ITA I T rQMP ITP 7t V T' 71 1f11 In 7ta I % Is oIgtrclioe ms latersi•t•d prsoma of Inftinton con- lf prejects latribut 14oIsI Ited to govwrvmsnt aleacles owarsgiters aso contributor S@ OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH Vol 16 No 4 MAThEMATICAL SCIENCES DIVISION Gordon D Goldstein Editor Margo A Sass Associate Editor Judy E Ceasar Editorial Assistant Judy A Hetrick Editorial Assistant October 1964 CONTENTS Page No EDITORIAL POLICY NOTICES I 1 Editorial 1 1 Contributions 3 Circulation1 COMPUTERS AND DATA PROCESSORS NORTH AMERICA 1 General Electric Company G E 600 Series Phoenix Arizona 2 International Business Machines Corporation IBM System 360 White Plains New York 10601 COMPUTING CENTERS 1 California Institute of Technology Computing Center An Integrated Computer System Concept for Research and Education Pasadena California 2 University of California Los Angeles Westery Data Processing Center Time Sharing Programming Research Los Angeles California 90024 3 Control Data Corporation Multi-Computer DP System for Navy Command and Control Center Minneapolis 20 Minnesota 4 The National Center for Atmospheric Research Mission and Objectives Boulder Colorado 5 USA Ballistic Research Laboratories BRLESC Memory Improvement Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland 6 U S Naval Weaponb Laboratory Computation Center Dahlgren Virginia 7 U S Navy David Taylor Model Basin LARC System Performance Data Washington 7 D C 2 4 13 21 Zz ZZ 24 Z4 24 COMPUTERS AND CENTERS OVERSEAS 1 English Electric-Leo Computers Ltd The Leo-Parnall Autolector London W 2 England 2 Instytut Masazyn Mathematycznych ZAM 41 Warsaw Poland 3 Northampton College Hybrid Computing Center London E C I England 4 Rank Data Systems The Xeronic High-Speed Computer Output Printer London W l2 England MISCELLANEOUS 1 The Bunker-Ramo Corporation Man-Machine Communications and OnLine Computing Canoga Park California 2 The University of Illinois Coordinatcd Science Laboratory PLATO 11 and III Urbana Illinois 3C Lockheed Missiles and Space Co The DIFEQ Program Palo Alto California --- 4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Project MAC-Timesharing Demonstrated Across the Atlantic Cambridge Massachusetts 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Hybrid Techniques for Real-Time Flight Simulation Cambridge 39 Massachusetis 6 The RAND Corporation JOSS An Experimental On-Line Time-Shared Computing System Santa Monica California 7 U S Navy Bureau of Naval Weapons RRRE-31 Digital Fire Control RkD Facilities Washington D C 20360 't ' ' ' Approved by The Under Secretary of the Navy 25 September 1961 61 u-prodwd Z6 Z7 27 28 35 41 43 43 44 44 45 47 NAVSO P-645 by theor CLEAR INGHOU SE Inforniation Springfinld Va 2215 1 j b Editorial Policy Notices EDITORIAL The Digital Computer Newsletter although a Department of the Navy publication is not restricted to the publication of Navy-originated material The Office of Naval Research welcomes contributions to the Newsletter from any source The Newsletter is subjected to certain limitations in size which prevent publishing all the material received However items which are not printed are kept on file and are made available to interested personnel within the Government DCN is published quarterly January April July and October Material for specific issues must be received by the editor at least three months in advance It is to be noted that the publication of information pertaining to commercial products does not in any way imply Navy approval of those products nor does it mean that Navy vouches for the accuracy of the statements made by the various contributors The information contained herein is to be considered only as being representative of the state-ofthe-art and not as the sole product or technique available CONTRIBUTIONS The Office of Naval Research welcomes contributions to the Newsletter from any source Your contributions willprovide assistance in improving the contents of the publication thereby making it an even better medium for the exchange of information between government laboratories academic institutions and industry It is hoped that the readers will participate to an even greater extent than in the past In transmitting technical material and suggestions to the editor for future issues ' Material for specific issues must be received by the editor at least three months in advance It is often impossible for the editor because of limited time and personnel to acknowledge individually all material received CIRCULATION The Newsletter is distributed without charge to interested military and government agencies to contractors for the Federal Government and to contributors of material for publication For many years in addition to the ONR initial distribution the Newsletter was reprinted by the Association for Computing Machinery as a supplement to their Journal and more recently as a supplement to their Cornmunications The Association decided that their Communications could better serve its members by concentrating on ACM editorial material Accordingly effective with the cornbined January-April 1961 issue the Newsletter became available only by direct distribution from the Office of Naval Research Requests to receive the Newsletter regularly should be submitted to the editor Contractors of the Federal Government should reference applicable contracts in their requests All communications pertaining to the Newsletter should be addressed to GORDON D GOLDSTEIN Editor Digital Computer Newsletter Informations Systems Branch Office of Naval Research Washington D C 20360 I Comiputers and Data Processors North America G E 600 Series G ' tlll 11 h Last July General Electric's Computer Department took the wraps off two of its new family of large-scale computers for business scientific and real-time use Known as the Compatibles-600 they include the GE-625 with a 2-microsecond memory cycle and the GE-635 with a 1-microsecond memory V lll addressable by processors input-output controllers and real-time remote devices Central memory can thus be accessed independently by the active system components thereby achieving maximum over-all system utilization The 600 system will operate normally in a multiprogramming mode This means two or more programs stored in memory will be executed virtually simultaneously by the processor on an interleaved time-shared basis The 600's also provide special features to make possible for the first time practical multiprocessing where several computers work together cooperatively to process large amounts of data With the addition of the 600 line to its family G E 's Computer Department now manufactures a full line of 12 computers ranging from the GE-205 up to the 600 family The largest computer in General Electric's line is now the GE-635 It adds well over a halfmillion numbers a second carries a price tag of $2 million and up and leases from $45 000 up into the hundred thousands per month Deliveries of the new 600's will begin late this year The 600-line operates under control of an executive routine termed General Comprehensive Operating Supervisor GECOS GECOS is said to be the most complete executive routine in the computer industry Along with the new computers a new line of G E magnetic tape units was also introduced Available for both the GE-400 and GE-600 they employ pneumatic drive and photocell protective devices which essentially eliminate broken scratched and stretched tape This is the first time a computer system has been designed to operate normally in a multiprugramming mode for the purpose of operating the system at top efficiency by placing maximum full-time demand on the processor memory and peripherals By the end of the year two systems will be tied together in multiprocessor operation at Phoenix Upward-compatible in both peripherals and programming packages the Compatibles-600 can also use all peripherals presently available with the GE-400 medium-to-large-scale family of compatible computers The 600 line has a subsidiary advantage in being particularly well adapted to military applications with total mission compatibility for commercial aerospace and ground-based milltary computers Programming for General Electric's military computers the A-605 M-605 and M-625 may be developed checked and debugged on the GE-625 and 635 Hardware and software were developed concurrently The development team consisted of engineers scientists and mathematicians who were users programmers or supervisors of large-scale computer installations in several General Electric departments First deliveries of the 600-line will be made with complete operating software Modular components and software design providing for horizontal expansion of the system instead of upward extension to higher-powered systems permit exact tailoring of initial system The 600's feature a memory-oriented design All system memory is directly 2 hv idan-•- k•nk l-- na in parallel also enhances system reliability Thp nlwly-pnnounced magnetic tape subsystems are for both seven- and nine-channel operation Transfer rates are up to 160 000 characters per second They include crossbar tape control which permits multiple access of transports on the subsystem Full tape compatibility is provided within standards of the American Standards Committee of Information Interchange ASCII Specifications Common to Both Number of directly addressable words of core storage per processur Data manipulation and arithmetic 170 8 plus 8 or more General Comprehensive Operating Supervisor Macro assembly program FORTRAN IV FORTRAN II TO FORTRAN IV SIFT COBOL-61 extended with report writer and sort Application packages such as APT PERT cost LP Mathpac And a wide variety of utility and service routines Application Area Across the board in Business Scientific and Real Time Double 9 bits binary 6 bits binary Programming Packages for Compatibles 600 GE-625 Floating point precision Single 18 OpCode Tag Number of basic instructions Number of index registprs Number of I O channels Integrated hardware software system Designed by large-scale users Multiprogramming Multiprocessing Modular components Modular software design Real-time oriented system Facilitates data communication Programming packages available with the 600's include the General Comprehensive Operating Supervisor Macro Assembly Program FORTRAN IV FORTRAN II to FORTRAN IV SIFT COBOL-61 extended with report writer and sort application packages such as APT PERT cost LP and Mathpac and a variety of utility and service routines Electronics Alphanumeric character Word length Characters per word Memory type A • A- - Salient Features Other peripherals include Disc and Drum Storage subsystems 900-cpm card reader 300cpm card punch 136-column 1200-line-perminute printer and Datanet-30 data communicationsprocessor COMPATIBLES-600 AND GE-635 36 bits binary Instruction format and facilitate future growth Ability to expand Solid state 6 bits 36 bits plus parity 6 Coincident current core Individual Specifications GE-625 microseconds GE-635 microseconds 8 to 21 decimal digits 19 to 21 decimal digits Total Cycle Time 2 ps 2-word pull 1 As 2-word pull Fixed Point Add Multiply Divide 3 0 7 0 14 5 1 8 7 0 14 2 262 144 maximum Floating Point Add Multiply Divide 3 0 6 0 14 5 2 7 5 9 14 2 BCD binary 3 iivM Slystum ioll l A Ir % if'f 11 1110 1 huI P1 'I hill '- I ' kllIJ Ne'lw Ink 111 01 Wh lt P tI Pl lp I same type of input output devices a user can expand his System 360 to any point in Its performance range without reprogramming INTRODUCTION A new generation of IBM electronic cornputing equipment was Introduced in April by International Business Machines Corporation The new equipment is known as the IBM System 360 It combines microelectronic technology which makes possible operating speeds measured in billionths of a second with significant advances in the concepts of computer organization Some of the most significant advances rcpresented by the new IBM System 360 include Solid Logic Technology Microelectronic circuits a product of IBM's Solid Logic Technology make up the system's basic conmponentry System 360 is the first commemicially available data processing system whosr design is based on the use of microminiaturized computer circuits System 360 is a single system which spans the performance range of virtually all current IBM computers from the widely used 1401 to nearly twice that of the most powerful computer previously built by the company It was developed to perform Information handling jobs encompassing all types of applications Within the system are models 50 60 62 and 70 Called logic circuits because they carry and control the electrical impulses which represent information within a computer these tiny devices operate at speeds ranging from 300 down to six billionths-of-a-second Transistors and diodes mounted on the circuits are only 28 thousandths-of-an-inch square and are protected by a film of glass 60 millionths-of-an-inch thick System 360 includes in its central processore 19 combinations of graduated speed and memory capacity Incorporated with these are more than 40 types of peripheral equipment which store information and enter it into and retrieve it from the computer Built-in communicationw capability makes System 360 available to remote teri iinals regardless of distance Memory Power A hierarchy of memories within System 360 makes information in core storage available at varying speeds Small local store memories operate in as little as 200 billionths-of-a-second Control memories operate in as little as 250 billionths-of -a-second Powerful main memories--containing up to 524 000 characters of information--range from 2 5 millionths of a second down to 1 millionth of a second The equipment is supported by programs which enable System 360 to schedule its own activities for non-stop computing that makes most efficient use of system capabilities A key development provides 8 000 000 characters in bulk core storage each character available in 8 millionths of a second and each at the direct command of a computer programmer This is over sixty times more directly addressable characters than were previously available in IBM computers The computer's historic limitations on memory size are overcome by this development Internal processing power of the largest System 360 configuration is approximately 50 times greater than that of the smallest The system's machine cycle time-basic pulse beat of a computor-ranges from 1 millionth of a second to only 200 billionths of a second System 360 core storage memory capacity ranges from 8000 characters of information to more than 8 000 000 Information storage devices linked to the system can store additional billions of characters of data and make them available for processing at varying speeds depending on need Application Versatility The traditional distinction between computers for commercial and scientific use is eliminated in System 360 Users will be able to process both business and scientific problems or a combination of the two with equal effectiveness