sys­ for high school students was made tIon of the course, diplomas are tem developed by IBM which enables after a number of them showed up presented. an educator to enter instructional for a course open to the general material, questions and guidance public last summer. The school "laboratory" con­ into a computer for presentation tains,ll pieces of punched card to students on typewriter consoles "The proper time to learn com­ equipment for student use, includ­ or other equipment. The course puter programming is in high SChOOl", ing a verifier, an interpreter, a unfolds at a pace and in a manner says Dr. Charles F. Wrigley, a pro­ t sorter, a collator, a reproducer, determined by a student's demon­ fessor of psychology at MSU. "It an accounting machine and five strated abi Ii ty. would be a good thing if high keypunches. schools could teach computer pro­ Instructional material used gramming but unfortunately they Classes meet from 8 a.m. to in the computer project is organ­ cannot afford the computer. This 3 p.m. daily, with an additional ized, edited and sequenced by the is why universities should offer hour each day devoted to indivi­ actual teachers of the courses the opportunity." dual conferences and instruction. who are doubly qualified in kn~w­ Cla~~ enrollment is limited to 20 ing both their subject matter and Students enrolled in the MSU students per class, with a class the ways in which students learn. course have been taught to use the starting each September. Each The responses made by each student Control Data 3600 to solve a number student must pass a standard pro­ on the typewri ter terminal are com­ of simple problems. The course has urammer's apti tude test prior to pared by the computer with the included a Monday evening lecture­ acceptance. correct answers stored in its mem­ discussion class and a Saturday ory. This, together with the fact morning laboratory session. A The entire EDP curriculum has that the computer also keeps stored similar evening course for adults \l(!pn developed with the assistance a record of ea~h student's per­ is being offered during the winter of t.he U. S. Department of Educa- formance, enables the presentation term on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 33 Newsletter

of super-scale computers", William lating portions of a given pro­ NEW PRODUCTS C. Norris, President of Control gram's output during generally Data Corporation (Minneapolis, scattered periods of execution, the Minn.), said in announcing the disk permits program switching with­ new 6000 Series. out loss of previous partial results whenever switching is advantageous The 6000 Series consists of or necessary. -Digital three computers -- the 6400, 6600, and 6800. They provide business, The disk also is used for - industry, science and government storage of the System Library, the users the most comprehensive range source language job stack, and pre­ BUNKER-RAMO 335 of software and system compatib­ viously compiled programs for which ility announced in the computer execution has not been initiated. A new small, fast, low-cost industry. In addition to serving Because of a request table in one control computer system for indus­ routine data processing and com­ of the peripheral processors and trial applications has been an­ putational needs, the 6000 Series because the position of the disk nounced by Milton E. Mohr, vice has been specifically designed to is known at all times, information president and manager of The Bunker­ handle m"llti-processing and multi­ is transferred in an optimum manner Ramo Corporation's Industrial Sys­ programming, time-sharing, and which greatly reduces the access tems Division, Canoga Park, Calif. management information systems. time normally associated with disk~.

The system, called the Bunker­ The 6000 Series represents a With the same basic design Ramo 335, will be offered to in­ new concept of concurrent opera­ concept common to all three com­ dustry for process control and op­ tion in three areas: memory, puter systems, fantastic speeds timization, direct digital control, input-output, and functional units are achieved. These range from data logging and alarming, control (of which there are ten). execution speeds of one million and recording for industrial ana­ instructions per second on the 6400 lyzers, control for automatic ware­ The central processor for the to twelve million instructions per housing, packaging, and accounting 6400 has a unified arithmetic sec­ second on the 6800. systems, and sequence control for tion, operating in a sequential automated systems. manner. In the 6400 computer, the concept of "distributive computers" The 335 is a fully paral~el is readily implemented. This means machine with 4096 to 16,384 16-bit that more than one central pro­ words of directly addressable core cessor can be used with the same memory. The machine has a 1.7 bank of memory. It is particularly microsecond memory cycle, with a useful for those who emphasize 3.4 microsecond execution time for multiple access where many people the majority of instructions. want to use the system for large Other features of the 335 include: groups of related small problems. memory protection against power failures; program interrupt; multi­ The 6600 and 6800 have arith­ level indexing and indirect ad­ metic sections that include ten dressing; double length accumula­ functional units (Add, 2 Mul tiplies, tor; extensive shift, skip branch, Divide, Long Add, Shift, Boolean, -- Control Data 6400 logical and control instructions; 2 Increments, and Branch), thus Computer System and a Teletype 33 automatic send­ making possible the execution of receive unit. instructions simultaneously within The 6400 is now in production, the same program. and Control Data will take orders Among optional equipment for delivery in less than 12 months. available with the basic 335 sys­ While the 6400 has an instruc­ Delivery of the first 6800 is sched­ tem are: card input/output station tion buffer register supply a con­ uled for 1967. The 6600 is pres­ with manual card preparation cap­ tinuous stream of instructions ently being delivered and increased ability; flexible process input/ into the unified arithmetic sec­ production is now being implemented. output controller; an analog input tion, the 6600 and 6800 use an system; an operator station; and instruction stack. Instructions Purchase prices for typical logging typewriters. are fed into the stack containing systems will range from less than up to eight 60-bit words of $1 million to several million. A comprehensive process con­ instruction contents. Rental prices will vary from $25,000 trol software package is available per month to $150,000 per month or with the Bunker-Ramo 335. All three computers in the more depending upon the system con­ (For more information, circle 41 6000 Series achieve processing ef­ figuration. on the Readers Service Card.) ficiency without operator inter­ (For more information, circle 42 vention by switching programs in on the Readers Service Card.) current execution during input­ output delays, whenever a higher CONTROL DATA 6000 SERIES priority requirement is encountered, or upon reaching a time limit. SPECTRA 70 SERIES "Because of industry's demands for total management information A disk storage unit, a requis­ The Radio Corporation of systems, and the scientific users ite to the Systems' mUlti-program­ America, New York, N.Y., has an­ demands for the means to solve ming capabilities, provides mass nounced the first of a new genera­ larger and larger problems, Control random access storage increments tion of electronic computers, de­ Data is bringing out its 6000 Series of 500 million bits. Byaccumu- signed to meet the total informa-

}i COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for Fdmwy, 19()) Newsletter

tion processing requirements of science and industry well into the Information Retrieval 1970's. Software

The new computer series called Spectra 70 -- comprises four compatible electronic data FORTRAN IV AVAILABLE VIDEOFILE SYSTEM processors identified as the 70/15, FOR DDP·116 COMPUTER 70/25, 70/45, and 70/55. The four . Ampex Corporation, Redwood City, provide all of the elements needed Computer Control Company, CalIf., has developed a new system, for total information systems, in­ Inc., Framingham, Mass., has an­ called Videofile, that replaces file cluding an extensive array of data nounced the availability of the folders with television recordings storage, communications, and input­ FORTRAN IV Algebraic Compiler for that may be viewed and kept up to output equipment. its low-cost DDP-116 computer. date electronically. FORTRAN IV, generally not avail­ Memory cycle speeds range from able for most present day computer~ The Videofile system records two rriicroseconds for the smallest is particularly not available for documents on magnetic video tape of processor, the Spectra 70/15, to low-cost, high-speed computers in the same kind used in television 840 nanoseconds for the largest, the DDP-116 class. broadcasting. As a document is the Spectra 70/55. Memory sizes needed, file users dial the appro­ range from 4096 bytes to 524,288 The DDP-116 computer (see priate location number and the file eight-bit bytes, respectively. Computers and Automation, October is displayed page-by-page on a con­ 1964, p. 43) is designed for both ventional television receiver. If The new processors provide open-shop scientific applications copies of any portion of the file multi-lingual compatibility, real­ and real-time data processing. are required, they may be elec­ time processing, and the capability The new FORTRAN IV software pack­ tronically printed in seconds. to utilize more than 40 kinds of age greatly enhances the DDP-116 peripheral devices. Standard in­ capability for open-shop A basic Videofile system con­ terface units allow interchange of computations. sists of a Videotape television re­ Spectra 70 input, output, storage (For more information, circle 45 ~order with built-in electronic or com~unications units with other on the Readers Service Card.) editing capabilities, a television Spectra 70 processors. camera, an indexing unit, television receiver and/or an electrostatic The multi-lingual capabilities printer. With large and more com­ enable the Spectra 70 to "speak" "CART" FOR MOTOR CARRIERS plex files additional basic and sup­ the language of many other com­ plemental equipment is necessary. puters, including the recently an­ Honeywell's electronic data nO'lnced IBM 360 as well as the RCA processing division (Wellesley 301, 3301 and 501 systems. The Hills, Mass.) has developed a new "native tongue" of the systems is computer application package for the Extended Binary Coded Decimal the trucking industry called CART Interchange Code (EBCDIC), and each (Computerized Automatic Rating of the new computers can generate Technique). CART, designed for and wo rk wi th the Ameri can Standard use with the Honeywell 200 and Code for Information Interchange 2200 business computers, automati­ (ASCII) . cally applies proper freight rates to shipments and transmits rated An additional innovation, is bills to the terminals responsible the use in the two larger computers, for final delivery of shipments to of monolithic integrated circuitry. consignees. Each of the circuits is· formed of a silicon chip so small that it would Key to the application is a barely cover the letter "0" of a computer program, which when used typewriter, yet large enough to with a Honeywell 200 or 2200 tied contain two complete electronic into a data communications network 'It circuits with 15 transistors and will: automatically rate all ' 13 resistors. The new integrated shipments; notify terminals of de­ circuits are described by RCA en­ liveries; trace lost shipments; gineers as faster, more reliable facilitate collection of account­ and more economical than any such ing and statistical data; monitor all freight loading and routing; The first Videofile system will circuit technique now in commercial be delivered in mid-year to the Na­ use or so far announced. accumulate data for vehicle main­ tenance and operating reports; tional Aeronautics and Space Admin­ and perform personnel scheduling. istration, Huntsville, Ala., under Design of the new series it­ an $875,000 contract, for use as a self was aided by extensive auto­ technical library filing system. It mated design techniques, in which The CART rating method also will maintain and update tariffs will permit storage of more than circuit and system layouts were 250,000 document pages per 14-inch produced by an electronic computer. as approved by state governments and the ICC, and allows for in­ reel of standard video tape. Users ventory control and scheduling. at a variety of locations will have Customer deliveries will begin immediate and simultaneous access in the fourth quarter of the year. (For more information, circle 46 on the Readers Service Card.) to any part of the file. (For more information, circle 44 (For more information, circle 47 on the Headers Service Card.) on the Readers Service Card.)