This versatility is reinforced by the variety of peripheral equipment which is part of the system It is the balancing of these factors-all available within a single system using one set of programming instructions-that will make it possible for a user to select a configuration suited to his own requirements for both commercial and scientific computing With the Communications Capability Built into System 360 is the ability to respond to inquiries 4 ano messages irom remote locations at any time Hundreds of terminal devices can communicate simultaneously with a system while the computer continues to process the basic job on whikh it is working proviling on-line storage lor 10 million alphanumeric characters can be linked to a processor The IBM 1070 process communication system-a communication terminal for on-line data transmission between remote process input output stations and a central computer It provides real-time control of natural gas and oil pipe lines petroleum refineries Iron and steel works or batch process manufacturing operations System 360 monthly rentals will range from $2 700 for a basic configuration to $115 000 for a typical large multisystem configuration Comparable purchase prices range from $133 000 to $5 500 000 Deliveries of the small configurations of System 360 are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 1965 Deliveries of the largest configurations are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 1966 The System's peripheral equipment includes storage devices visual display units communications equipment card read punches printers a paper tape reader and character recognition devices A summary of some types follow Forty-four peripheral computer devices are part of IBM System 360 Twenty-six of the units are being offered for the first time STORAGE DEVICES The new equipment includes Storage Files The IBM 2321 data cell drive-a random access device that can store 400 million alphanumeric characters or up to 800 million decimal digits Multiple drives providing a storage capacity of billions of characters of information can be linked to System 360 IBM 2321 Data Cell Drive The 2321 data cell drive provides large bulk storage at low cost Billions of characters of alphanumeric or digital data can be stored by linking multiple drives Eight data cell drives with up to 6 4 billion digits can be linked to one control unit Additional files can be linked to other control units in the same system Each drive holds 400 alphanumeric characters of information or up to 800 million digits and is designed so that data cells are removable and interchangeable in increments of 40 million characters or up to 80 million digits The IBM 2250 display console-a visual display unit that provides a window into the computer It can display a message of thousands of characters of information or tables charts graphs and the lines and curves of drawings as a series of points A light pen available with the display can detect information that has been displayed on the screen and enables an operator to change the information under program control Information is stored on and retrieved from magnetic strips which are held in cells mounted vertically around a rotating cylinder To retrieve or write information the data cell drive's positioning system rotates the cell cylinder to locate the specific 10-strip group needed and place it beneath an access statinn At the station the particular strip containing the desired information is withdrawn The strip is moved past a read write head for transfer of data to the computer and the strip then is returned to its original location This process requires approximately 450 milliseconds Each group of 200 strips or 40 million characters is called a data cell and can be removed and replaced by another group This is especially useful when records such as insurance policies are being updated The IBM 7340 hypertape drive-a unit which uses magnetic tape packaged in cartridge form transfers data at 3402000 alphanumeric characters a second or 680 000 digits a second A cartridge holds more than 65 million digits The IBM 7772 audio response unit-a device which can link System 360 to a telephone network W provide voice responses to inquiries made from telephone-type terminals The audio response is composed from a vocabulary prerecorded in a digitally coded voice on a disk storage device - Smillion The IBM 2301 drum storage-a random access storage device for approximately four million alphanumeric characters or up to eight digits which can be retrieved at a rate of 1 2 million characters a second Four units The magnetic tape strips used for storing information measure 2-1 4 inches wide by 13 inches long by 0 005 inch thick One side has an iron-oxide coating for magnetic recording 5 and the other side has an anti-static coating of The access mechanism of the 2311 has ten caruon Pacn strip nas an Individual coding tab identifying its position among the 200 strips In a data cell horizontal access arms vertically mounted in pairs with each pair positioned to read or write on the corresponding upper or lower disk surface The average access time of the 2311 is 85 milliseconds This is almost twice as fast as the 1311 the 2311's predecessor which has a capacity of two million characters A handle cover which protects strips from contamination during handling is available for removing data cells One data cell can be removed and replaced by another irn less than 30 seconds IBM 1302 Disk Storage The 1302 disk storage can record and retrieve data either randomly or sequentially The random capability permits immediate access to specific areas of information without the need to examine sequentially all the data in the file A user can maintain up-to-the-second files and make frequent retrievals of th3 data stored as a result of the fast information transfer rate of 156 000 characters a second The 23l has a live-position 20-track read write head Each strip has 100 addressable recording tracks providing storage of approximately 200 000 eight-bit characters of information Recording is accomplished in serial fashion at a strip velocity of 250 inches per second which produces an information transfer rate of about 54 700 characters per second The 1302 is available in two models One model contains one disk storage module consisting of a stack of 25 disks or 50 surfaces and two access mechanisms Forty-six of the surfaces are used to store data for a total capacity of 112 million alphanumeric characters or up to 224 million digits The other model of the 1302 contains two disk storage modules Up to four modules may be connected to System 360 configurations for on-line random access to 448 million eight-bit alphanumeric characters or up to 896 million digits Access time varies from 95 milliseconds to 600 milliseconds depending on the addressed strip position and data arrangement in each data cell Access time is the time required to position the mechanism to read a strip which includes locating the strip on the drum reading writing and write-checking it IBM 2311 Disk Storage Drive The IBM 2311 disk storage drive holds 7 25 million alphanumeric charactersl of information or up to 14 5 million digits in its 10-pound removable and interchangeable disk pack It packs into six 14-inch-diameter disks almost twice as much information as was stored in the computer-sized IBM RAMAC 305 when it was first introduced in September 1956 Up to eight 2311 drives can be attached to one control unit to provide an on-line capacity of 58 million characters or up to 116 million digits The disks spin at 1800 revolutions a minute Each disk surface is divided into 500 tracks Information is written on or read from a track by one of 46 read write heads mounted on a comb-like access mechanism The availability of a hierarchy of random access storage files enables the System 360 user to balance the speed of recording and retrieving data within the volume of information retained for immediate access to a processor Unlimited storage capacity is possible with the 2311 since each disk pack can be removed and replaced with another in less than a minute A System 360 user can maintain a disk pack for each of his major files such as inventory accounts payable payroll and work-in-process When a particular job is about to be processed the specific disk pack for the job can be placed quickly on the 2311 drive This means that large volumes of input data are available for processing at random or in sequence The 2321 2311 and 1302 storage files zre being manufactured at IBM's San Jose Calif plant They utilize the IBM 2841 storage control unit Magnetic Tape Equipment IBM 7340 Hypertape Drive The new ultraspeed iBM 7340 hypejrtape drives are designed to read or record information at a rate of 340 000 alphanumeric characters a second or up to 680 000 digits a second This represents the fastest commercially-available magnetic Wape system in the world The drive operates at The six disks are vertically mounted onehalf inch apart Each of the 10 inside disk surfaces has 203 tracks and the disks rotate at a speed of 2400 revwlutions a minute The two outside disk surfaces are used as protective plates 6 I either of two densities 1511 or 3022 bits an ch Ain a -• b ie e a hypartano drivw that operates at 170 000 11phanumeric characters a second or up to 340 000 digits a second seyped rtap die ut0 40diite magnetictapeIn Hypertape drives utilize magnetic tape packaged in cartridge form which eliminates tape contamination o- damage from manual handling An automatic cartridge loader for automatic loading and 'nloading of magnetic tape is available It holds a cartridge in reserve and automatically moves this reserve unit into position for use by the processor as soon as processing of the first cartridge has been completed Read backward which speeds tape sorting by eliminating certain rewinds and automatic threading and unthreading of tape are standard features on the 7340 BM20 H ert ape Control Unit A hypertape control unit the IBM 2802 attaches to a selector or multiplexor channel of the processor and can control up to eight drives A feature is available that enableF the 2802 to address as many as 16 drives when used with the IBM 2816 tape switching unit model 2 This unit allows up to 16 hypertape drives to be shared by up to four data channels on the same or separate System 360 processors IBM 2400 Series Nine-Channel Magnetic Tape Unit The new IBM 2400 series ninechannel magnetic tape unit reads and records information in nine data tracks across 1 2-inch wide tape Also available with the 2400 series is a seven-track compatibility feature which enables reading and writing of data at high speeds Magnetic tape is a btsic storage medium for computers e 2404-a single drive with a built-in control for simultaneous reading and writing addition there are two tape control units 2803-single channel control for operating up to eight drives e 2804-two-channel control for operating up to eight drives Each of the built-in control units can operate as many as eight tape drives On the 2404 the simultaneous control is attached to two channels in a manner that permits a read operation on one tape drive to be over apped with a simultaneous write operation The controls attach to a selector or a multiplexor channel and operate in the burst mode Types 2401 and 2402 utilize the IBM 2803 and 2804 tape control The 2401 and 2402 yes also can be atifhd to the 2403h and 2404 drives through the built-in control unit The 2803 is a single-channel unit fur read or write control the 2804 is a double-channel unit for read while write control Both units also can operate up to eight tape orives The 2816 model 1 tape switching unit can be used with the 2400 series The read backward feature Is standard on all 2400 drives The 7340 hypertape drives iud the 2400 series can be used separately on all models of System 360 On System 360 Models 50 60 62 and 70 it is possible to use a combination of hypertape and 2400 tape units Tape drives and controls are manufactured at IBM's Poughkeepsie plant Drum Storage The 2400 series is available in four types Each type comes in three models with different information transf er rates These models are 22 500 alphanumeric characters or up to 45 000 digits a second 45 000 alphanumeric characters or up to 90 000 digits a second and 90 000 alphanumeric characters or up to 180 000 digits a second The four types of magnetic tape units are a 2401-a single tape drive 2402-a double drive e 240 --a single drive with a built-in control for either reading or writing information and 7 IBM 2301 Two drum storage units are available with System 360 One the IBM 2301 drum storage has a capacity of four million alphanumeric characters of information or up to eight million digits It can transfer information to a processor at a rate of 1 2 million characters a second The 2301 Is designed for operation with System 360 Models 50 60 62 and 70 Drum storage devices operate by assembling characters of information from four read write heads simultaneously rather than by assembling bits from a single head as they are written one after the other This results in the extremely high information character rate of the 2301 drum storage IIBM 7320 The other drum sut'oage is tile IMM '7320which has a capacity of 808 000 alphanumeric characters of information available at a rate of 203 000 characters a second and updating as a time-shared scientific computing terminal for information retrieval data acquisition nmonitoring data rduciiun Ctio play process control supervision order entry and inventory Inquiry and updating The 2301 achieves its increase In capacity over the 7320 from utilization of double hit double track density recording while maintaining an 8 6-millisecond average rotational delay Because of their overall performance the drums can be used for program storage to make possible faster compiling of information It also can be used to store frequently used sub-routines which must be available when needed by the processor The indexing capabillty of the 2301 and 7320 minimlzes the time required lo locate information on disk storage or magnetic tape Other uses include storage of tables such as thosv for mathematical functions program language translaltons nd as an extension of core storage The major element of the 2250 Is a console with a 12-inch square display screen a 21-inch cathode ray tube on which talevs graphs charts alphanumeric characters or the lineis and curves of drawings can be displayed ais v series of points When the full display area is used 3848 alphanumeric characters-the contents of a page of information-can be viewed A built-in electronic lnlarkci helps the operator edit messages When the display console is used as a point plotter it can plot graphs charts and drawings with the precision of a square matrix of 1024 points or more than one million individually addressitble points Buffer storage for the 2250 is available in 4096Land 8192 character capacities These buffer storage units hold points