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 35 Newsletter

PARD (PRECISION ANNOTATED one television picture with basic formation on the reel. In addition RETRIEVAL DISPLAY) background and current updated to storing data on tape reels, a material. unitized VIDEO-IR card also is GPL Division of General Preci­ available, in the shape of a stand­ sion, Inc., Pleasantville, N.Y., This television picture can ard computer punch c~rd, which will has developed a system that allows be sent to any number of large and hold 150 pages of information. microfilm to be up-dated and cor­ small screen television displays, rected without film reprocessing. providing commanders or managers Although the basic components Only a standard pencil and eraser and their staffs with an overview of the Dixon VIDEO-IR System are is needed to add or delete up­ of various tactical, strategic standard, each individual system dated information. and management operations. is custom-designed to specifically suit the special requirements of The new system, PARD (for Pre­ When the PARD/120 operator is the user. cision Annotated Retrieval Display), through with the cards, he drops (For more information, circle 50 stores up to 500,000 management in­ both the background and annotation on the Readers Service Card.) formation items on 5000 EAM-cards, cards in the storage drum where automatically selects anyone card they are randomly filed . within six seconds, then magnifies automatically. it up to 250 times for television IBM ANNOUNCES viewing, while providing continu­ Initially designed to meet FOUR MICROFILM PRODUCTS ous up-dating capability. new Defense Department command and control requirements, PARD/120 IBM Corporation, Dayton, N.J., In the PARD/120 system, the systems are expected to find wide has announced four microfilm prod­ 5000 EAM-size cards, containing one acceptance by commercial companies ucts that give the company's line to 100 microfilm images, are first facing an increasing volume of of Micro-Processing equipment a new coded according to a master organ­ paperwork and greater need for systems capability for automating ization plan, then stored in an rapid management decision information handling. The system automatic storage/retrieval file. information. combines the space saving method To select anyone of 5000 back- (For more information, circle 49 of storing documents on microfilm on the Readers Service Card.) with the advantages of processing and retrieving data on punched cards.

Key to IBM's microfilm systems VIDEO-IR SYSTEM is the Micro-Processing Aperture Card. The cards enable easy refer­ A video tape information ence to and retrieval of a variety storage and retrieval system has of documents. They may be used to been developed by Dixon Industries, project information onto screens Inc., Gaithersburg, Md. The VIDEO­ of viewing devices or to obtain IR System uses video tape in place paper copies as required. The of conventional microfilm to record cards can be used repeatedly. They printed data. A single 3600 foot also are economical enough to be video tape reel can store nearly ground cards, a PARD operator discarded after use. 400,000 standard-size pages of in­ punches four coded buttons, shown formation. When a particular page The four products that provide at right in the picture. Within of information is desired, it may six seconds the correct card is IBM with the new systems capability be viewed immediately on a display located and popped up. The opera­ are: (1) a copier/reproducer -­ television screen. If required, tor removes the card and inserts this machine enables the transfer the system will automatically it in the Microteleviser (to op­ of both punched holes and microfilm erator's left in the picture) which print out the information. images from one punched card with enlarges the microfilm image up to a microfilm frame to another in a The VIDEO-IR System has many 250 times. This image appears on single operation; (2) a diazo a television screen in front of advantages over conventional mIcro­ copier -- this device copies images film storage and retrieval systems, the operator, as well as on any from roll microfilm to punched including: 1) no film processing number of large and small screen cards as well as from one card to television displays. -- the material is filmed on video another, in one step; (3) a viewer/ tape and can be played back in­ printer -- this device projects stantly; 2) faster acquisition When the image appears on images from MicrO-Processing cards, television, another code number is time -- a particular segment of acetate jackets, microfiche or roll information can be selected from film onto an l8-inch by 24-inch shown on the background image to among the nearly 400,000 segments locate more information or later screen, and also, at the press of data available in the file. By on the storage reel practically a button, makes a high-contrast, immediately by pushing a button, punching keyboard buttons, the paper copy of the image in a variety and 3) the VIDEO-IR file may be correct card with the most recent of sizes, and (4) a planetary up-dating material is located and interrogated from any distance, camera -- this is designed to sim­ popped up. The PARD operator takes and the desired information dis­ plify the microfilming of large as out the card and places it in front played to the interrogator in a well as small documents. matter of seconds, using regular of him on an annotation platen which telephone lines. is being scanned by a closed tele­ The MicrO-Processing product vision camera. Information from line now enables a company to micro­ the first card selected (the back­ A specially developed coding film source documents, produce ground card) and the up-dated card system permits instantaneous ac­ multiple aperture card copies for are electronically mixed to provide cess to individual portions of in- reading of the filmed images, and

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 Newsletter

A trained typist can take an TYPE 422 MILITARIZED engineer's rough diagramatical TAPE READER sketch and process it through the Photo-Draft system to obtain a The Militarized solid-state finished schematic on drafting paper tape reader Type 422 was de­ film within an hour's time. This veloped by Ferranti Electronics, A schematic is then available for Division of Ferranti-Packard Elec­ reproduction by standard processes tric Ltd~, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. such as diazo for similar-size It has a ~ew magnetic disc drive copies, or microfilming for unit and photoelectric sensing enlargement. system fOJ rapid processing of standard 5, 6, 7 and 8 channel A unique design aspect of the tape at 300 and 600 characters per Photo-Draft equipment is the use second. The new disc-drive system -II of a light beam to make exposures eliminates the need for adjustments on the drafting film through any during the life of the device. combination of 168 different trans­ parent schematic symbols, lines, letters, or numbers contained on a revolving disc. The disc re­ sembles a standard-size 45 RPM -- Three of the micro­ victrola record. It is positioned film products are shown by commands from coded, 8-channel above. At left, girl paper tape to make light exposures removes keypunched, im­ at the rate of approximately 200 aged Micro-Processing a minute. card from the new diazo copier. The other ma­ chine operator scans the Micro-Viewer/Printer be­ fore making a paper copy of the image. At extreme right of photo is the -- Type 422 Militarized planetary Micro-Camera Tape Reader which simplifies the microfilming of source A picture showing the drive documents. unit and reading platform only, of the Type 422, was shown in the De­ return to paper copies of the doc­ cember 1964 issue of Computers and uments from the aperture card Automation, Input and Output Equip­ copies. ment, page 41. The illustration caused some confusion and to clarify IBM's Supplies Division manu­ this we are glad to print t~e above factures the copier/reproducer and picture supplied by the manufacture~ the diazo copier. The viewer/ (For more information, circle 52 on the Readers Service Card.) printer is manufactured by Itek Victrola-like disc is Business Products. The camera is inserted in photographic a product of Photo Devices Inc. unit (background) which (For more information, circle 48 contains 40 feet of NAVCOR TAPE READING SYSTEM on the Readers Service Card.) tightly rolled photo­ sensitive drafting film. , A new tape reading system, de­ Disc revolves and is veloped by the Navigation Computer positioned by commands Corp., Norristown, Pa., uses many from coded, 8-channel Input-Output unusual design features. Model paper tape. As it does 1291 table-top tape reading system so, a light beam passes is so compac t (about 12" 10 ng and through selected symbols 6" high) it can be used on a desk making exposures on the "PHOTO-DRAFT" SYSTEM or a work table. It is so light film. (only 14 pounds) it can be carried easily from work area to work area. A design engineer's finished Virtually all engineering electrical or electronic circuit symbols, letters or numbers can be This is a completely self­ diagrams can be "photodrafted" incorporated on the revolving automatically at speeds up to ten contained system, capable of read­ light-exposure disc. Discs can be ing 8-channel paper or mylar tape times as fast as they can be drawn prepared for any type of schematic manually, using new equipment de­ asynchronously at any rate up to drafting merely by incorporating 30 characters per second. Model veloped by the Keuffel & Esser Co., whatever combination of 168 sym­ Hoboken, N.J. The new system, 1291 uses sufficient power and card bols are required for the drafting space to permit a wide variety of called "Photo-Draft", is being of­ work involved. optional functions, such as gated fl~red by K&E for use in electronic, (For more information, circle 51 and buffered outputs, parity check­ utility, architectural, and other on the Readers Service Card.) diversified design engineering ing, detection of special tape codes work. to generate command signals, and sequential data phone outputs.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 37 Newsletter

Since the system uses NAVCOR repeatability of ±O.05%. They in­ The device requires less than "System Function" digital logic clude IB calibrated d.c. ranges a cubic foot of space and weighs modules in its all-solid state cir­ from 1 millivolt per inch to 20 only 25 pounds. It is B 5/16 inches cuitry, it requires only one or volts per inch; and have continu­ high, 10 inches wide, and 13 inches two cards for complete operation. ously variable scale factor and a deep. Functioning inside the mis­ One card controls the entire sys­ built-in time base with 6 cali­ sile vehicle with the operational tem, while just one other card brated ranges. control computer, the reader uses will operate all optional (For more information, circle 54 a continuous-loop tape cartridge functions. on the Readers Service Card.) with up to 150 feet of perforated tape stored in a magazine. Tape movement is simplified by means of a clutched capstan assembly. "MINIATURE" MILITARIZED PRINTER •. Potter Instrument Company, Inc., Plainview, N.Y., has devel­ oped a new high-speed militarized printer capable of printing up to 10 lines per second in a 26-column format with 64 characters available per column in a parallel mode. A new patented reel servo sys­ Serial, character-at-a-time print­ tem substantially reduces tape ing allows a minimum print speed stress and power consumption. The of 10 characters per second. A new system also provides built-in typical message will provide an automatic rewind capabilities. average speed of BO characters The device has a full set of out­ per second. put timing and blanking signals, which can be set easily to special A new drum design permits the voltage levels. use of only 13 print hammers and associated driving circuitry, in­ The new tape reader, unusually Model 1291 can be used on-line creasing reliability and reducing good for repetitive program playing or off-line and integration into a system costs. The drum is replace­ in general usage, operates unidi­ larger system requires a minimum able quickly (less than 30 seconds) rectionally at 15 ips (150 cps) of special mechanical or electric­ to facilitate various drum formats. stop on sprocket hole and at 100 al design. Maintenance is virtu­ New elastomeric torsion bearing cps stepping character to character. ally non-existent -- only a rou­ print hammers are used to provide It uses .003-inch-thick, l-inch­ tine cleaning of the reader head long life expectancy. wide mylar tape. All components every 10 million operations is of the reader are modular construc­ required. The device will accommodate tion. The reader uses no lenses (For more information, circle 53 up to 4-part paper. The paper and has a throwaway light source. on the Readers Service Card.) advance system is active only dur­ No electrical adjustments are ing the paper feed cycle. There necessary. is immediate view of the last line (For more information, circle 56 printed at all times. Facilities on the Readers Service Card.) EAI ANNOUNCES TWO for storage and supply of pressure­ NEW LOW-COST RECORDERS sensitive fanfold paper are con­ tained within the printer. The Electronic Associates, Inc., printer, identified as Model West Long Branch, N.J., has intro­ HSP-3604, and its associated basic Components duced two new low-cost X-Y recorders electronics is packaged for mount­ -- the EAI VARIPLOTTER 1120 (BYz" x ing in a container only 5.4" in ll") and the VARIPLOTIER 1130 01" width, B.B" in height, and 15.B" x 17"). The former marks EAI's in depth. Inclusion of basic entry into the BYz" x ll" market. electronics allows the flexibility PRINTING TECHNIQUE BY BERRY of either a serial or parallel GRANTED PIONEER PATENT The new recorders have an un­ print mode. usual direct drive tape that is A pioneer patent has been (For more information, circle 55 granted to Theodore M. Berry and used in the instruments' linear on the Readers Service Card.) ball-bearing drive systems. This assigned to the General Electric liB-inch stainless steel tape pre­ Company, Phoenix, Ariz., on a high vents backlash and replaces the speed printing technique especially complex pulley and string system useful with computers. The U. S. COOK ELECTRIC Patent Office awarded patent number found in other recorders. Both PAPER TAPE READER devices are designed for use in a 3,161,544 dated December 15, 1964 wide variety of electronic and an­ A new paper tape reader has on the Berry technique. The orig­ inal patent application was filed alytical applications, and both been designed and built by Cook on April 27, 1951. can be used without extensive in­ Electric Company's Data-stor Divi­ termediate equipment. sion, Morton Grove, Ill. It has been developed as a program loader One form of the Berry process employs what is known as ferromag­ The two recorders combine and malfunction testing device for static accuracy of ±O.l% with a the control computer of a new tac­ netography -- a technique of print­ dynamic accuracy of ±O.2% and tical missile system. ing characters on paper from a

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 19G5 Newsletter

latent image magnetized onto a metal Theodore M. Berry, a native numeric shift, and 12 are function sheet or drum. Magnetic iron par­ of Jewell, Kansas, was a top-level or control keys. This keyboard ticles applied to the image are engineer at GE's General Engineer­ includes features of both a type­ transferred to the paper duri ng the ing Laboratory in Schenectady, writer and a numeric key punch. printing process. The process N.Y., until his death in 1953. He The letter keys are arranged for makes possible reproduction of vir­ joined the General Electric Com­ operation by the standard type­ tually an unlimited number of pany in 1925. The present award writer touch system, while the copies without destroying the represents Berry's 22nd patent. digit keys are placed so that a latent image on the original sheet rapid three-finger touch system or drum. The latent image also can can be used. be stored fo r future use. (In el­ ectrostatic printing, a method of MAGNETIC TAPE The PE 709 contains 53 keys, office copy reproduction now in REHABILITATION CENTER including seven function keys for common use, the image is destroyed space, backspace, line feed, each time a print is made from the A new magnetic tape rehabili­ carrier return and line feed, tab, negative. The image must be re­ tation center has been introduced shift, and shift lock. In appear­ produced for each additional print by Cybetronics, Inc., Waltham, ance and operation, this keyboard desired.) Mass. The device, called Cybe­ resembles the standard IBM type­ tronics CS-l, has high speed tape wri ter keyboard. Most computer systems today signal testing, buffing, cleaning (For more information, circle 58 use an impact printer which pro­ and repair - all in one unit. It on the Readers Service Card.) duces characters on paper by the also has automatic test and cer­ use of electromagnetically driven tify modes of operation. The CS-l hammers. The print elements are center certifies tape at 556 and located in lines and columns usu­ 800 bpi with signal levels adjust­ ally around a drum which revolves able from 20 to 80% of full signal JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES at high speed during use. Such voltage. equipment is capable of producing 1500 lines of 160 characters The new system is considered every minute. to be an economy model, although NEW EXAMINATION it contains most of the key fea­ The Berry process uses a drum ANNOUNCED BY tures of equipment costing con­ CIVIL SERVICE possessing rows and columns of siderably more. Options include character elements similar to the noise test(~g, additional density The U. S. Civil Service Com­ conventional high speed printer selections, testi-record mode mission has announced a new exam­ and revolves in a similar manner. operations. ination for persons experienced in In the ferromagnetic form of the the fields of automatic data pro­ Berry invention, it prints char­ The CS-l is designed for use cessing. The examination covers acters, however, without impact by magnetic tape m~nufacturers or the positions of Digital Computer with the paper. Timed electrical for organizations with large tape Programmer, Digital Computer Sys­ pulses energize selected electro­ libraries. tems Analyst, and Digital Computer magnets associated with the char­ (For more information, circle 57 Systems Operator which pay between acter elements and magnetize the on the Readers Service Card.) $6,050 and $10,250 depending on corresponding ones of these char­ acter elements. Latent magnetic the length, quality, and type of images of the magnetized character experience shown by the applicant. elements are recorded on a print KEYBOARDS FOR USE WITH drum or belt adjacent to the char­ Interested persons should con­ INPUT /OUTPUT DEVICES sult Announcement No. 348 for a de­ acter drum. When magnetic par­ ticles, acting as "ink", are ap­ tailed explanation of the experi­ A line of keyboards designed ence requirements. The announce­ plied to the drum, they are for electrical connection to card , attracted and held magnetically by ment and appropriate application punches, printer-punches, com­ forms may be obtained from many the recorded images. The visible puters, and other electronic input/ images produced by the process are post offices throughout the country output devices has been announced or from the U. S. Civil Service transferred to paper by the rolling by the Industria~ Products Division action of the drum. Commission, Washington, D. C. Ap­ of IBM Corporation, White Plains, plications will be accepted until N.Y. The products include the further notice by the U. S. Civil Claims in the Berry patent apply Numeric Keyboard PE 707, the Alpha­ to both impact and impactless types Service Commission, Washington, Numeric Keyboard PE 708, and the D. C. 20415. of high speed line printers. Mu17 Coded Output Keyboard PE 709. tiple copies may be made by simply recyclin~ the drum using the same The PE 707 contains 20 keys latent images during each cycle. ten numeric and ten function or This releases electronic control control keys. In addition, there PERSONNEL EVALUATION equipment in the computer for other are three switches for automatic SERVICE uses during the reproduction cycles. functions such as automatic feed, Officials at GE's Computer Depart­ Brandon Applied Systems, Inc., automatic skip, automatic dupli­ New York, N.Y., has announced a new ment forsee use of the technique cate, and print control. service to assist users in the re­ to aid the retrieval and reproduc­ cruitment and selection of quali­ tion of information from computers The PE 708 contains 45 keys. fied data processing personnel. whose abili ties are now in part Eighteen keys operate only when limited by the performance of its the keyboard is in alphabetic The service, called Personnel printers. shift, 15 in either alphabetic or Evaluation Service, is designed to