lines and positiOn instructions which may be read from or written at a maximum rate of 238 095 characlers a second Up to eight 7320 drum storage units can be linked to the 2841 control unit for a total on-line random access storage of 6 4 million characters The 2301 requires the IBM 2820 drumu storage control which can ac comn modate up to four 2301 drumks for a total of 10 million alphanumeric characters or up to 32 million digits Other features of the 2250 are A typewriter-like keyboard for entry of all alphanumeric information and control of the electronic marker Tile drumi storage devices are manufactured at IBM's Kingston N Y plant A light pen for communication between operator and processor When this pen-like device is pointed at informalion displayeid oli the screen It detects light from the cathode ray tube when a beam passes within its field of view The pen's response is transmitted to the computer which relates the computer's action to the section of the image being displayed In this way the operator can delete or add text maintain tighter control over the program and choose alternative courses of action VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS Display Unit IBM 2250 The IBM 2250 display unit provides a dynamic visual lpresentation of information stored in the computer or iln storage files drums and tapes An operator at the display can monitor tiue p'ogress of his progranm or solution and can modify and Intervene as necessary The IBM 2840 display control which permits up to eight display units to operate in an economical time-sharing configuration Up to 16 384 characters of storage are available with the 2840 The 2250 may be used to display Inimnediately an updated account record as required to respond to an inquiry Corrections to the record may be made directly on tile displayed information and the corrected record is immediately stored Tile 2250 also can be programmed to present to the system's operator or programmer partial results problem checks graphs of mathematical results and other instantaneous computational output A keyboard which makes interpretive operations possible Its function for a particular job is assigned by the computer program and the keys for that job are identified by removable illuminated overlays An operator control panel for those processors where the display is used in place of the typewriter control console The unit can be used as the computer operator console for engineering record keeping 8 The 2250 is being manufactured at the company's Kingston plant Inquiry Display Terminal IBM 1015 The IBM 1015 inquiry display terminal is designed to operate an anl inquiry dovice for Systenu 360 Models 30 40 and 50 Information is pulaced Into the computer through the 10151o alphanumeric keyboard and is simultaneously ditiplayed onl its four- inchHquilre screen The 1015 then displays a reply to the inquiry onl Its scvreen Inuformuationu is displayed at a rate at 000 characters a seconud about 40 times faster thuan that produced for Lill operator by means of a type-out The viewing area has a 30-line cupacity of 40 characters each To reuse the display once 1200 characters have been displayed and the inquiry has been answered requires only i push ot the 'erase button The standard 30 alphanumeric characters A through Z 0 to J pius 23 s4pecial charactters are available The 1015 which utilizes the I13M 1010 eontrol unit is manufactured at IBM's Endicott N Y plant COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT - ___ __ -Systum 360 Process Commnunication Systemv IBM 1070 Trhe new IBM 1070 pros Any model of Systiom 300 may use apJpro-I priat e optional features developed to mneet the require mneits of spec tie IndutidriiuI pronctNs control applicat ion These features might inelude the 1074 binary and 1076 digital display thv 1076 manual binary and 1077 decimal hinput The IBIM 1053 output printer can be used with the 1070 Through the use of a nmultiplexor terminal unit the 1071 the System -an connect via four transmission linies up to tki turminal stationls oilto the cuntrul processor The 121 i o 01 trots all tranismission sequenices to and fromu thu ternillnal stations peitrtiams checgs and handles the required valculatLotus Input outp ut deviCes suchI as atoan i lea naIgIlUtiC tapes vis ual displays and priiiters alsol canl be attacihed to the plo Tnsor Tihese terminal stations are desqigne-d to huandle a user's standard control sYstell inpiut outp ut de viC s and tralils-Li lucers rhuey will eunivert the signalh between the 107io and the devices ini the provLOsH Tine tranusiission of data to 01- I 1'Jii the terminal stat busl Is pcri-urilledi onl Inulti -droji t ransminis sionu cha nnel I ihihalf-duplex mode at spceds of 134 5 or 000 bits a second which corresponds8 respecvtivvly to 14 13 or 6 charaoctvers a second The trainsmission is buffered Into the processor for greatter system efftic iency c an comibine 1070 terminal stations with other HIM tern11ilnals as the 1030 dlatn collection system and the 1050 data COMiiunllcationl systemi Conunmunication system Is designed for oil-line data transmission between remote process 10c ationls anid a ceiiiral comiputer It operutes iii three different environments I Where transmission linies over long distainces connect several remote process inlput outp ut stations to a central computer for realt ime cointrol I e of niatural gas and oil pipe lilnes 2 Where several Input output units located in a group near a process require data transmission facilities ior cominectioiu to a cciitral coiliipUter providing real-time control of facilities such us petroloumi refineries ol iron aiid steel works and 3 Where input output unit s are colniectedi directly to tile process in addition to operatororiented terminal statioins auld tiley use data transmission fucilities for coneitttw on to a comtmnoi comulpter as iii batcih process iallluf actoring op erationus The 1070 which was developed by IBM's Nordic Laboratory in Stockiuolin Sweden Is being manufactured at San Jose Audio Response Unit IBM 7772 The IBIM 7772 audio response unit canl be attached to Systemn 360 Models 30 40 and 50 throuigh their nialtipi1exor chianniels It links the processor with a telephone network to iliovid i a recordedi voice responise to iniiuiirics made froil telephonev-type teruiiinais The audio response Iis assemblled from a vocaL'ulary whivh is prc-recrodeud iii a digitally codedt voice on a disk s9torage file couliiected to thle coiliputot I1 qtdirtes to tihe 77712 arc received as a series of dij Its either dialed or keyed from in ordinary telephoneV The audio respon se unilt buffers eachi digit Then these are tranisferred to thle proc'essor' s core storage and assembhled into a comiplete message After processing the message the conmputer assembles a digitally coded voice output response which is transferred to tie 7772 The 7772 converts it to actual voice signals and scnd' It to the Inquirin pat'ty as the audio response contacts under computer control cletermnation of the status of a particular test instrument during a process control job and control of data transmission betiveen tie computer and private wire telegraph units or 1050 data communication systems The 7772 has two basic ipi't output lines but cau be expanded to eight linii The 2701 is being manufactured at IBM's Poughkeepsie plant The audio response unit was developed by IBM's laboratory at LaGaude France It is being manufactured at the company's Kingston plant Transmission Control IBM 2702 The IBM 2702 transmission con trol which operates at lower speeds than the 2701 is designed for use with System 360 Models 30 40 and 50 It directs and controls information that flows between the processor and mnny remote terminals such as the 1070 1050 1030 and 1060 data communications systems Data Adapter Unit 13M 2701 The IBM 2701 data adapter unit provides Systen 300 with greatly expanded input output device capability It provides direct connection for a variety of remote and local extirnal deviecs--the 1050 teletypewriter terminals telemetry terminals test instrumentation and data acquisition equipment The 2702 utilizes the multiplexor channel of the processor The link with the remnote terminals is via private and commercial coinmon carrier transmission facilities The unit attaches to a selector channel or multipiexor channel A selector channel handles high-speed input output devices It is overlapped with other selector channels and a multiplexor channel in a processor's input output Up to eight 2702 units can be attached to a multiplexor channel and operation of each is in the interleaveo mode The 2702 accepts electrical signals sequentially from a number of comnmunications lines converts these signals into characters and transfers the characters to the processor It transfers information from the System 360 processor to the remote terminal serially or one bit at a time Under interleaved operation there is an eight-bit buffer per line on the multiplexor channel Messages to and from he 2702 can be of any length control element to provide simultaneous operations When a selector channel is used only one device at a time can read data into that channel although as many as eight input outr t control units can be connected to it A multil iexor channel can handle many low or medium speed devices simultaneously on a Tharacter-bycharacter basis or a single device in a burst of characters The basic data communications unit has up to 15 half-duplex lines It operates at speeds from 75 to 600 bits per second in a start stop mode The maximum data rate capability of the 2701 generally is specified by the particular transmission interface adapter used the input output channel capacity and the overall systems configuration The 2702 is manufactured at IBM's Poughkeepsie plant Other Terminals The parallel data adapter feature allows external devices to be connected to the 2701 through a half duplex mode and permits transmitting and receiving information in one direction at a time This feature contains 11 control lines and 16 data lines and can be expanded as an option to 48 lines in steps of eight Several existing communications systems will be available for use with System 360 Models 30 40 and 50 IBM 7770 The IBM 7770 audio response unit provides verbal replies to inquiries about information stored in a System 360 It provides immediate telephone access to millions of bustness facts on file in a company's computer Like the 7772 it attaches to a processor through the multiplexor channel The audio response Another feature designed primarily for handling telemetry data permits the 2701 to hfindle up to two million bit a second Other 2701 adapters enable switching of electrical 10 unit has four basic lines and is expandable to either 16 or 48 It too can buffer inquiries The 7770's audio response is composed from a- wanufactured at the company's Rochester plant vocabulary pre-recorded on a magnetic drum The unit is manufactured at the company's Kingston plant IBM 1050 The IBM 1050 data communication system is used as an inquiry and data entry station when linked to a computer Two or more 1050 systems can communicate with each other or can be used independently for source recording document writing preparation of data for transmission and conversion of data from one medium to another IBM 1030 The IBM 1030 data collection system can gather manufacturing Information from electronic in-plant reporting stations and transmit it directly to System 360 The in- formation is processed as it Is received Reports can be produced which indicate for example job cost or machine utilization Information can enter the processor in several ways including punched card plastic badge keyboard or data cartridge The latter logs production data on a pocket-sized recording device that the employee maintains at his work station The 1030 system includes 1031 input stations a 1033 printer to allow two-way communication between the key plant locations and the computer the 1032 digital time unit to log the time of each transmission and the 1034 card punch for recording data in cards for later processing The 1030 is manufactured at IBM's Rochester Minn facilities IBM 1060 The IBM 1060 data communication system links teller window locations in savings banks savings and loan associations and commercial banks with either the main office of the institution or a branch office where a System 360 is located The 1060 system consists of the 1062 teller terminal which is linked to the processor over communications lines through the 1061 control unit and either the 2701 or 2702 Transaction data can be transmitted from a keyboard at a speed of 14 8 characters a second The operator of a 1062 handles a savings account deposit by keying in the account number which is simultaneously flashed to the processor and printed on the teller's record tape Next the deposit amount and the type of transaction are keyed into the terminal flashed to the computer and printed on the tape The old balance from the customer's passbook is checked for agreement with the old balance recorded in the computer then the computer updates the account and prepares and transmits a reply message to the terminal The printing unit records the data first on the teller record tape then on the passbook where data transaction amount new balance and teller identification are printed from the computer If any interest is due that is automatically posted at the same time The 1062 teller terminal is S 11 The 1050 transmitting at up to 14 8 characters a second can use existing communication lines private or public Modulatingdemodulating units provided by the common carriers are placed at each sending and receiving location to provide compatibility between data processing equipment and communication circuits In on-line operations inquiries or data to be transmitted are entered in the 1050 The data passes from the input unit to the 1051 control unit which places the data on the communication line via the common carrier unit If the receiving station is another 1050 the message enters via the 1051 which checks it for errors and passes it to whichever output element has been selected by the receiving operator Coordination of the 1050's input and output elements and internal communication lines is performed by the IBM 1051 control unit All incoming data passes through the 1051 which checks it for transmission or recording errors and directs it to the correct output element There are six input and output units that make up the 1050 system These include the 1052 printer-keyboard the 1053 printer the 1054 paper tape reader the 1055 paper tape punch the 1056 card reader and 1057 1058 card punch The 1050 is manufactured at the company's Endicott plant CARD READ PUNCHES Two card read punches are available with System 360 They are m The IBM 1442 which reads 400 s cards a e The IBM 1402 which reads 800 cards a minute and punches 250 cards a minute and can be used with System 360 Models 30 40 and 50 The 1402 requires the IBM 2821 control unit