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 39 Newsletter

provide its users with a convenient USE OF MAGNESIUM IN if they actively participate in cent ral source of personnel; wi th ' RANDOM·ACCESS DISC FILE this reliability program to the screening and evaluation by pro­ MEMORY SYSTEMS extent requested by Bryant fessional analysts with extensive data processing experience. Bryant Computer Products is Introd~ctory and concluding offering a two-part, fully-illus­ statements of the talk were pre­ The service comprises two trated, 42-page paper discussing sented by Donald Merry, Bryant's parts: Cl) recrui tmentand screen­ the use of magnesium in random­ Product Assurance Manager; the ing and(2) evaluation and ranking. access disc file memory systems. analysis portion of the talk was The paper provides an overall presented by his assistant Joseph Recruitment and screening al­ physical and functional descrip­ Novak, Reliability Engineer. e· lows the user to participate in a tion of a disc file and then dis­ (For more information, circle 63 pooled advertisement in major media cusses the advantages of using on the Readers Service Card.) at a low cost. The user submits magnesium in disc file design. his requirements; the ad is insert­ ed and resumes received are screened This paper was presented at by.Senior Analysts of Brandon Ap­ the Magnesium Association's 21st plIed Systems, Inc. to determine Annual Convention and Technical BUSINESS NEWS which meet the stated requirements. Meeting held last fall in New York City. The first part of the paper Evaluation and ranking, the was presented by Frank Lohan, second step of the plan, independ­ Bryant's Disc File Product Manager; ently allows the user access to the second part of the paper was COMPUTER INDUSTRY TO BE Senior Consultants to evaluate and presented by George Cheney, Bryant's $5 BILLlON·A·YEAR BUSINESS rank applicants for positions. The Research and Development Manager. BY 1970 EXPERTS PREDICT evaluation includes testing, when (For more information, circle 61 appropriate, and two independent on the Readers Service Card.) Two computer industry author­ interviews by Brandon Applied Sys­ ities predicted that the value of tems, Inc. staff members. A con­ commercial computers installed in fidential report is submitted to the United States would increase the client evaluating each AVAILABLE FROM NCR from $6.4 billion in 1964 to over applicant. $17 billion in 1970. The predic­ (For more information circle 59 "NCR 315 Computer System for tion was voiced at a special all­ on the Readers Servic~ Card.) Demand Deposit Accounting" is the day briefing session on the com­ title of a 32-page booklet avail­ puter industry for security ana­ able from The National Cash Regis­ lysts held recently in New York. ter Company. This booklet traces the flow of data in an automated The briefing session was spon­ NEW LITERATURE demand deposit system using Card sored by the EDP Industry and Mar­ Random Access Memory (CRAM) units ket RepoPt, a semi-monthly news­ for the storage of account data. letter On the computer industry (For more information, circle 62 edi ted for the fi nancial communi ty. on the Readers Service Card.) The session was conducted by Pat­ MOORE OFFERS BOOKLET ON rick J. McGovern, Associate Pub­ DATA PROCESSING FORMS lisher of Computers and Automation and Editor of the EDP Industry and A catalog of data processing Market Report, and Dick H. Brandon, forms and related forms handling LITERATURE AVAILABLE ON THE President of Brandon Applied Sys­ equipment is available from Moore SERIES 4000 DISC FILE tems, Inc., a data processing con­ Business Forms, Inc. The seventy­ RELIABILITY PROGRAM sulting firm. three page spiral-bound book con­ FROM BRYANT tains complete information on Moore Trends expected in the com­ marginal punched data processing A fully-illustrated, 65-page paper, discussing the reliability puter field as outlined by Mr. forms and Moore forms handling McGovern and Mr. Brandon include: equipment for every "after-writing" program Bryant Computer Products operation. The four-color book is has initiated in the manufacture of their Series 4000 Disc Files 1. The increasing shift divided into nine sections cover­ toward program compatibility be­ ing, in addition to forms facts and is available from the company. ' The paper was presented at the Disc tween computers of competing manu­ forms handling equipment, sections facturers, with the command struc­ on custom-printed forms, MCR and File Reliability Seminar held dur­ ing the 1964 Fall Joint Computer ture of IBM's new System/360 being OCR forms, stock and standard forms adopted as the de facto standard. governmen~ forms, duplicating forms: Conference. labels, bInders, and special pur­ 2. The elimination of much of pose forms. The paper provides an intro­ duction to the requirements for es­ the $2.5 billion worth of punched ?ard and tabulating equipment with The booklet is available free tablishing an effective reliability program; a detailed mathematical Its replacement by low cost com­ of charge under the title "Data puters and newly developed forms Processing Forms". analysis of the reliabili ty of Bry­ ant's Series 4000B Disc File in­ of data capture devices that con­ (For more information circle 60 vert data directly into a form on the Readers Servic~ Card.) cluding a discussion of the steps Bryant is taking to continuously which can be processed by a improve this reliability; and a computer. concluding comment of the benefits customers can ultimately receive 3. A strengthening in the market for general purpose COffi-

·10 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 19()5 Newsletter

puters in the process instrumenta­ those bound to a particular com­ its large-scale computers, the tion field where such firms as puter model because of the prohi­ Honeywell 800 and 1800, helped Computer Control Co., Digital bitive costs of rewriting program­ Honeywell raise shipments to more Equipment Corp., Raytheon Corp., ming languages for a competitive than $100 million this year, and and Scientific Data Systems can model -- will tend to disappear," its annual revenues to the highest provide productive computers at a he said. "This will be reflected in its 10-year history. low cost because they need not in increased intensity of sales spend the heavy programming and efforts throughout the industry "We expect new orders to con­ marketing expenses required of next year." tinue at near record levels, and the other computer manufacturers. shipments to continue at present Technology was "shaken out" rates -- the highest in our history. 4. A lightening of the short­ in 1964, and will not playa major By the end of 1965, we will have age or computer programming and role in computer developments in more than 1,000 data processing systems personnel as the growth of 1965. Microcircuitry, particular­ systems in operation throughout programming compatibility between ly integrated monolithic circuitr~ the Free World," he said. computers allows more and more appeared in some computers intro­ standard application programming duced in 1964, and will become packages to be available to the standatd in virtually all new majority of users. equipment announced next year, Mr. 3C REPORTS INCREASED Finke predicted. EARNINGS IN 1964 The briefing session on the computer industry, held at the The development of real-time Computer Control reports net Lawyers' Club in New York, was data processing systems, which im­ earnings for Fiscal 1964 of attended by over 40 security ana­ ply the presence of a variety of $525,907, compared with $436,076 lysts and institutional investors. remote transmission terminals and in 1963. Sales were $19,049,683, It was the first in a series of quickly accessible mass informa­ a 72% increase over the $11,081,415 semi-annual briefing sessions tion storage devices to permit im­ of 1963. Company sponsored and ex­ sponsored by theEDP Industry and mediate, "on-line" data processing, pensed R&D rose to $2,181,255, or Market Report for the financial will continue to be the area of 11.4% of sales in 1964, compared community. greatest emphasis during the next to $974,267, or 8.8% of sales in several years. 1963.

Remote terminals capable of Unfilled order backlog October 1965 'BIGGEST YEAR' YET performing document scanning, 31, 1964, was approximately FOR EDP, FINKE PREDICTS printing, communications, audio­ $6,500,000. A significant portion answer-back, and other special­ of this backlog was in orders for Walter W. Finke, president of ized functions will begin to play the company's DDP computer line Honeywell's EDP division, in a a prominent role in data process­ which was expanded during the year year-end statement noted: "The ing equipment. Many such units with the introduction of the past year has been one of transi­ already in existence will begin to DDP-224 and DDP-116 computers. tion in the EDP industry, in which go into use in user organizations the rate of obsolescence of exist­ next year. ing equipment was hastened by in­ troduction of a large number of "We have reached a new age in EXECUTIVE PREDICTS new systems. As a result, there the computer industry, The Age of $1 BILLION SIZE FOR has been a dramatic increase in the Integrated System. As a re­ SOFTWARE FIELD the size of the replacement sult, we are seeinoJ a de-emphasis computer market." of the central processor in favor Services of independent com­ of a balanced emphasis on systems puter software firms to industry Finke said the replacement design, special-purpose peripheral and government are expected to market has been recognized as a equipment, and the processor units. reach -- or exceed -- $1 billion large and growing share of the to­ The Age of the Integrated System is a year by 1970. tal EDP market by many manufacturers cost- and applications-oriented, who introduced new equipment this and these facts have shaped the This was predicted recently by year. This factor has also accel­ plans and activit~es of manufac­ Vernon D. Walker, president of Mesa • erated development of several trends turers for the next few years," Scientific Corporation, one of the which will become more apparent in Mr. Finke stated. nation's largest computer software 1965, according to the Honeywell firms. executive. He indicated that the shipment value of peripheral equipment in He said that during the last Most significant of these is 1964 approximately equalled the five years the field of computer the trend towards program compati­ value of central processors. With­ soft~are -- including everything bi Ii ty. "Nearly every major pro­ in several years, processors will from real-time programmin~ to com­ ducer has introduced techniques of represent only about one-third of plete software package development varying competence to translate, the dollar volume of the industry, -- has been growing four to five simulate, emulate or in other ways he said, with peripheral and times faster than the computer hard­ convert programming languages of special-purpose devices making up ware industry. He said that the competitive systems during 1964." the remaining two-thirds. services of independent computer software firms in 1964 would prob­ Use of program conversion tech­ Mr. Finke also reported that ably reach over $300,000,000. These niques "can potentially open at Honeywell's growth in 1964 was the services should rise to "well over least half of the total data pro­ greatest in its history. Record $400,000,000 by the end of 1965 and CI!S S i IIIJ market to more competi ti ve orders for its newest computer exceed half a billion dollars by selIinu, since 'locked-in users' -- line, the Honeywell 200 system, and the end of 1966," he predicted.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 !\[ IW 0 NTITiIIL 1[ COMPUTER CEN§U§

The number of electronic computers installed or in produc­ of progress for readers i'nterested in following the growth of tion at anyone time has been increasing at a bewildering pace the American computer industry, and of the computing power it in the past several years. New vendors have come into the com­ builds. puter market, and familiar machines have gone out of production. Some new machines have been received with open arms by users -­ Most of the installation figures, and some of the unfilled others have been given the cold shoulder. order figures, are verified by the respective manufacturers. In cases where this is not so, estimates are based on informa­ To aid our readers in keeping up with this mushrooming ac­ tion in the market research reference files of COMPUTERS AND tivity, the editors of COMPUTERS AND AUTOMATION present this AUTOMATION. The figures are then reviewed by a group of com­ monthly report on the number of general purpose electronic com­ puter industry cognoscenti. puters of American-based companies which are installed or on order as of the preceding month. These figures included instal­ Any additions, or corrections, from informed readers will lations and orders outside the United States. We update this be welcomed. computer census monthly, so that it will serve as a "box-score" • AS OF JANUARY 10, 1965

NAME OF NAME OF SOLID AVERAGE MONTHLY DATE OF FIRST NUMBER OF NUMBER OF MANUFACTURER COMPUTER STATE? RENTAL INSTALLATION· INSTALLATIONS UNFILLED ORDERS

Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation EDP 900 system Y $7500 2/61 11 1 Advanced Scientific Instruments ASI 210 Y $2850 4/62 21 1 ASI 2100 Y $3000 12/63 7 1 ASI 6020 Y $2200 4/65 0 3 ASI 6040 Y $2800 7/65 0 2 Autonetics RECOMP II Y $2495 11/58 60 X RECOMP III Y $1495 6/61 19 X Bunker-Ramo Corp. TRW-230 Y $2680 8/63 11 3 RW-300 Y $5000 3/59 40 X TRW-330 Y $5000 12/60 30 X TRW-340 Y $7000 12/63 13 16 TRW-530 Y $6000 8/61 24 3 Burroughs 205 N $4600 1/54 61 X 220 N $14,000 10/58 41 X EI01-103 N $875 1/56 118 X E2100 Y $535 8/64 130 1250 B100 Y $2800 8/64 17 28 8250 Y $4200 11/61 96 11 8260 Y $3750 11/62 107 135 8270 Y $7000 7/62 92 24 8280 Y $6500 7/62 100 38 B370 Y $8400 7/65 0 22 85000 Y $16,200 3/63 24 14 85500 Y $35,000 10/64 13 6 Clary DE-60/DE-60M Y $525 2/60 281 3 Computer Control Co. DDP-19 Y $2800 6/61 3 X DDP-24 Y $2500 5/63 50 61 DDP-1l6 Y $900 2/65 0 22 DDP-224 Y $3300 1/65 0 14 Control Data Corporation G-15 N $1000 7/55 328 X G-20 Y $15,500 4/61 28 X 160*/160A/160G Y $1750/$3400/$12,000 5/60;7/61;3/64 414 10 924/924A Y $11,000 8/61 28 2 1604/1604A Y $38,000 1/60 60 X 3100 Y $7350 12/64 1 13 3200 Y $12,000 5/64 32 48 3300 Y $15,000 7/65 0 17 3400 Y $25,000 11/64 3 15 3600 Y $58,000 6/63 32 16 3800 Y $60,000 5/65 0 15 6400 Y $40,000 12/65 0 1 6600 Y $110,000 8/64 2 6 6800 Y $140,000 4/67 0 0 Digital Equipment Corp. PDP-l Y $3400 11/60 57 2 PDP-<1 Y $1700 8/62 54 6 PDP-5 Y $900 9/63 85 7 PDP-6 Y $10,000 10/64 2 8 PDP-7. Y $1300 11/64 3 14 PDP-8 Y $525 4/65 0 21 El-tronics. Inc. ALWAC IIIE N $1820 2/54 24 X Friden 6010 Y $600 6/63 195 110 General Electric 205 Y $2900 10/64 .9 21 210 Y $16,000 7/59 57 X 215 Y $5500 11/63 34 9 225 y $7000 1/61 120 2 235 Y $10,900 12/63 30 14 415 Y $5500 5/64 23 103 425 Y $7500 7/64 12 46 435 Y $12,000 10/64 3 23 455 Y $18,000 6/65 0 6 465 Y $24,000 6/65 0 3 625 Y $50,009 2/65 0 11 635 Y $65.000 12/64 1 15 General Precision LGP-21 Y $725 12/62 143 35 LGP-30 semi $1300 9/56 430 3 RPC-4000 Y $1875 1/61 98 1 Honoywell Electronic Data Processing H-200 Y $6000 3/64 230 560 H-300 Y $3900 7/65 0 11 H-400 Y $8500 12/61 105 5 H-800 Y $22,000 12/60 64 16

42 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 NAME OF NAME OF SOLID AVERAGE MONTHLY DATE OF FIRST NUMBER OF NUMBER OF MANUFACTURER COMPUTER STATE? RENTAL INSTALLATION INSTALLATIONS UNFILLED ORDERS

1I0neywe11 (cont'd.) H-1400 Y $14,000 1/64 9 4 H-1800 Y $30,000 1/64 5 8 H-2200 Y $12,000 10/65 0 26 DATAmatic 1000 N $40.000 12/57 4 X II-W Electronics, Inc. HW-15K y $490 6/63 3 1 IBM 305 N $3600 12/57 400 X 360/20 y $1800 12/65 0 1000 360/30 y $4800 5/65 0 2100 360/40 y $9600 5/65 0 800 360/50 Y $18,000 7/65 0 390 360/60 Y $35,000 8/65 0 115 360/62 y $50,000 9/65 0 45 360/70 y $80,000 10/65 0 145 650-card N $4000 11/54 280 X 650-RAMAC N $9000 11/54 55 X 1401 Y $4500 9/60 7650 750 1401-G Y $1900 5/64 500 300 1410 Y $12,000 11/61 550 110 1440 '{ $3500 4/63 1350 280 1460 '{ $9800 10/63 925 600 1620 I, II Y $2500 9/60 1510 18 701 N $5000 4/53 1 X 7010 '{ $19,175 10/63 57 36 702 N $6900 2/55 8 X 7030 Y $160,000 5/61 6 X 704 N $32,000 12/55 39 X 7040 Y $14,000 6/63 70 22 7044 Y $26,000 6/63 45 12 705 N $30,000 11/55 70 X 7070, 2, 4 Y $24,000 3/60 500 5 7080 Y $55,000 8/61 71 2 709 N $40,000 8/58 11 X 7090 Y $64,000 11/59 45 2 7094 Y $70,000 9/62 235 10 7094 II Y $76,000 4(64 60 40 ITT 7300 ADX Y $18,000 7 (62 9 6 Monroe Calculating Machine Co. Monrobot IX N Sold only - $5800 3/58 155 X Monrobot XI Y $700 12/60 450 155 National Cash Register Co. NCR - 304 Y $14,000 1/60 26 X NCR - 310 Y $2000 5/61 46 1 NCR - 315 Y $8500 5/62 265 115 NCR - 390 y $1850 5/61 775 160 Philco 1000 Y $7010 6/63 15 0 2000-210, 211 y $40,000 10/58 19 2 2000-212 Y $52,000 1/63 5 2 ?'000-213 Y ~68,OOO 6/65 0 1 Radio Corp. of America Bizmac N $100,000 -/56 3 X RCA 301 Y $6000 2/61 540 75 RCA 3301 y $11,500 7/64 17 35 RCA 501 y $14,000 6/59 99 2 RCA 601 y $35,000 11/62 4 1 Spectra 70/15 y $2600 11/65 0 40 Spectra 70/25 Y $5000 11/65 0 15 Spectra 70/45 Y $9000 3/66 0 25 Spectra 70/55 Y $14,000 5/66 0 10 Raytheon 250 y $1200 12/60 160 15 440 Y $3500 3/64 8 10 Scientific Data Systems Inc. SDS-92 Y $900 2/65 0 20 S05-91O Y $2000 8/62 107 30 505-920 y $2700 9/62 70 6 505-925 Y $2500 12/64 1 8 505-930 y $4000 6/64 12 22 505-9300 y $7000 11/64 1 7 UNIVAC I & II N $25,000 3/51 & 11/57 29 X y ;1 III $20,000 8/62 78 15 File Computers N $15,000 8/56 22 X Solid-State 80, 90, & Step y $8000 8/58 320 X Solid-State II y $8500 9/62 42 2 .. 418 y $11,000 6/63 9 7 490 y $26,000 12/61 37 17 1004 y $1900 2/63 2200 450 1050 y $8000 9/63 125 220 1100 Series (ex- cept 1107) N $35,000 12/50 13 X 1107 Y $45,000 10/62 21 5 1108 Y $50,000 7/65 0 12 LARC y $135,000 5/60 2 X TOTALS 24,220 11,165

X = no longer in production.

* To avoid double counting, note that the Control Data 160 serves as the central processor of the NCR 310. Also, many of the orders for the 7044, 7074, and 7094 I and II's are not for new machines but for conver- sions from existing 7040, 7070 and 7090 computers respectively.

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 43 CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS

Feb. 2-4, 1965: Symposium in On-Line Computing Systems, June 10-12, 1965: Annual Southeastern Regional Confer­ Schoenberg Hall, UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, Calif.; ence of Association of Computing Machinery, Palm Beach contact UCLA Engineering Extension (GRanite 8-9711, Towers, Palm Beach, Fla.; contact Donald J. Beutten­ Station 3721), Los Angeles, Calif. 90024. I)1uller, Gen. Chairman, 243 Russlyn Dr., W. Palm Feb. 17-19, 1965: International Solid-State Circuits Con­ Beach, Fla. ference, 12th Annual Meeting, Sheraton Hotel and Univ. June 17-1S, 1965: 3rd Annual Conference of The Com­ of Pa., Philadelphia, Pa.; contact Lewis Winner, 152 W. puter Personnel Research Group, Washington University, 42 St., New York, N. Y. 10036 St. Louis, Mo.; contact Prof. Malcolm H. Gotterer, Pro­ Mar. 22-25, 1965: IEEE International Convention, Coliseum gram Chairman, 120 Boucke Bldg., Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. 16802 and New York Hilton Hotel, New York, N. Y.; contact IEEE Headquarters, E. K. Gannett, 345 E. 47th St., New June 21-25, 1965: Information Sciences Institute, Seminar York, N. Y. I: Image Processing, Univ. of Maryland, Computer Apr. 13-15, 1965: National Telemetering Conference, 15th Science Center and University College, College Park, Annual Meeting, Shamrock-Hilton Hotel, Houston, Tex.; Md.; contact Div. of Institutes, Center of Adult Educa­ contact Lewis Winner, 152 W. 42 St., New York, N. Y. tion, Univ. of Md., College Park, Md. 20742 10036 June 21-25, 1965: San Diego Symp. for Biomedical Engi­ Apr. 15~16, 1965: First International Conference on Pro­ neering, San Diego, Calif.; contact Dean L. Fr~nklin, gramming and Control, U. S. Air Force Academy, Colo­ Scripps Clinic & Res Found., La Jolla, Calif. rado Springs, Colo.; contact Prof. G. B. Dantzig, Opera­ June 22-25, 1965: Sixth Joint Autolilatic Control Confer­ tions Research Center, Univ. of Calif., Berkeley, Calif. ence GACC), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy N. Y.; contact ProLJames W. Moore, Dept. of Mechan­ Apr. 21-23, 1965: 16th Semi-Annual Meeting of Philco ical Engineering, Univ. of Va., Charlotteville, Va. 2000 Users Group (TUG), E1 Tropicana Motor Hotel, San Antonio, Tex.; contact Omar Phipps, Philco Western June 2S-July 1, 1965: Information Sciences Institute, Development Laboratories, Palo Alto, Calif. Seminar II: Pattern Recognition, Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Center and University College, College May 3-8, 1965: Symposium on the Numerical Solution of Park, Md.; contact Div. of Institutes, Center of Adult Partial Differential Equations, Inst. for Fluid Dynamics Education, Univ. of Md., College Park, Md. 20742 and Applied Mathematics and the Computer Science June 29-July 2, 1965: Data Processing Management Asso­ Center, Univ. of 'Md., College Park, Md.; contact Inst. ciation 1965 International Data Processing Conference for Fluid Dynamics and Applied Mathematics, Univ. of and Business Exposition, Benjamin Franklin Hotel and Md., College Park, Md. 20742 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pa.; contact Data Process­ May 10-12, 1965: National Aerospace Electronics Confer­ ing Management Association, 524 Busse Highway, Park ence (NAECON), Dayton, Ohio; contact IEEE Dayton Ridge, Ill. Office, 1414 E. 3rd St., Dayton 2, Ohio. Aug. 14-Sept. 6, 1965: National Science Foundation Con­ May 13-14, 1965: Symposium on Signal Transmission and ference on Digital Computers for College Teachers of Processing, Columbia Univ., New York, N. Y.; contact Science, Mathematics and Engineering, Univ. of South­ western Louisiana, Lafayette, La.; contact Dr. James R. Dr. L. E. Franks, Bell Tel. Labs., No. Andover, Mass. Oliver, Director, USL Computing Center, Box 133, USL May 18, 1965: SWAP Conference, Marriott Motor Hotel, Station, Lafayette, La. 70506· Twin Bridges, Washington, D. C.; contact Gordon V. Aug. 23-27, 1965: 6th International Conference on Medical Wise, Control Data Corp., 8100 34th Ave. So., Minne­ Elec. & Biological Engineering, Tokyo, Japan; contact apolis, Minn. 55420. Dr. L. E. Flory, RCA Labs., Princeton, N. J. May IS-21, 1965: GUIDE International User Organization Aug. 24-26, 1965: Association for Computing Machinery, Meeting (Users of Large Scale IBM EDP Machines,) 20th National Meeting, Sheraton~Cleveland Hotel, Cleve­ Statler-Hilton Hotel, Detroit, Mich.; contact Lois E. land, Ohio; contact Lewis Winner, 152 W. 42 St., New Mecham, Secretary, GUIDE International, % United York, N. Y. 10036 Services Automobile Association, 4119 Broadway, San Aug. 24-27, 1965: WESCON, Cow Palace, San Francisco, Antonio, Tex. 7S215 Calif.; contact IEEE L. A. Office, 3600 Wilshire Blvd., May 19-21, 1965: 15th CO-OP Conference, Marriott Mo­ Los Angeles, Calif. tor Hotel, Twin Bridges, Washington, D. C.; contact Sept. S.. 10, 1'965: Industrial Electronics & Control Instru­ Gordon V. Wise, Control Data Corp., S100 34th Ave. mentation Conference, Sheraton Hotel, Philadelphia, So., Minneapolis, Minn. 55420. Pa.; contact Lewis Winner, 152 W. 42 St., New York, May 19-21, 1965: Power Industry Computer App. Confer­ N. Y. 10036 ence (PICA), Jack Tar Hotel, C;:learwater, Fla.; contact Sept. 20-23, 1965: Second Systems Engineering Conference G. W. Stagg, American Elec. Pow.er Servo Corp., 2 Broad­ & Exposition, McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill.; contact way, New York, N. Y. 1000S. Clapp & Poliak, Inc., 341 Madison Ave., New York, May 24-29, 1965: nIP Congress '65, New York Hilton Ho­ N. Y. 10017. tel, New York, N. Y.; contact Evan Herbert, Cqnover Oct. 4-7, 1965: 20th Annual ISA Instrument-Automation Mmt Publ., 205 E. 4.2 St., New York 17, N. Y. Conference & Exhibit, Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Cali£.; June, 1965: Automatic Control in the Peaceful Uses of contact Public Relations Dept., Instrument Society of Space, Oslo, Norway; contact Dr. John A. Aseltine, Aero­ America, Penn-Sheraton Hotel, 530 Wm. Penn Pl., Pitts­ space Corp., P. O. Box 95085, Los Angeles 45, Calif. burgh, Pa. 15219.

44 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1905 •• ••• Engineers and Programmers are Important,•

they require We've learned that maybe the niche a special environment. the best Engineers you've been seeking and Programmers doesn't exist here. One with care about their work - minimum red tape and about their Then again, maybe it does. and maximum freedom life away from work. of communication, Which is one reason Neither of us where management is why we're in suburban Boston, will know for sure, more than shifting surrounded by until you tell us organization charts attractive communities you're interested and unavailable executives. with excellent school systems, in finding out more near Cape Cod about Honeywell. " Honeywell and superb ski country, has a 78 year history and within commuting distance Opportunities exist in all areas of hardware and software of successful of more than 30 world-renowned development, including Circuit technical management. Design, Logic Design, Mechanical During that time, universities and colleges. Engineering, Memory Design, we've learned how Microelectronics Packaging, We don't pretend FORTRAN and COBOL Compilers, to establish and maintain Operating Systems, Technical this special environment. to be all things Writing, Peripheral Systems and to all men- LIBERATOR Translators.

Forward your inquiry, in confidence, to Mr. D. C. Turner. Honeywell 151 NEEDHAM ST .• DEPT. 5 NEWTON HIGHLANDS. MASSACHUSETTS 02161 ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING

Opportunities exist at other Honeywell Divisions. Send resume to F. E. Laing, Honeywell, Minneapolis ll. Minnesota. An equ'al opportunity employer. COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 45 Why SYSTEM/360 can't be copied.

It may be possible to copy parts thoroughly tested in the business. use and constant updating of your of SYSTEM/360. It's impossible to copy the ex­ system make up the extra value But no one can copy the extra perience we've gained on the firing package you get with every IBM values you find this side of the line, in customers' offices. data processing system. operating console. And-whether it's possible or not N early anyone in the computer It's difficult to copy research and -no one has copied our care for our business could copy our machines. development efforts like those that customers ... our continuing care But they can't copy the way we help have gone into and will continue to this year and all the years after. you use them. go into SYSTEM/360. Programming support, help It's difficult to copy our program­ with systems design, complete and SYSTEM/3GO-The Computer ming systems-the best and most thorough education in computer with a Future.

Circle No. 11 on Readers Service Card

46 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 NEW PATENTS RAYMOND R. SKOLNICK Reg. Patent Agent Ford Inst. Co., Div. of Sperry Rand Corp., Long Island City 1, New York

The foll.owing is a compilation Selectively Transmit Pulses of Desired RESEARCH - ORIENTED of patents pertaining to computer Polarity. and associated equipment from the 3,154,698 I Thomas J. Lynch, Phila., Pa. "Official Gazette of the U. S. Pat­ I by mesme assignments, to United Air­ craft Corp., a corp. of Delaware I Shift­ ent Office," dates of issue as indi­ Register Stage Employing Pair of Cas­ cated. Each entry consists of patent cade· Connected Transistors to Discharge number / inventor(s) / assignee / Storage Capacitor to Thereby Set Flip­ COMPUTER invention. Printed copies of pat­ Flop. 3,154,765 I Rexford G. Alexander, Jr., ents may be obtained from the U. S. Norristown, Pa. I Burroughs Corp., Commissioner of Patents, Washing­ Detroit, Mich., a corp. of Michigan I OPENINGS ton 25, D. C., at a cost of 25 cents Thin Film Magnetic Storage. 3,154,768 / Albert J. Hardwick, West each. -Chester, Pa. I Burroughs Corp., Detroit, Mich., a corp. of Michigan I Magnetic IDevice for Nondestructive Data Storage. 3,154,769 / John D. Blades, Strafford, Pa. September 29, 1964 I Burroughs Corp., Detroit, Michigan, 3,151,316 I Andrew H. Bobeck, Chatham, a corp. of Michigan I Helical Wrap at Annapolis, Md. N. J. I Bell Telephone Labs., Inc., Memory. N. Y. a corp. of N. Y. I Magnetic Data 3,154,770 I Helmut Schwab, Altadena and Storage System. Robert E. Sandiford, Arcadia, Calif. / by mesme assignments to Consolidated The U. S. Navy Marine Engineering Electrodynamics Corp., Pasadena, Calif., October 6, 1964 Laboratory - conducts RDT&E in ship­ a corp. of Calif. I Digital Data Proc­ board and submarine machinery (elec­ 3,152,263 I Paul J. de Fries, Bloomington, essor. Ill., General Electric Co., a corp. of trical, propulsion, control, etc.) . In addi­ N. Y. I Semi-Conductor Logic Circuit tion to recommending basic improve­ ments in performance and reliability, the With Voltage Dividing Base Channels. November 3, 1964 3,152,2M I Harold L. Ergott, Jr., Apala­ Laboratory concentrates on ship silenc­ chin, Stathis G. Linardos, Vestal, and 3,155,816 / Robert E. Bible, Burbank, Ed­ ing, new concepts of energy conversion Richard T. O'Connell, Owego, N. Y. I ward L. Braun, Los Angeles, James L. & control, ways to minimize friction and IBM Corp., N. Y., a .corp. of N. Y. I Cass, Burbank, Robert L. Mcintyre, wear, machinery for deep-diving craft, Logic Circuits With Inversion. LaCrescenta and Robert R. 'Villiamson, and Naval alloys. Sunland, Calif., / General Precision, Inc., a corp. of Delaware / Digital To facilitate and advance research in October 13, 1964 these related areas, a new computer di­ No applicable patents Computer. 3,155,818 / Frank M. Goetz, Franklin vision has been set up on the Laboratory Square, N. Y. / Bell Telephone Labs., grounds, with key openings for . . . October 20, 1964 Inc., N. Y. / Error-Correcting Systems. • Head, Programming Branch (Mathe­ 3,153,776 I Harold S. Schwartz, White 3,155,819 / Frank M. Goetz, Franklin matician) - $12,000 to $16,000 Plains, N. Y. I Potter Instrument Co., Square, N. Y. / Bell Telephone Labs., range * Inc., Plainview, N. J., a corp. of N. Y. I Inc., N. Y. / Error Correcting System. Sequential Buffer Storage System For 3,15-5,821 / Edwin Shain, DeWitt, N. Y. / • Mathematicians - $9,000 to $15,000 DiHital Information. General Electric Co. / Computer range * 3,153,778 I Arthur W. Lo, Elizabeth, ~fethod and Apparatus. • Digital Computer Systems Analyst N. J. I Radio Corp. of America, a corp. 3,155,834 / Robert M. MaoIntyre, ~ewport (Mathematician or OpSearch Analyst) of Delaware I Magnetic Core Binary Beach, Calif. / Fort Motor Co., Dear­ - $10,000 to $13,000 range * Devices. born, Mich. / Multiple Level Logic 3,153,781 I Virgilio J. Quiogue, Princeton, System. • Digital Computer Systems Operator (Minimum of 3 years experience in N. J. I Burroughs Corp., Detroit, Mich., 3,155,846 / D. Parham, Downey, Calif. / a corp. of Mich. I Encoder Circuit. operating medium-to-Iarge-scale com­ Hughes Aircraft Co., Culver City, Calif., puters using several magnetic tape Digital Computer Gaiting Device. units in the on-line operation - 3,155.942 / Martin L. Hoover, Downey, October 27, 1964 $7,000 to $9,000 range * 3,154,675 I Merle E. Homan, Poughkeep­ Calif. / The National Cash Register sie, N. Y. I IBM Corp., N. Y., a corp. Co., Dayton, Ohio / Method and Ap­ • Tape Librarian (lor more year's of N. Y. I Asynchronous Logical Sys­ paratus For Threading Core Memory experience as Keypunch or EAM Op­ tems for Digital Computers. Arrays. era tor) - $4,000 to $ 5 ,000 range * 3,154,676 I Leonard Roy Harper, San Jose, 3,155,943 / Seymour Markowitz, Los An­ geles, Calif., by mesme assignments to • Keypunch Operators - $3,600 to Calif. I IBM Corp., N. Y., a corp. of $ 5 ,000 range * N. Y. I Change Adder. Ampex Corp., Redwood City, Calif.. 3,151,677 I Jean Borne, Saint-Maur (S), Magnetic-Core Memory Driving System. • All positions offer the complete bene­ and Jacques Gollier, Paris, France ,and 3,155,944 / Paul E. Oberg, Bloomington, fits of Career Civil Service, and will Herman Jacob Heijn, Geldrop, Nether­ and Robert W. Olmen, White Bear be filled on an Equal Opportunity lands I Laboratoires d'Electronique et Lake, Minn., Sperry Rand Corporation basis. de Physique Appliquees L. E. P. (So­ / Photo-iMagnetic Memory Devices. If you are interested in applying your ciete Anonyme), Paris, France I Mag­ 3,155,945 / David E. Keefer, Houston, EDP background to the vital business of netic Core Matrix Adder and Sub­ Tex., Sperry Rand Corp., / Parallel improving ship and submarine perform­ tracter. Interrogation of Computer Memories. ance ... and want to enjoy waterside 3.1!ioUi91 I Harold Fleisher, Poughkeepsie. 3,155,947 / Taro Yoshida, Nagoya, Japan living in this famous old city that is less N. Y. I IBM Corp., N. Y., a corp. of I Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, than one hour's drive from both Wash­ N. Y. I Transistor Exclusive Or Logic Tokyo, Japan I Flip-Flop Circuit. ington and Baltimore . . . write to Mr. Circuit. W. M. Siesko, Head, Employment :J,I!i·I,G!>7 I Albert X. Widmer, Peekskill Branch, U.S. Navy Marine Engineering and Paul Abramson, Yorktown Heights, Laboratory, Annapolis, Maryland. N. Y. I IIBM Corp., N. Y., a corp. of November 10, 1964 N. Y. I Data Transmitting Apparatus 3,156.R97 / Ralph J. Bahnsen, Cambridge. Employing Switches and Diodes to Mass. and .Jules F. Dirac, Sea Isle City, Circle No. 12 on Roaders Service Card

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1965 II7 ~. J. / IB~1 Corp., N. Y. / Data Proc­ essing System with Look Ahead Feature. BOOKS AND 3,156,905 / Oscar B. Stram, Paoli and Ed­ ward V. Trocky, Phila., Pa. / Bur­ roughs Corp. / Magnetic Storage Ar­ OTHER WE rangement. 3,156,906 / Richard E. Cummins, Saratoga, PUBLICATIONS Calif. / I'BM Corp., N. Y. / Transducer NEED Positioning Mechanism in a Random Access Memory System. Moses M. Berlin MORE Allston, Mass. November 17, 1964 We publish here citations and brief reviews of books and other PROGRAMMERS 3,1:")7,778 / ~runro K. Haynes, Poughkeep­ sie, ~. Y. / lin! Corp., ~. Y. / ~Iel11ory publications which have a signifi­ Device. cant relation to compu ters, data AT !~,157,779 / Harry W. Cochrane, Pough­ processing, and automation, and keepsie, ~. Y. / IBM Corp., ~. Y. / which have come to our attention...... : Core ~fatrix Calculator. . 3,157,782 / Jean C. Lejon, Paris, France We shall be glad to report other in­ . / Controle Bailey, Paris, France / .-\na· formation in future lists if a review log Computer Amplifier with Trans­ copy is sent to us. The plan of each UNIVAC ~ former In put. entry is: author or editor / title / 3,157,791 / Rene H. Terlet, Ossining. ~. Y. / IIBM Corp., ~. Y. / Multi-State publisher or issuer / date, publi­ Photoconductive Logic Circuits. cation process, number of pages, TWIN CITIES 3,157,794 / Allan A. Kahn, Bronx, ~. Y. price or its equivalent / comments. . . / IBM Corp., N. Y. / Magnetic Core ...... •.... Logical Circuits. If you write to a publisher or is­ 3,157,857 / Charles H. Stapper, Jr., Fish­ suer, we would appreciate your But the people UNIVAC adds must kill and Lawrence E. LaFave, Pough­ mentioning Computers and Auto­ match the exacting standards of keepsie, N. Y. / IBM Corp., N. Y. / mation. our current programming teams. Printed Memory Circuit. These are people who keep abreast 3,1!l7,858 / Charles .J. Barbagallo, Need­ of the most advanced techniques in the field ... and are dedicated to ham, ~fass. / Honeywell Inc. / Elec­ creating frontiers in the technol­ trical Storage Apparatus. Kovach, Ladis D. / Computer-Oriented ogy. Men and women with uncom­ 3,157,860 / James V. Batley, Kingston, Mathematics: An Introduction to Nu­ monly high intelligence and fine N. Y. / IB~1 Corp., ~. Y. / Core Driver merical Methods / Holden-Day, Inc., academic records ... who want to Checking Circuit. 728 Montgomery St., San Francisco, work at the leading edge of the 3,157,861 / .Ions Kurt Alvar Olsson, Sundy­ Calif. / 1964, printed, 98 pp, $3.95 programming profession. berg and Sven Arne Olsson, Hagersten, ($2.95 paperbound) There is challenge here. Our rec­ Sweden / Telefonaktiebolaget L. ~I. The purpose of this book is to present, ord of stability for professional Ericsson, Stockholm, Sweden, a corp. of for high-school and beginning college people coupled with the large num­ Sweden / ·~fethod and Device in '~1ag­ ber of long range programs now students, ideas and techniques of numer­ netic ~!emory Matrices. ical methods and computer mathematics. in the house encourages the free­ 3,157,862 / Joseph Eachus, Cambridge, dom to experiment. These are just J. Some facets of numerical analysis not a few of the reasons why UNIVAC Mass. / Honeywell Inc., a corp. of Dela­ related to computers are also discussed. programmers may look forward to ware / Controller for a Computer .-\p. The ten chapters include: "Characteristics their own long-range professional paratus. of Digital Computers," "Various Number growth ... to careers highlighted by 3,157,863 / John Bernard James, Steven­ Bases," "Interpolation, or Filling in the individual advancement - in knowl­ age, England / International Computers Gaps," "Iteration: Repetition with a edge, in status, and in financial and Tabulators Ltd., London, England rewards. Purpose," "Monte Carlo Methods," and / Read Out of Bistable ~1emory Ell" "Computer Applications-Present and Our location offers added attrac­ ments by Resetting From a F'urther Future." Many examples are given to tions. We are in the heart of a Element. show that computer-oriented mathematics large, progressive metropolitan 3,157,864 / Robert W. Hoedemaker, area boasting such cultural advan­ can be used to solve problems even Princeton, ~ . .J. and Charles ~101nar, though no computer is used. Bibli­ tages as a renowned symphony Somerville, Mass. / Culton Industries, orchestra and the nationally known ography and index. Tyrone Guthrie repertory theatre. Inc., Metuchen, N. J. / Control for And within minutes of pleasant Magnetic Memory Matrix. residential areas are year-round 3,157,866 / Dallas H. Lien, Indianapolis, Enslein, K., Editor, and 53 authors / Data outdoor activities - sailing, golfing, Ind., ·Western Electric Co., Inc., N. Y. Acquisition and Processing in Biology swimming, hunting, skating and / Ring-Type Magnetic Memory Ele­ and Medicine, Volume 2, Proceedings skiing. ment. of the 1962 Rochester Conference / The You are invited to inquire about MacMillan Co., 60 Fifth Ave., New our expansion-created openings. York II, N. Y. / 1964, printed, 367 pp, Here is a sampling of the types $Il.50 November 24, 1964 of programming problems you can Twenty·five papers on the application encounter at UNIVAC-Twin Cities: 3,158,839 / Richard R. .-\nderson, Ber­ of computers to medical research and programming conceptual com­ keley Heights, N . .J. / Bell Telephone diagnosis, and to biological laboratory puters; multi-processor systems; Labs., Inc., ~. Y. / Data Translating compiler and machine language processes are here presented. In addition, System. a general discussion of various medical development; scaling problems; en­ 3,158,842 / John R. Anderson, Los Altos, gineering design problems; traJec­ data processing subjects, and the con­ tories; system integration; radar Calif. / The National Cash Register ference keynote address, "Medical Impli­ systems and performance analysis; Co., Dayton, Ohio, Memory Devices Us­ cations of Data Processing and Comput· trajectory analysis, guidance equa­ ing Ferroelectric Capacitors and Photo­ ing" are included. Sessions I and II, tions, simulation. Opportunities COil d uctors: "Analysis in Medical Research," include : are at several levels. g,158,844 / Raymond R. Bowdle, Los Al­ the papers: "Automatic Data Processing­ Write to Mr. R. K. Patterson, Em­ tos, Calif. / IB~1 Corp., N. Y. / Data and Experimental Design in Medical ployment Manager, Dept. 8-10, Processing System. Research," "Frequency Analysis of UNIVAC Division of Sperry Rand Responses from the Olfactory Bulh of Corporation, Univac Park, St. Paul, Unanesthetized Mammals," and "Patient Minn. 55116. An Equal Opportu­ Monitor System for Critically-Ill lIas­ nity Employer. pital patients." Session I V includes Cou r papers relating to "Analog-Digital Ap· UNIVAC proaches and Relationships," and ses- Dlv.elDN Ct~ .... RAV RAND CDAPDRATIDN

COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 19()') here it is!

~f1J UD(rn ~ g) ~f1J uTIlm ~ [ffi '[uTI l& ~ [ill UTI] ~] [~'[l& ~ '~~ l& ~ mJ ~ ~ [ill ~/ ~ [ill£~ A new comprehensive edition of the WHO'S WHO IN THE COMPUTER FIELD is available. This is the first edition in over five years. All entries are complete and accurate as of January, 1963. This' handsome, clothbound book is the standard biographical reference on over 5000 leaders in computer applications/ design/ education/ logic/ mathematics/ marketing/ programming/ systems analysis 1---

This is the answer book for such questions as: Where did he get his degree? How do you spell his nameZ What is his home address? Where is he working? What is his job title? What are his interests in the computer field? What papers has he given? What books has he written or edited? To what societies does he belong? In what year was he born?

Regular price: $24.95. Price to subscribers to Computers and Automation: $18.75. Full refund within ten days if not completely satisfied with the usefulness of this volume. To order your copy, send a check or purchase order to: Who's Who in the Computer Field, Attn: Order Section 815 Washington Street, Newtonville 60, Mass. sions V and VI, nine papers on "Diag­ ing requirements. Two appendices give theory and practice. Part I, "Inventory nostic Procedures and Treatment." No biographical data on conference partici­ Theory," includes six chapters. Among index. pants and fifty-six illustrations are in­ the titles: "The Analytical Structure of cluded. No index. Inventory Problems," "Static Inventory Ginsburg, Seymour / An Introduction to Pro-Problems Under Uncertainty," and Mathematical Machine Theory / Addi­ "Dynamic Inventory Problems Under son-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., Read· Starr, Martin K., and David W'. Miller / Uncertainty." Part II, "Implementation ing, Mass. / 1962, printed, 148 pp, $8.75 Inventory Control: Theory and Practice Phase: The Theory of Practice," includes This is a technical introduction to / Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, the three chapters: "The Evaluation selected topics from the literature about N. J., 07632 / 1962, printed, 354 pp, Study: Design of the Inventory Study," the behavior of mathematical data proc­ $11.35 "The Inventory Study: Design of Decision essors from the point of view of terminal A comprehensive discussion of major Procedures," and "The Data Processing characteristics. The book is developed inventory problems and methods for Study: Design of Operating Procedures." from notes used in courses at UCLA and solving them is here presented. The An appendix, which gives equations System Development Corp. The three emphasis is placed on understanding the relevant to the text, tables, a glossary, a types of sequential "machines" discussed problems in the context of decision bibliography, and an index are included. are the sequential machines of Huffman­ Moore-Mealy, the author's own abstract machines, and tape-recognition devices popularized by Rabin and Scott. The four chapters, following the section, .. "Preliminaries," which reviews set-theo­ retic concepts and properties, are: "Com­ CLASSIFIED plete Sequential Machines," "Incomplete Sequential Machines," "Abstract Ma­ chines," and "Recognition Devices." An OFFERED FIRST TIME TO DISTRIBUTOR OR appendix offering a proof of an earlier MANUFACTURER: Patented input equipment stated theorem, a bibliography, and an index are included. punches digital time on IBM cards for Stein, Sherman K. / Mathematics: The data processing 'cost accounting, wage, Man-made Universe; An Introduction attendanceo Eliminates both time clerks to the Spirit of Mathematics / W. H. Freeman & Co., 660 Market St., San keypunching. Kawachi, P.O.B. 20, Grand Francisco 4, Calif. / 1963, printed, 316 Central, New York, N.Y. 10017 pp, cost? This book, developed from the thesis that "mathematics is completely the WANTED: Key Punches #024, 026. Veri­ work of man . . . therefore mathematics fiers #056. Sorters 083, 084, 085, 088, is concrete," introduces and interrelates various mathematical subjects. The 403, 407, 602A, 40T, 1401. FOR SALE: information is intendeel as a text for an 858 Cardatype. 031, 063, 080, 402, 523, introductory college course for nonmathe­ maticians. Seventeen chapters include; 552. 805 Test Scorero 824 Tape Card "The \Veaver," which discusses arithmetic Punch. 031, 055. L.A. Pearl Co., 801 concepts such as "oelel" and "even" in terms of woven thread; "The Primes"; Second Aveo, New York, N.Y. 10017 "Rationals and Irrationals"; "The High­ way Inspector and the Salesman," which discusses topology in terms of highways and routes; "Strange Algebras"; "Infinite Sets"; and "A General View." Three ap­ pendices are: "The Rudiments of Alge­ bra," "The Geometric and Harmonic Series," and "Space of Any Dimension." ADVERTISING INDEX The text includes many exercises and references, and an index. It accomplishes Following is the index of advertisements. Each item con­ the author's purpose "to give students in tains: Name and address of the 'advertiser / page number many fields an appreciation of the beauty, extent and vitality of mathematics." where the advertisement appears / name :of agency if any. Markuson, Barbara Evans, editor, and 24 authors / Libraries and Automation: Proceedings of the Conference on Li· American Telephone & Telegraph Co.; , Honeywell Electronic Data Processing braries and Automation / Supt. of Docu­ 195 Broadway, New York 7, N. Y;- Division, 151 Needham St., Newton,

ments, Govt. Printing Office, Washing­ / Page 3 / N. W. Ayer & Son c Mass. / Page 45 / Allied Advertis­ ton, D. C. 20402 / 1964, printed, 268 pp, Brandon Applied Systems, Inc., ',ing Agency, Inc. $2.75 30 East 42nd St., New York, N. Y. International BUsiness Machines Corp. , The proceedings of the conference held at the Airlie Foundation, May, 1963, spon­ 10017 / Page 21 / - Data ProceSSing Div., 112 E. Post sored by the National Science Foundation, California Computer Products, Inc., 'Rd., White Plains, N. Y. / Page the Council on Library Resources, Inc., 305 Muller Ave., Anaheim, Calif.' ',49) Marsteller, Inc. and the Library of Congress, are here pub­ , Memorex Corporation, 1180 Shulman lished. The book's seven sections repre­ / Page 52 / Advertisers Production sent the seven topics covered at the confer­ Agency Ave., Santa Clara, Calif. / Page ence. Each section includes a state-of-the­ Computron Inc., 122 Calvary st. , 2 / Hal Lawrence, Inc. art paper and related discussions. The Waltham, Mass. / Page 4 / Tech/ Nation3J Cash Register Co., Main & topics are: "The Library of the Future," "File Organization and Conversion," "File Reps , , K Sts., Dayton 9, Ohio / Page 51 Storage and Access," "Graphic Storage," Data Systems, Inc., Subsidiary of :/McCann-Erickson, Inc. "Output Printing," "Library Communica­ Union Carbide, Grosse Point Woods, Navy Marine Engineering Lab., Anna­ tions Networks," and "The Automation of Mich. / Pages 10 and 11 / Zimmer, polis, Md. / Page 47 / GLM Assoc. Library Systems." A number of data proc­ eS5ing techniques and concepts, some con­ Keller & Calvert, Inc. Univac Div. of Sperry Rand Corp. , flicting, are introduced in each section. Fabri-Tek, Inc., P. O. Box 645, Univac Park, St. Paul, Minn. They represent the thinking of current Amery, Wisc. / Page 25 / Midland 55116) Page 48 / Deutsch & Shea, leaders in the field of computer applica­ tions. and reflect the unresolved questions Associates, Inc. Inc. of how best to accomplish certain process-

50 COMPUTERS and AUTOMATION for February, 1905 MEET THE

~4-~~ __~ __~~~--~~~----~~~-4"~~~~~~"~.-'~~ __ n.__ r---~ o

-o -8

Circle No. 13 on Readers Service Card .1,

A Modest Announcement

It's hard to be modest .about a new electronic computer Its "modular" design means you can add to the system­ system that has more input, output and processing as your needs and requirements grow. Buy or rent only capabilities than any other ·system in its price range. what you need ... expand when you're ready. Complete It's actually a family of completely compatible systems. NCR 500 Computer Systems start as low as $765 a NCR's new 500 series handles all machine languages: month. To find out more about this unique computer punched cards, punched paper tape, magnetic ledger system, and what it can do for you, write for our free cards; it even optically reads machine printed figures. brochure SP·1588. NCR, Dayton, Ohio 45409.

THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. ®

Circle No. 14 on Readers Service Card