These dt-rices are manufactured at the company's Rochester plant Several existing printers and a new unit will be available with the System 360 They CHARACTER RECOGNITION DEVICES Several existing magnetic ink and optical IBM 2201 Model 3 The new IBM 2201 model 3 printer produces up to 1100 lines a minute of alphanumeric information It is possible to achieve 1400 lines a minute by using a preferred character set-a rearrangement of the alphanumeric characters It is enclosed in a hydraulically operated acoustical cover to minimize noise character recognition devices will be available IBM 1231 The IBM 1231 optical mark page reader scans ordinary pencil marks made on 8-1 2 x 11-inch data sheets and siniultaneoutly transmits the information to a System 360 Model 30 for preparing summary reports It can optically read data sheets at a rate of up to 2000 sheets an hour The device is manufactured at the company's Rochester plant IBM 1403 Models 2 and 3 The IBM 1403 model 2 a 600 line-a-minute alphanumeric printer The IBM 1403 model 3 and 100 line-aminute alphanumeric printer IBM 1428 The IBM 1428 optical reader reads type and or printed alphabetical and numerical data on paper documents of various sizes for direct input to a System 380 Model 30 Reading speed Is up to 480 characters a second from as many as 400 documents a minute This unit is manufactured at Endicott IBM 1404 Model 2 The IBM 1404 model 2 for printed paper and card document output These units are designed for use with System 360 Models 30 40 and 50 and require the 2821 control unit IBM 1418 The IBM 1418 optical character reader available with the System 360 Model 30 reads numerical data printed in widely used type styles on paper or card documents at a rate of 480 characters a second As many as 400 documents a minute may be read The printed data automatically is translated into machine language for direct input to the processor This unit is being manufactured at Endicott IBM 1443 The IBM 1443 printer a 240 line-a-minute alphanumeric unit has a built-in control unit All printers are manufactured at Endicott IBM 1419 The IBM 1419 magnetic character reader which processes bank checks at speeds up to 1600 a minute and postal money orders at speeds up to 1960 a minute Designed for use with the System 360 Models 30 and 40 it is being manufactured at the Endicott plant PAPER TAPE READER IBM 2671 The IBM 2671 paper tape reader reads five to eight-track paper tape as well as telegraphic codes at up to 1000 characters per second The reader is controlled by the IBM 2822 paper tape reader control unit which provide4 status and data information to System 360 from the 2671 IRM 1412 The IBM 1412 magnetic character reader handles paper checks and deposit slips and 'iakes possible direct input of data from paper documents into a System 360 Model 30 It reads up to 950 documents a minute The 1412 is being manufactured at Endicott These units were developed at IBM's LaGaude France laboratory and are being manufactured at Endicott 12 Computing Centers An Integrated Computer Sytcm Concept for Rescarch and Education fj 11114 Cati •lifo 11iaI it1 t- I'o h1t1 n • •a ia 1 I Wrim ahimma IBM 7094 and 7040 each with 32 000-word core memories The interconnections consist of a practically instantaneous happing mode a pseudo tape drive interconnection for core-tocore transfer two 1301 disk tuits providing 18 6 million words of memory and the shared magnetic tape units Communication between the 7040 and the remote stations an% other portidns of the system complex is facyItched by the IBM 7288 multiplexor This provides up to 48 channels of communication each with an information transfer rate of up to 375 000 sixbit characters per second Additional interplexing of each channel accommodates a multiplicity of lower data rate channels The principal buildings of the Institute are allwithin two or three thousand feet of the Computing Center and connected by large underground steam tunnels It was therefore economical and practical to Interconnect all remote stations by combinations of concentric cables and standard Until recently applications of digital cornputers by research and educational institutions have concentrated on the features of high data processing speed and large fast access memory Of equal or perhaps greater importance is the enhancement of the ease of communication between the user and the central processor in terms of rapid communication or turnaround times for a large number of diversified uses During the past 2 years McCann Hebert and Ray of the California Institute of Technology Computing Center have been engaged in the development of a system concept which will permit interplexed operations from a large number of remote input-output stations and peripheral special purpose data processors This work has been directed toward the following three general classes of applications 1 Production computing and compiling with fast turn around telephone leads Three types of communication systems were developed by the Computing Center staff one with a data rate of 200 000 characters per second another with 1500 and a third with 150 2 Direct data collection and on-line control analysis for large scale experimental research 3 Creative programming efforts of individuals at their optimum thought process rate and interacting directly with the computer The performance of these functions at remote locations from the central computing system has been achieved by the development of a basic remote typewriter console suitable for human communication with the computer a standard form of remote display and a series of special purpose data collection and peripheral processing stations The IBM 7094 computer provides the capability for the rapid calculation of large complex problems but its efficiency as a powerful centralized calculator is seriously affected when it must simultaneously control a large number of sophisticated input-output devices This is particularly true when several of these devices may require a real time response Even the addition of special readily available features such asa Direct Data connection does not provide enough simultaneity in the hardware and the difficulties encountered in providing more than one level of program interplexing require that additional computing capability be added to the basic 7094 to satisfy the requirements discussed above For this reason an IBM 7040 with selected auxiliary equipment was COMPUTING SYSTEM CONFIGURATION The basic features of the system we have chosen are illustrated schematically in Fig 1 The heart of the system is the interconnected 13 14 1 MAGNETIC TAPES 729 DATA CHANNEL 7601 709 CORE 1'0 CORE COMMUNICATION DATA HANHEL 7607 4 DATA CHANNEL 1'90 9 DISK STORAGE 1301 FILE CONTROL I I I I l MAGNE TI TAPES 1531 1'19 IV REMOTE CONSOLES SYNC-IRONIZER 1414 1 DATA CHANNEL T904 TAPES 1'19 IV MONITOR 711 Tl TRAP CONTROL WMPUTER 7940 DATA COMM UNI CJLTION CHANN 77 33 HO SYN 1414 IV EXPERIMENTAL DATA TERMINAIS COMPU TEFL DISPLAY DEVICES UT I403 1403 BURROUGHS 2 20 MISCELLANEOUS INPUT-OUTPUT Figure l -Schematic diagram of the CIT information processing system added to provide the multiplicity of characteristics required incoming jobs and transmits them to the appropriate queues on the disk The governing principle which dictated this particular configuration of hardware was the decision that the 7040 must handle all of the co- munication with the outside environment and the 7094 must be isolated to maintain ahigh degree of computing efficiency Conversely the 7040 is not normally required to handle an appreciable computing load in order to permit it to provide the timely Interplexing oi a large number of communication channels The requirement to tie the system directly to the experimentalist and to place a control capability in the hands of the remote user is satisfied by employing an IBM 7288 Data Cornmunication Channel with appropriate terminal equipment A great deal of importance is attached to the attempt in all cases to tailor the terminal to the needs of the particular human users utilizing it rather than to provide a general purpose input-output device This approach solves two important problems In the first instance it allows the computer to becom'e a convenient and easily used tool for the non computer oriented research man and secondly it eases the burdeni on the central system by providing local specialization Examples of this philosophy are found in the experimental data gathering terminals and in the remote users consoles and are of enough interest to merit some elaboration Figure 1 shows the 7094 together with the two 7607 Data Channels and their associated magnetic tapes and monitor I O equipment which Is the conventional 7094 hardware configuration Functionally however there are fundamental differences in the utilization of these data channels In the Caltech system the 7607 channels are used almost solely for control and monitoring purposes while the 7094 concerns itself almost exclusively with the 1301 disk system which it shares with the 7040 The Input and Output queues generated by the 7040 the most often used libraries and the Monitor system all reside on the Disk EXPERIMENT CONTROL AND DATA COLLECTION An important aspect of the program to develop this system has been the correlated work by several of the larger Institute research centers In which developed peripheral system concepts for data collection together with data processing concepts for rapid data analysis to be used also in the control of the experiments These requirements were carefully integrated with the central system design The principal research areas engaged in this phase were those of high energy nuclear physics X-ray crystallography seismology and biological systems analysis Because of the intimate interaction between the two computers the sharing of the disk files does not In itself provide a tight enough control link Consequently two other communication paths have been provided by the Center's engineering staff The first of these is a trap control capability providing for the initiation of any of the Data Channel D traps in the 7094 by the execution of Channel C tape instructions which would otherwise never be encountered in the 7040 and vice versa The second path between the two central processors provides for core-to-core transfer of data at tape speed via the tape channels of the 7094 and 7040 This channel is primarily used for the transmission of timely control information such as up-to-date disk maps rather than for large volumes of data or programs Each scientific discipline tends to develop itR own peculiar set of experimental techniqucs and encounters as a result a characteristic class of difficulties which inevitably arises whenever the theoretician experiments in the uncompromising reality of the physical laboratory Even after succeeding in obtaining the raw data of interest the scientist is confronted with the immense task of analyzing the results properly Thus he must separate signal from noise and apply appropriate reduction techkniques to obtain finally the isolated results sought This can be illustrated by the research of the Biological Systems Laboratory engaged in the study of information processing in living nervous systems The basic aim of this research is the development of a more precise understanding of nervous system activity A Two of the 7094's Channel B tapes are manually switchable to the 7040 These are typically utilized when raw test data recorded on tape by the 7040 is subsequently processed by the 7090 The primary stream of job input and output is handled in the usual manner by a 1402 Reader-Punch and a 1403 Printer attached in this case to Channel A of the 7040 Some error analysis and proofreading is performed by the 7040 which assigns appropriate priorities tothe 15 group of nervous system experiments was considered essential to the development of more procisc i•id complex rcecarch Figure 2 is the systemn lht6rconnection and Fig 3 is the schematic diagram of the peripheral data processing system for this biological system research tern provides the following capabilities This work is concentrating on sight perception utilizing a variety of biological systems I In every case the input is a visual stimulus but the outputs take a variety of forms eye movement electrical potential generated by a nerve torque generated by the system responding to the stimulus and so on however there developed a common group of requirements which had to be met by the instrumentation to permit this discipline to carry on its experimentation in a meaningful and efficient manner These needs can be briefly summarized as follows 2 The live test data almost always in analog form may be recorded on analog tape or digitized and sent immediately to the cornputer for analysis 1 Sever-al precise and variable timing signals are fed to ea' h experimental site for the control of complex input stimuli and for general synchronization purposes 3 A remote XY recorder and console are available for rapid turn around from the computer 4 Test data m v be selected or rejected locally for analysis bý the system based on such criteria as analog frequency or amplitude 1 The input a visual stimulus is usually a complex function of both time and space and must be carefully synchronized 5 The time of an event may be transmitted to the computer rather than a digitized sampling of the event's waveform The event can be required to satisfy a variety of criteria before being accepted as legitimate 2 The very poor signal-noise ratio which occurs in the output of certain of the experiments dictates that the experiment be repeated many times over in a rapid efficient manner to generate data suitable for averaging autocorrelation and Fourier analysis Thus the local specialization built into the remote station eases the task of the central system in providing adequate analysis capability REMOTE USER CONSOLES 3 The physical impossibility of recording the electrical output of a single nerve fiber results in the generation of a multi-fiber record which must subsequently be sorted by application of an amplitude criterion These consoles are an attempt to solve the classic problem of large systems utilization namely effective and timely communication between the user and the machine Ideally the computer should possess the availability and ease of operation of a slide rule Classically however its use requires strict adherence to a rigid time schedule and inflexible language rules The addition of these devices permits an unscheduled flexible utilization of the computing system with timely responses to users' inquiries Typical uses of the Console are represented by the following 4 The objectives of many of the expertments may only be reasonably realized if Intermediate results from the analysis of the initial steps of the experiment are available immediately to guide the further course of the investigatlon 5 The nature of nervous system investigations often requires that the relative time of a reaction be recorded rather than its amplitude or frequency characteristics A rather elaborate remote data collecting and control system was developed by the Center to link this research group to the central comnputina facility In an attempt to solve some of The user may request thataprogra in previously written and stored in the users' library be inserted into the production queue Obviously unless he possesses some special priority he must wait his turn for execution however the Console Monitor in the 7040 will converse with llicCann G D and Ray C R Computers and Data Processing for Nervous System Research IEEE Transaction on Bio-Medical Electronics Vol BME- 0 No 2 April 1963 p 48 him concerning the status of his request and will permit the introduetioki of new parameters for his program frv m his console The program 16 IBM 7090 DISCS I CORE 00M P U TING TAPES can Bill CARD READERS CONVERTER IBM 7233 xv pm-r INTERPLEXOR BURROUGHS 220 I l 1 PLOTTER TYPEWRITER BIO-SYSTEMS CONSOLE EXP CONTROL SYSTEM I BIOLMICAL - svs-rzus LABORATORY IBM 7010 1'7 HUMAN EYE MOVEMENTS OPTOMOTOR ULUS NERVOUS AND PERCEPTIONS YET EM EY ES RESPONSES Figure diagram of the biological control and data processing system Interconnection of remote experimental data system and central computing facility -- To Timing Track OSCILLATOR oomnoxmuzcr DIGITAL Start murals CONVERSION ANALOG TAPE RE CORDE R5 TIMINC JONTROL SIG CLOCK GENERATOR II 311' REGISTER STRAIGHT A-D CONVERSION r o DIGITAL THRESHOLDS 3 o PLUS CONTROLLED Famous or A-D CONVERSION 1 TO TER Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the biological control and data processing system Functional diagram of main experimental control and data collection system v-u hum I itself way originate from the console although unless It hs reanonably short this is an unlikely possibility due to the slow transmission rate of the console typewriter speed be initiated simply by pushing a bitton Many illogical human actions such as shifting the typewriter case twice in a row are blocked by the hardware from transmitting nonsensical data to the processor Translation Activities The hardware configuration of Fig 1 might be summarily described therefore as an isolated high speed central processor coupled to a powerful communications center which extends to many remote locations where substantlal local data processing occurs With this introduction to the system's configuration as background a presentation of the programmed control system follows The user may be involved in constru -ting a program utilizing some source language such as FORTRAN LISP or the like In this evA it he can enter his statements via tfl console and the 7040 Monitor will collect thf n until cornpleted when the user may request a compiler run Diagnostic statements concerning the status of the compilation and the degree of its success are transmitted to the user PROGRAMMED CONTROL SYSTEMS Testing and Debugging The development of the programmed control system for the computing facility resolved into selecting two monitors with very specific characteristics In the case of the 7094 the requirements dictated a flexible input-output structure and the ability to incorporate major independent programmed systems under a master basic monitor The emphasis for the 7040 system was on communication and a high degree of multiplexing capability The Users' Consoles are ideally suited to testing and debugging operations since they include activities which require communication between the user and the computer Thus thu user is able to update an existing program receive diagnostic statements concerning program status receive intermediate results or request a core dump at the central processor Once a program is completed the user may request that it be recorded in a users' library for easy reference The 7094 problem was solved by selecting IBM's IBSYS-IBJOB system and rewriting those portions which were required to operate satisfactorily with a shared file configuration The considerable flexibility provided by IOCS the input-output control system of IBSYS satisfied the original specification for variety in Inputoutput capability Thus the user may choose a printer a remote console an XY recorder a card punch a magnetic tape or any future device for readily producing output through the utilization of a standard output statement Control Data Collection The user may initiate the loading of a real time data collection program into the 7040 for control of the collection of experimental data being transmitted directly to the computing facility Intermediate results from data reduction and calibration runs may be immediately transmitted back to the user via the Console The Users' Console then is an attempt to decrease throughput time It can activate any of the systems functions in much the same manner that the operator at the control processor does with his control cards The user while he enjoys no special priority over other remote users can converse with the sy em on an unscheduled basis and can bypass the most serious delays classically caused by central I O limitations The other big advantage offered by IBSYS is its ability to absorb large independent programmed systems under its control Mention was made earlier of the need for specialization in peripheral hardware to provide efficient utilization of the computing facility Similarly the data reduction techniques and computing requirements of a particular scientific discipline may in some cases be so sophisticated and complicated to warrant the writing of a customized system to serve the specialized needs of the research involved Thus in the case of the crystallography research at this Institute an independent system labelled CRYM has been incorporated under IBSYS to serve the needs of the Chemistry department By this technique the tedious In an attempt to make life easier for the human being who is using the typewriter of the console a number of human engineered features have been incorporated Thus for example error correction has been made trivial In that character line or message delete action may 19 I assembling of large numbers of complicated subroutines and programs has been eliminated by permitting a higher leveý u gauLro designation In the same manner other autonomous systems have been added to the faclity Two examples are XMAP a 7040 assembler and Bell Labs BLODI system It is of course feasible to add other programs as required such as the nonalgebraic languages and so on of performing the identical calculation day after day on a variety of input parameters CITSYS also provides the facility for including option programs to be run in the 7040 under its monitoring control The most usual application of this feature occurs in data collecting activities where a typical user requires the 7040 to collect and record experimental test data on magnetic tape under direction of control statements sent via a remote console The unique responsibilities assigned to the 70410 required the writing of an original monitor produced by the Computing Center staff and labelled CITSYS This system handles all input and output and controls the configuration of information on the disk Jobs are entered either from the card reader or from a remote console logically there is no difference a characteristic deliberately included in CITSYS to avoid prejudicing the remote user Well over 90 percent of all problems submitted by Institute users are written in the Fortran IV language and these are preprocessed in the 7040 by a Fortran Proof Reader which detects about 60 percent of the source errors cornmitted Assuming the program survives these initial tests it is assigned a high or low priority based solely on estimated execution time as supplied by the user the current demarcation time is 1 minute and placed in the appropriate input queue on the disk If the entered job is a high priority one which was originated at a remote console it is placed at the head of the high priority queue but behind other remote console jobs which may be waiting The 7040 then traps the 7094 and informs it of the latest disk status including current input and output assignments Conversely the 7040 is periodically trapped by the 7094 to establish up-todate information on the output queues being generated by the 7094 PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES This system has been in operation since November 1963 and there has been ample opportunity to evaluate its performance characteristics Its advantages to the Institute can be described from several standpoints one of these is the increased capacity of the 7094 itself In order to gain an appreciation of the high degree of computing efficiency achieved by the philosophy described above a comparison of performance was made against other configuratione In one test the Caltech system was compared before its 7090 was converted to a 7094 against a 7094 system where the IBSYSIBJOB version 8 standard operating system resided on the 1301 disk and input-output was via magnetic tape A typical run of 27 FORTRAN IV jobs with the list option required about 16 percent less time on the Caltech configuration 25 41 vs 21 40 min With a 7094 in our system there is a two to one factor in favor of the CIT system Another comparison was made against an IBM 7094-7040 direct coupled system now developed by IBM Here again the test was made with the Caltech 7090-7040 combination prior to conversion A set of 17 jobs consisting of FORTRAN IV MAP and binary decks took 13 15 minutes on the IBM configuration and 13 25 minutes on the Caltech system This also shows a substantial gain in basic data processing capacity with our new system A low priority job being executed by the 7094 will in every case be interrupted and its status preserved in toto as long as there is a high priority job waiting to be executed Coinputation of the low priority job is automatically resumed when the high priority queue is empty High priority jobs are never interrupted A second important functional advantage gained by this system is its experimental data collection capacity Under the most stringent conditions in controlling the 7094 the 7040 only uses 60 percent of its processing time and 18 000 words of its core memory It has therefore provision for sophisticated modes of direct communication with the remote station For example an average of 180 000 characters per second of experiment data can be collected continuously with substantial peak increases Another useful feature provided by CITSYS is the maintenance of a Test and Production File on the disk Users may file often used programs in either source or absolute form in reserved areas Subsequently through the use of convenient and trivial control statements the program may be initiated altered deleted debugged or manipulated in any desired manner This capability is particularly useful at this Institute where many problems consist 20 One of the most important advantages of this system is the rapid turn around times it provides together with its capability for real instantaneously to all remote stations Experimental data can be collected at any time from many stations With a aiaxiiaui unIL Job tihuw time interaction with the remote stations The distinct differentiation of functions assigned to the two processors together with the carefully integrated programmed control system provided for each calculator and the intimate communication links connecting them has produced an extremely efficient computing facility which possesses the rapid response to demands so necessary to a successful interplay with remote stations On a communication language level the system responds practically of I minute allowed in the 7094 maximum turn around tines of only a few minutes are currently being experienced In this connection it is interesting to note that 80 percent of the jobs submitted require less than 30 seconds on the 7094 I'ihnc Shuring It is not intended that this be the only control system under which we operate Several research projects occasionally require large blocks of central processing time These are accommodi ied during special scheduled periods I'rogrninmrng Rcscurch h 9t0lj l n QUIJ2 0itr1 Western Data Processing Center at UCLA is engaged in fundamental research in programming systems and techniques under Advanced Research Project Agency ARPA Contract SD184 Computer Netwe'k and Time Sharing Research Work currently in progress includes Investigations of intra-job parallel proceasing which will attempt to produce quantitative ovaluations of component utilization the increase in complexity of the task of programming and the feasibility of compilers which perform the analysis necessary to convert sequential programs into parallel-path programs In order to pursue this study a simulation is being implemented of a multiprocessor which consists primarily of six CPU's and one core memory Investigations in storage allocation techniques including dynamic program and data relocation techniques This study will attempt to produce a family of techniques which explore the effects of multicomputer networks multi-processors time sharing and character addressing machines on the problems of storage allocation Also under way is the development of programming systems for the hardware configuration at WDPC which currently includes a 7040-7094 Direct Coupled System and an attached IBM 7740 Communications Control Computer which services 4 high speed Teleprocessing lines and 12 low speed lines M -7740 Communication Control System - 65 K characters of storage 40 microseconds instruction 4 seed lines per second dial-in lines 8 low-speed lines for 1050's University lines 4 low-speed lines for dial-up 2 -1311 Disk Storage Drives- 2 98 charactors per pack direct seek access 140 milliseconds transfer rate 72KC M-1051-1052 Remote Inquiry Typewriters - 14 8 characters per second 4 -1I051 1052-1056 Remote Inquiry Typewriters with Card Readers 14 8 characters per second 1620 1 --1311 Disk Storage Drive - 2 million cfar-cters acess 260iilliseconds transfer 72 KC P -1626 Plotter Control 1627 Plotter P ot0-inhg area 11 inchn step s120-ie 1 100-inch incremental step size 18 000 steps minute PERSONNEL CHANGES Professor R Clay Sprowls formerly Assistant Director and Acting Director during the academic year 1963-64 became Director effective July 1 1964 Mr C A Irvine is currently Chief of the Center's Programming Staff and Atr William P Anderson heads the instalsation's computer operations under the title Chief of User Services NEW MACHINES AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS 7040-7094 New equipment --7320 Drum Storage -0 8 microseconds per bit 1 118 400 character capacity 8 5 milliseconds access average 21 Nlni- oinputer I 1' Systemr for Navy G ninmuad and ontrol enter Conte•n 1T tp Corp-cration has announecd the installation and acceptance by the U S Navy of a large complex of computers and peripheral equipment considered to be the largest ever integrated into a single data processing inbiallation in the history of the Navy Consisting of over 100 separate data processing devices this System will be operated by the Navy in support of Command and Control activities of a major complex of Navy and Navy-supported Commanders Total t'nst of the sykesn including provisions for engineering design and development installation maintenance and training is approximately $15 million compleLely flexible selection and Interconnection of computers and peripheral equipment and or computers and computers For example any of the nine computers can comm ' iLicate with any other the switching network also enables any of the nine computerE to communicate with any of the dozens of peripheral devices In addition to the automatic switching features manual control of the switching is also provided The command and control application for which the System iWdesigned characteristically involves a broad variety of computational and data processing tasks Under certain conditions it is mandatory that several specific tasks of differing complexity but equal priority be processed simultaneously For this reason the unique switching concept was developed to permit automatic and rapid organization of subsystems within the System to provide the necessary redundancy and simultaneity This approach also permits the problem analyst to design cornputer programs for the most efficient equipment configuration For example rather than attempt to fit a computer program to a rigid fixed system he can essentially tailor the System to meet his specific data handling and computational requirements Thus the flexibility provided in this recently installed System is considered to be unparalleled in the history of computing Nine general-purpose computers form the heart of the Command and Control Center Data Processing System Operated from a single Central Control Console these computers are connected to a large number and variety of peripheral devices through a large unique switching network developed by Control Data under the technical guidance of the Navy Department's Bureau of Ships Four CONTROL DATA 1604-A computers comprise the large-scale facilities for major information processing and computational tasks Five CONTROL DATA 160-A computers are used to perform smaller data processing operations and to provide centralized systems control Peripheral equipment used in the System include high-speed magnetic tape units disk files for mass storage high- and lowspeed printers card readers and punches remote paper tape inquiry stations and intercomputer units A major factor influencing the engineering design of the System was the close schedule for complete implementation of the program which included engineering fabrication installation and acceptance Only slightly more than 2 years were allowed from the establishment of firm systems specifications to complete integration and operation of this data processing system the largest and most flexible complex of integrated computer systems ever installed ina single site The switching network called the SubSystem Selection Switch is a specially developed device controlled by a computer program and designed to permit automatic and Mission and Objectives Flu- Nf i al C'entrrfor lma%#terii H¢' r'rtpct The National Center for Atmospheric Research NCAR is a basic research establishment dedicated to the advancement of the aAnivspheric sciences for the benefit of mankind of natural phenomena The scientists in NCAR recognize nonetheless that the public funds on which NCAR operates are given in anticipation of public benefit and they acknowledge an obligation to organize their research with a view towards such ultimate benefits and to cooperate with other agencies in achieving them The perspectives and the scientific activities of NCAR are those of a reoearchlaboratory devoted to achieving a fundamental understanding 22 T of basic research and through cooperative planning and operation of Joint research and facilities programs Thes#p ar designed to assist and to extend the atmospheric research and educational efforts of the universities and other research agencies of the nation program is exclusively to serve the research needs of working scientists the design operation and continubig reviuw uf facilities programs must be responsive in detail to the rapidly changing problems and requirements of atmospheric research both within NCAR and among members of the scientific community at large The specific means by which the staff of NCAR seeks to achieve its objectives may be listed as follows THE NCAR COMPUTING FACILITY MISSION 1 By creating within NCAR a broadly based interdisciplinary research center whose functions are to pursue the fundamental understanding of atmospheric processes to encourage post-doctoral education and to attract talented students to the atmospheric sciences The NCAR Computing Facility will support scientific and facilities progrums by both NCAR and non-NCAR users by providing computing services and advice NCAR identifies four categories of users 1 NCAR users-persons working at NCAR either as employees or as visiting scientists 2 cost-free non-NCAR NCAR mission related users-persons engaged ir the atmospheric sciences not working at NCAR whose problems are approved by the Panel for solution on the NCAR computer without charge 3 paying non-NCAR NCAfl mission related users-persons engaged in the atmospheric sciences not working at NCAR whose problems are approved by the Panel for solution on the NCAR computer subject to payment of the costs of computation 4 paying non-NCAR mission related users-persons not working in the atmospheric sciences whose problems are accepted for solution on the NCAR computer during otherwise unscheduled time subject to payment of the costs of computation These users must represent a non-profit institution 2 By serving as a research and facility planning center to aid the development of largescale research programs involving a number of institutions or to bring about the creation under NCAR auspices or otherwise of needed major facilities for use by several institutions jointly and 3 By managing and operating joint-use facilities generally in response to the university community where clearly established national interest dictates and where no other institution is in a position to provide such facilities more efficiently THE FACILITIES DIVISION MISSION In accord with the mission of NCAR the objective of the Facilities Division are 1 to plan establish and operate support facilities both at the Center and in the field which are required to support the scientific program of NCAR but which are not appropriately administered by an individual program 2 to plan establish and operate large-scale facilities both at the Center and in the field which are required to meet specific research needs common to a large segment of the scientific community and which can be most effectively provided through NCAR 3 to conduct development projects intended to provide desired new techniques and systems for the field observation of atmospheric variables and 4 to conduct technical assistance and information exchange programs designed to keep atmospheric scientists both within NCAR and at large advised as to the most advanced techniques available and as to the characteristics and availability of existIng research facilities within the United States and abroad For NCAR ubers the Facility will either program problems presented to it or assist the scientist in programming them It will give advice to all users and whenever possible programming aid to cost-free non-NOAR users It will keep itself advised of the progress of the cost-free non-NCAR users programs so as to be able to report their current status to the Computing Facility Panel It will instigate investigations into the mathematical aspects of computing problems relating to thi atmospheric sciences It will identify requirements for computing services within NCAR and with Panel assistance and concurrence for computing services withi n the atmospheric sciences outside NCAR which cannot be readily fulfilled by other computing centers It will obtain equipment and obtain or develop the personnel to meet these requirements 23 t • 'I BRIESC Memo•ry Improvementi with tIhenstal lationfh49 r1'nh52 since the machine was dpsigned for a memory cycle time of 1 microsecond but it has been operating heretofore with essentially a 2microsecond memory and 2 since the old memory was only 4096 words many programming improvements can now be made with the greatly increased capacity One of the mARt important advantages of the Increased memory capacity is BRLESC's abilil' to accommodate a much wider class of FORTRAN II programs These were previously gravely limited by the small 4096-word memory A major improvement to the BRLESC Ballistic Research Laboratories Electronic Scientific Computer was completed in June with the installation of 49 152 additional words of high-speed memory The memory actually consists of three independent units of 16 384 words each with 72 bits per word and a complete read-restore or clear-write cycle time of 1 microoecond The memory which was bJlt by the Ampex Corporation permits many gains in operating efficiency by 1 improving basic machine speed in many short instructions C omputution 'cter I ' i r ulJ I'a n gIfahlu r object code which runs approximately 5 percent faster The new building for the Computation and Analysis Laboratory includes spaces specially designed for computer installation as well as offices for laboratory personnel All computing facilities of this laboratory are being moved except the NORC iich will continue to operate in the old building A debug package similar to that available under IBSYS on the 7090 94 has been developed at NWL and is now operational Instructions for using this system are available in the STRETCH Procedures Manual published atNWL NORC Naval Ordnance Research Calculator --NORCTRAN a version of FORTRAN IV for the NORC is in use on a limited scale The entire s'rstem is expected to be operational shortly technical memorandum is in preparation describing hl ' ist• Recent developments in software include S3TRETCH IBM-7030 -A new compiler for FORTRAN IV has recently been provided by IBM This compiles about 17 times faster than did the previous version and yields IARC System Performunce i att N Nalv I h wl't ayh ArI Id ajnn II'mhinglh'u 7 l All of the file drums on the LARC II System have recently been modified by installing an improved type head stepping motor A life test on the new motor was run by installing one of the motors in Drum #9 in February 1963 After 15 months of operation the motor was still operating satisfactorily Based on the results of this test new motors were installed in all 12 drums Inasmuch as the drum motors caused an appreciable amount of the Down Time in 1964 it is felt that barring unforseen difficulties it should be possible to maintain the Performiance Percentage at approximately 97 percent During the fiscal year 1964 the LARC II System performance was 96 percent This higher performance percentage was the direct result of an improved preventive maintenance program and of the maintenance personnel's ability to perform corrective maintenance quickly By referring to Table 1 it can be seen that by reducing the Total No of Interruptions the Down Time was drastically reduced while the Mean Free Error Time was increased by a significant factor 24 I I Table I LARC II MONTHLY PERFORMANCE FIGURES Month Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Total ON Time Productive Time Down Time Total No of Interruptions Mean Free Error Time Down Time Per Error Performance Percentage 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 64 64 64 64 64 418 42 370 32 403 20 394 23 355 010 228 01 ý 58 063 ý57 21 30 07 486 56 310 39 264 43 301 13 266 57 295 25 255 00 203 54 122 51 153 36 268 43 275 21 390 08 199 21 144 01 32 18 18 03' 10 48 15 52 7 59 2 01 8 28 5 33 3 25 10 42 6 43 7 02 47 44 20 21 16 6 14 18 6 25 11 13 6 25 6 07 14 45 12 08 12 53 20 28 10 58 14 57 45 53 15 36 18 10 11 04 0 05 0 22 0 32 0 45 0 29 0 21 0 36 0 18 0 34 0 25 0 36 0 31 88 5 93 8 96 6 94 4 96 4 98 0 95 0 98 0 98 9 97 4 97 0 95 4 Yearly 4190 s6 2878 30 128 54 241 15 32 0 28 96 0 3 45 3 54 15 32 0 28 0 32 0 28 89 0 87 6 96 0 Totals Yearly Performance Figures for Fiscal 1962 1963 and 1964 1962 1963 1964 5069 18 5927 32 4190 56 3736 36 3630 03 2878 30 462 18 516 45 128 54 995 928 241 25 _ Computers and Centers Overseas The L€o- Parnall Autolector I' Pgli A E'• i - I •¢ntlap' l r ildj r 11'2 Erjbial l 1d The Leo-Parnall Autolector is an automatic optical scanning device which reads both cornputer printed and hand marked forms directly into a computer The equipment is coupled online and is controlled from the computer A mark is made by joining two points of a marking aid with a horizontal line A number of different types of marking aids may be used Marks are scanned across a width of 1 10 inch in the centre of each column A variable two-level discrimination feature distinguishes between 'certain' and 'doubtful' Two models are available one for handling small forms the other for handling large forms marks In preference tc erasing any mark made in FORMS error a cancel mark is entered by filling in the lower half of the rectangle formed by the line column grid INTRODUCTION The forms should be printed on good quality white paper preferably 18- or 21-pound large post and in the following size ranges the small forms range from 4 by 5 to 6 by 9 inches and the large forms range from 7-1 2 by 9 to 8-1 2 by 16 inches with the proviso that the length must be at least 25 percent greater than the width The forms may have perforated or straight edges and may also be punched with sprocket holes along either side SPEED Forms are processed at a constant rate irrespective of the data content the rate for the small form model is 300 forms per minute and for the large form model is 270 forms per minute OPERATING SYSTEM The forms are stacked into portable containers which are then loaded on to a conveyor the conveyor may be loaded continuously without interrupting the free running of the machine COLUMN AND LINE LAYOUT Information may be entered on up to 16 columns set at 0 300-inch pitch Lines may be spaced freely on a form at a minimum of 1 4inch separation standard in more closely controlled conditions lines may be spaced with 1 5or 1 6-inch separation The position of each line and the significant marking area is defined by a pair of location marks The forms are selected individually from the containers by a vacuum pick-up and then carried by alignment rollers to the vacuum drum on which they are held smooth and read After reading the forms are picked off the drum and passed to the outp t bin if read or to a re-run bin if the computer has not accepted the information Form jam-detecting devices which automatically stop the machine are fitted throughout the paper handling mechanism and a double feed check ensures that only one form is fed at a time INFORMATION MARKS The forms may be marked with black pencil grades HB H or F by computer printer and by embossed plate 26 S ZAM-41 In• •lutMuI MathmalyInyrh I Nhmd ZAM-41 is a medium-size parallel highspeed fully transistorized digital computer Its elastic structure permits the combination of various computer sets Depending on the chosen capacity of ferrite storage input and output devices drum storage and magnetic tape units the ZAM-41 may be effectively used for data processing scientific computations and control in real time operator's desk with paper tape reader of 5 7 or 8 tracks tape punch and monitor typewriter column card reader card punch line printer drum storage magnetic tape storage real time channel connecting the computer with the controlled object By the use of synchronizers an automatic transfer of data between ferrite and magnetic tape storages is possible while performing computations CHARACTERISTICS OF ZAM-41 Basic word length 24 and 48-bits Binary arithmetic 24- or 48-bit integer numbers 43-bit floating-point numbers 24-bit one-address instructions encompassing 64 various operations direct addressing up to 32768 ferrite storage words indirect addressing and B-modification Programmed instructions freely defined by the programmer Internal fcrrite storage is composed of standard blocks containing 4096 or 8192 words maximum capacity 32768 words logical operation fixed-point addition or subtraction fixed-point multiplication floating-point addition floating-point multiplication Great reliability of operation is due to the exclusive use of semiconductor and ferrite elements numerous built-in circuits checking computer operations and automatic marginal testing MODERN PROGRAMMING SYSTEMS FOR ZAM-41 SAO - Symbolic Addresses and Operations programming system in computer language ALGOL - automatic programming systems 20 psec 30 psec 110 gsec 350 Asec 850 gsec FORTRAN COBOL Apossibility of - for numerical problems automatic programming system for data processing problems multipriority program interruption Apossibility of executing simultaneously several independent programs fully secured against program mutual interference Elastic block construction Standard channels for the following peripheral devices SOP - operation system enabling an easy and effective computer handling The input-output speed is dependent on the type of peripheral device connected to the computer Hybrid Computing Center V Ithampfon Utdllge I on don E 1 Entgland Northampton College London England shortly to be developed as a University is expecting delivery of an I C T 1900 in September 1964 This machine will have 32 768 words of 24 bits of core store with a cycle time of 2 gs The built-in floating-point arithmetic unit wilU add and subtract in 12 gs multiply in 26 gs and divide in 47 gs Two paper tape readers will input data at 300 characters per second the paper tape punch operates at 110 characters 27 per second eight-hole tape The analex line printer prints 1000 ines re mWIntM Und thA three magnetic tape decks operate at 167 000 characters per second The machine will be able to process four independent programmes It is expected that iiormal programming will be done in the PLAN assembly language Algol and Fortran This machine is being installed as part of a Hybrid computer system to deal with the expansion of work which has taken place since the installation of the Ferranti Pegasus and Elliott G-PAC computers in 1957 The Xeronic High-Speed Computer Output Printer Londn 1iW 12 l•nghvnd INTRODUCTION operating the printer including form selection and tabulation instructions are provided as part of the input to the printer This allows the programmer considerable freedom in specifying form layouts and permits a change from one type of form to another merely by insertih g the form number in the appropriate command in this way up to 32 form outlines are available for immediate selection without loss of printing speed The earlier model of the Xeronic printer has now been superseded by a model having 32 form selections A number of these are already installed and others on order in Britain and on the Continent of Europe On some of these installatione the equipments have been working around the clock for considerable periods with little down time other than for scheduled maintenance including replenishment of the machine consumables CHARACTER GENERATION AND POSITIONING The elimination of preprinted stationary and the ability to select form backgrounds by programme without loss of printing speed in the printing operation give a major increase in system flexibility and reductions in running costs Characters to be printed are displayed under control of the input data as a pattern of overlapping dots on the face of two cathode-ray tubes This method of generating visible characters is one which combines accuracy of alignment and clarity of outline with simple and reliable circuitry The actual character generators are in fact passive circuits consisting mainly of resistors on plug-in printed circuit boards Normally 56 different characters are provided but additional ones up to a maximum of 112 can be supplied GENERAL The Xeronic high-speed computer output printer utilises xerography and an electronic method of character generation to produce printed forms at a linear paper speed of 40 feet per minute This speed represents a maximum computer output rate of 4700 characters per second or 2880 lines per minute Positioning circuits ensure that successive characters are printed either in adjacent columns or at specific positions in the line according to the tabulation instruction in the programme The printer can be used off-line to the computer The input to Xeronic comes from a magnetic tape on which the computer output has previously been recorded A small buffer ferrite core store and tape control circuits are Included in the control cabinet Special founts of characters E13B etc suitable for optical reading equipment can be provided Besides printing characters representing the computer output the machine also simultaneously prints its own form outlines The great versatility of the Xeronic printer is due to this unique feature together with the fact that all its functions are entirely under control of the computer All commands and information for THE XEROGRAPHIC PRINTER The disposition of the various parts of the printer is shown in Fig 1 The selenium forms a thin coating on the surface of a cylinder known as the xerographic drum This drum rotates slowly at constant speed and all the 28 CHARACTER GENERATION AND POSITIONING CIRCUITS CA RT's ' MIRROR • 'S R MIRROR LENSE FILM PAYH DEVELOPING CHNTAMB-BER PROJEfCTOR LAMPII CARIG CAGN CI DISCHARGC RI LAMPTOE I mb II RO DISPNSER XEROGRAPHIC DRUM TRANSFER GRID ' I rn MIED CARRIER TONER PARTICLE$ PINCH ROLLRS I PAPER DRIVE PAPER o 11111 ROLL PAPER SUPPLY PAPER TAKE-UP ROLL Figure 1 --The xerographic printer 29 operations necessary to produce the printed image take place around its periphery THE FORMHEAD Up to 32 different fnirm n t n•A e n lie stored on a length of film known as a form master Once the original of the form master has been produced duplicate films are readily available ai -' when they become worn or scratched in use they can easily be replaced If more tWaan 32 form outlines are i quired it is the work of only a few minutes t change the masters for films bearing a differ-jnt set of 32 outlines In darkness the selenium surface of the drum passes under a charging grid from which it acquires a positive charge The charged surface is then exposed to two light sources one is a pair of cathode-ray tubes on which visible characters corresponding to the computer output appear the other source is a formhead from which negative photographic masters of form overlays can be projected on to the drum Those portions of the drum surface that have been exposed to light from either of these two sources lose their charge but the areas that have received no exposure still retain a positive charge The formhead is a dual unit comprising two similar film-positioning mechanisms side by side the two form masters are identical and are used alternately one being printed while the other is being positioned In this way the next form is ready for printing as soon as the previous form has been completed and no time is wasted in the mechanical process of form selection The charge pattern on the drum is developed by cascading over it a powder comprising two components One part known as the carrier consists of hard spherical particles about 0 6 mm in diameter the other part is the toner consisting of coloured particles dispersed in a thermoplastic powder The toner is the material from which the final image on the paper is formed and the carrier provides the means for distributing the toner over the surface of the drum These two parts the carrier and the toner are intimately mixed and as the particles rub together the toner acquires a positive charge and is attracted to the edges of the uncharged areas of the selenium The carrier particles being heavier roll off the drum and are returned to the developing chamber i minimise wear on the master air is forced between the film and the projection gate whenever a fast drive is engaged so that the film is supported on an air cushion out of contact with the gate CONTROL OF THE PRINTER The arrangements for off-line' working are illustrated in the block schematic diagram of Fig 2 The core buffer store is used to match speed the regular of signai± the from the of magnetic tape succession to the irregular demands of the printer irregular because of the different layout requirements of each line As the drum rotates it comes ir o contact with paper fed continuously from a roll and the toner is transferred from the drum to the paper by means of a negative charge applied to the paper by a transfer grid The visible images of the characters formed on the faces of the cathode-ray tubes together with the superimposed image of the foirm outline are thus tranFferred to the paper They are rendered permanent In the fusing chamber where the thermo-plastic particles are melted by heat and fused to the paper together with the toner particles forming the visible image The residual charge on the drum is removed by illumination from the discharge lamp and at the same time a revolving brush removes any remaining particles of crier from the drum The store control ensures on the one hand that there is always a character in the store ready to be read out whenever the printer demands it and on the other hand that writing in from the magnetic tape unit is halted before the capacity of the store is exceeded Both data characters to be printed and commands for the control of the printer are held in the store but are separated in the decoder and are treated differently As each printable character is demanded it is read out from the core store decoded and routed to the character generator At the same time the horizontal address register applies a deflection waveform to the cathode-ray tube to position the character in the correct column The roll of paper is cut into sheets in another operation by a separate guillotine which is controlled by registration marks on the form itself 30 31 INPUY oECOon FARITY CH ECK CRI SUPPRESSTON CONTROL HORIZONTAL ADDRESS REGISTER DEHAND VERTICAL TABU LATION ums In F0 RH SELECYIDN CATH ODE MY TU 3E5 ERROR Nuns PATHS rr I I mum FORM posmanmc A k can AOL PRINTER CIRCUITS Figure diagram of printer control 1 1 PEINYEB '11 n aniaare jeai 2ýeo rhatIlr f I1n nn aannvnrat linaa SELECT FORM - causes the formhead to print the form outline currently required and to position the nmaster for the next form V-TAB - causes the next printing line to shift to one of the 16 preset vertical tabulation positions causes the next character to appear at the horizontal tabulation position specified in the command it also controls suppression of the CRT H-TAB m Print P rvnr' trn mmanr i n in- serted into the store so that an error mark will be included on the erroneous form when it is vAntfinily printed The lataral parity it retained in the store and permits the character to be checked once again when it is read out to the decoder If after this point a component or connection fails in the character generator or cathode-ray tube supply units either a character will lose only a fraction of its legibility through the loss of one or two dots or a character will fail to appear at all To detect the latter occurrence the voltages applied to the bright-up and deflection circuits of the cathoderay tubes are monitored and compared with voltages derived from those parts of the logics which determine whether a character is to be displayed or not If the two do not correspond an error mark is printed on the form and if the fault is one likely to cause damage to the tubes the E H T is automatically switched off which control the various functions These commands are permits two characters to be printed in the same column and is used for underlining SUPERIMPOSE - LF CR - indicates the end of a line PRINT ERROR - actuates an error printer which makes a distinguishing mark on the printed form SPACE - inserts a space in the corresponding column Other monitoring circuits check that certain essential commands have been read in at the right time and that the formhead is receiving the correct succession of control signals The nature of an error is indicated by lamps on the control panel and automatic stopping of the machine may be initiated by selected error or interlock failure signals according to the customer's requirements STOP - halts the machine at the end of a record or group of forms LAYOUT OF FORMS Printing takes place on a continuously moving web of plain paper 26 inches wide The characters to be printed are formed in duplicate on the two cathode-ray tubes which are supplied with common deflection waveforms so that two lines each 11-1 2 inches wide are printed side by side Each line has a total of 128 character positions and the printing on one half of the web is normally duplicated on the other half producing two forms at a time one an exact copy of the other Both cathode-ray tubes can be blanked out or the display on one tube can be suppressed independently of the other a facility which allows Information to be omitted from positions on either or both forms under control of the 'h-tab' command REPEAT - is used only in the core store and causes a form to be repeated for a selected number of times using the same form data Since not all users require this facility it is not part of the standard machine but can be provided as an extra CASE SHIFT - selects the appropriate character generator when more than 56 printable characters are required with a six-bit code ERROR DETECTION The formhead contains the masters for 32 6-inch forms although longer forms up to 18 inches in depth can be used with a consequent reduction in the number available for selection Adequate checks are made on information entering and leaving the store to ensure that either a printed character Is correct or if incorrect the erroneous form is clearly marked as such Included on the form master but not printed are registration marks which are sensed by photocells in the formhead and used to control the printing of the lines of cha racters Information read from the tape includes lateral and longitudinal parity checks If a 32 every effort has been made to ensure that the When one of the 16 vertical tabulation points re Fe ecte- by -- n uw LR tic' a ' tat c'dlr uU Lu aulLs it as lifle as possible printing cannot take place until the appropriate registration mark is sensed by the photocell In thim way line and vertical tabulation posltions are determined by the form itself and consequently accurate registration within 0 05 in is achieved between the form outlini aind the variable printing on it Engineer's monitoring facilities are built in and all circuit units are constructed on plug-in boards which can be quickly replaced Transisters are used throughout Great trouble was taken in the design of the cathode-ray tube deflection system to ensure that no character was displaced from its nominal horizontal position with reference to the form by more than 0 05 inch In addition the error in spacing between adjacent characters in a line does not exceed 10 005 inch The high operating speed makes it essential to use a comparable machine for handling the large output of paper that comes from the printer This has not been neglected and a high-speed cutter in which the actual position of the cut is determined by marks printed on the form is provided as part of the equipment CONSTRUCTION Vertical perforations can be iade in the paper just before it is spooled up on the printer and at the same time the margins of the paper are trimmed PAPER CUTTER The equipment comprises four separate units The xerographic printer ABRU GED SPECIFICATIONS The auxiliaries unit containing the dust extractor formhead lamp control gear and formhead air pumps Paper Speed 40 feet per minute 8 inches per second Printing Speed 4700 characters per second maximum 2800 lines per minute at a spacing of six lines to the Inch Electronic control cabinets Paper cutter including reel holder and form stacker Paper Width 26 inches maximum The control cabinet need not be djacent to the printer but can be connected to it by up to 50 feet of cable The auxiliaries unit can be up to 20 feet away from the printer Test equipment is available Form Size 24 inches wide x 18 inches long maximum Line Width 2 x 128 character positions or 2 x 114 character positions according to character size Character Size Approximately 11 characinch or 10 characters per inch accordters lag toper requirement COST Because plain unprinted paper is normally used the running costs of the machine are low Naturally the actual figure depends on the type - paper employed but for business use the cost of paper and all xerographic consumables ouch as toner cleaning materials lamps cathrde-ray tubes formhead masters and xerographic drum compares favourably with the cost of any other printing system Line Spacing Unrestricted provided that I iness that it is net less than 1 6 inch Characters Available 56 alpha-numeric a hardUpto A 2aslanlextra as standard Up to 112 as an extra Tabulation Any horizontal column and 16 vertical tabulation points can be selected MAINTENANCE Selective Printing Wrdormation can be suppressed on either or both cathode-ray tubes It is realised that a fault which necessitates the printer being out of use for even a short period can be the source of much inconvenience and annoyance to user Consequently Formhead Up to 32 forms available for automatic selection 33 I Input 6 7 or 0 bit code to customer's requirements Paper Cutter Will cut and stack lengths from 3 inches to 18 inches under control of photo-elocirically sensed cutting marks Paper Reel Size 12 inch maximum outside diameter on a 2-3 4-inch core approximately 2000 feet of average thickness paper Power Supply 415 volts 3 phase 50 cycles per second Other supplies to order Power Consumption Approximately 12kVA Ptper Perforators Four fitted together with two edge trimmers Store Capacity 1024-character store is standard Larger stores can be supplied as necessary 34 Ii Miscellaneous Man-Machine Communications and On-Limie Computing umwg Park Cah lio an Though it may be some time before cornputers can be made to respond simply and directly to spoken queries or commands addressed to them at random research at The bunkerRamo Corporation has gone far toward improving the way in which computers and their users communicate with each other Through the parafiel development of on-line computing techniques and man-machine communication consoles the Company has made it possible to bypass the cumbersome procedures of conventional computer operations and enabled persons in widely differing fields to use a computer directly and extemporaneously e Continuous control by the user over the computer e Ability to compose or modify problems solving strategy on the spot depending on the user's evaluation of partial results during problem solution To a great extent the devising and applying of these techniques has been made possible by the unique properties of a family of communication and control consoles produced by The Bunker-Ramo Corporetl-n These consoles of which the 85 Control Display Console Figs 1 and 11 is typical allow a real-time interaction to take place between computer system and human user an interaction that is fundamental to the operation of a true man-machine system Solving problems with the usual computer procedure8 involves Thorough analysis of the problem requirements and method of solution To address the computer the person at the console's controls simply presses buttons labeled in natural problem-related terms The buttons actuate pre-programmed routines that within milliseconds causes the computer to reply in the form of tabular message-type or pictorial displays on a cathode-ray tube screen Fig 2 a Imparting this knowledge to a computer programmer Waiting for the problem to be programmed Waiting for the answers to be delivered from the computer center The person addressing the computer can be a specialist in a certain field working on one of many different tasks a logistics support manager Investigating an item's supply history an air traffic controller talking-in a plane or a research scientist analyzing a theoretical problem whose structure can only be guessed One specialty these men do not need is an expert knowledge of computer programming on-line programming methods allow them to devise their own problem solutions i Waiting for the problem to be reprogrammed because it turns out that it wasn't possible after all to completely anticipate the problem structure or correct method of solution By contrast properly implemented on-line computing techniques enable e Direct two-way communication between computer and the man with a problem to be solved A single console keyboard can accommodate a remarkable number of diverse projects And it can be made to switch from one project to another within seconds The secret of this versatility lies in a special provision for 64 Immediate responses from the computer 35 SIVI ii - Figure l -Computer communication console in logistics and intelligence and scientific computing or for a great many varied uses within one such category These consoles will work with virtually any computing system without monopolizing its normal day-to-day operations TECHNIQUES IN COMPUTER AUGMENTATION OF HUMAN REASONING During the past several years The BunkerRamo Corporation has used the computer communication equipment and methods described in these pages as well as more orthodox computing approaches as a means of augmenting the powers of human reasoning and of integrating human judgment and intuition with the highspeed problem solving abilities of digital computers Four of the areas in which BunkerRamo has applied these techniques are Figure 2 -Data displayed in a tabular format program keyboard overlays Fig 3 each of which when inserted changes both the labels and the functions associated with the keyboard buttons A newly inserted overlay links the buttons with a different set of computer programs and so completely reorients the use of the console One console can thus serve for operations Scientific Research Problem Analysis Here the capabilities of display consoles have been exploited to permit a research scientist to compose his strategy for solving a problem during the computer process itself That is to say the scientist at the console can modify 36 I I Figure 3 --Program kuybuaLrd ovtrday whatever approach he has just been using as he sees the results of his push-button directivesattempts at problem solution--presented graphically on the display screen Figs 4 and 5 In a recent analysis for example of the effects of an external electric field on plasma oscillations this immediate feedback characteristic and other benefits of on-line programming allowed physicists to work out techniques for solving kinetic equations in the time domain and obtain exact solutions for representative cases Engineering Problem Analysis Since engineering problems and their solutions are often most easily understood when they are presented in graphic form Bunker-Ramo communications devices lend themselves particularly well to engineering applications An example is the investigation of the stability of a servo system Here the engineer performing the investigation can use a console and on-line programming techniques to construct a mathematical model of the servo system Fig 6 and analyze the effect of varying the functions and parameters of the system Fig 7 The results of the computations requested by the engineer may be displayed In a meaningful format he is accustomed to seeing-such as a Nyquist plot or families of plots for any number of variables Figure 4 -A numerica ly generated curve from st'adies of electrostatic wave fluctuations in an electron-ion plasma Inasmuch as he can thus directly view the effect of varying system parameters the engineer can quickly analyze his servo problem 37 Figure 7 --Nyquist plot of same servo with a sampler added generated curve 5 -A numerically Figure of electrostatic wave fluctufrom studies ations in an electron-ion plasma Figure 8 -Line drawings on display screen can give a better understanding of many situations extensive data base is used to complement the human ability to postulate alternative solutions to a given problem The commander exploits his own background and experience in formulating possible solutions the console enables him to exploit the computer's capacity for rapidly processing information Fig 8 and he can evaluate in quick succession the effects of any one of his possible decisions Figure 6 -Nyquist plot of simple servo Command and Control Problem Analysis In military command and control applications Bunker-Ramo has found that its computer communication consoles and on-line programming techniques can materially improve the effectiveness of command staffs In these situations the ability of a computer to calculate at high speeds and select and present data derived from an Information Analysis An example of computer augmentation of human reasoning with conventional equipment is 38 Bunker-Ramo's use of computers for automatic data to the computer -all of them rugged Mll Spec units with a history of nue'essf u' shipboard applications Fig 10 language translation though perhaps the more appropriate terminnoogy here would be ' ruman augmentation of computer reasoning In this area of information analysis the computer first performs a trial translation of a foreign language text listing words with alternative meanings as multiple lines in the printed output Successive iterative machine cycles reduce the number of alternatives resolve problems of syntax and so on until the final translation is accomplished In brief this is how the simulated shipboard command and control system worls Items of ship and port information such as names of ships and ports ship's maximum speeds current speeds port accessibility repair facilities and many more are stored on magnetic tape and identified by labels on the console's left-hand program keyboard Whenever the commander wants to know how a decision of his would affect task group operations-for instance how long would It take a given ship to reach another veseel in distress how long would it take both of them to reach a port with the proper repair Iacilities and what would be the effect on other task group assignments-the console operator first presses buttons on the left keyboard to identify the needed facts to the computer He then uses other console controls and the buttons on the righthand keyboard buttons keyed to the computer routines to cause the calculations to be performed and answers to be displayed on the console A more advanced method being investigated involves the displaying of trial translations on a display console Fig 9 The person examining this output selects the meanings of ambiguous words that are proper to the context and by using the console controls feeds them back to the computer The end result Is a better translation from the standpoint of both style and completeness than is possible with pure machine methods ON-LINE PROGRAMMING IN COM MAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS In order to reduce the amount of equipment and preparatory programming only a small data base was compiled and relatively simple problems postulated in the demonstration Its purpose however was not to show a fully implemerited system but rather to indicate the significance of on-line computing techniques in command and control situations Above all the systern using on-line programming is adaptive it provides the commander with a flexible means of solving any problems that arise for which data is available Such a system unlike others is not limited to dealing only with contingencies that were anticipated when the programs and hard- In the symposium dealing with Computer Augmentation of Human Reasoning The BunkerRamo Corporation demonstrated how on-line computing and information processing methods can be used to improve the effectiveness of commrand and control systems More specifically the demonstration used a simulated command and control system such as might be used by a Navy task group commander aboard his ship to control and analyze group operations Using similar equipment and fully developed programs the group commander could quickly evaluate various problems associated with mission assignments control of maneuvers search and rescue operations and medical emergency operations The i3unker-Ramo computer equipment used in the demonstration with the 85 Control Display Console consisted of the 130 digital computer the 170 192 magnetic tape system and the 141 input output system for initial input of programs and I K UlB H1111WI I W 4 I JlItaXO'I'- III '10 II p Iu W 'U AII J10 111111 Oh 11 Id CJit IA'I'rh IITt lI 'l0lTVII Jll IHll 1j JlIISKa III 1 I1pII N tTVIII Ila GCOVh t IIhlll 'O ltlh0lt1 Y 1'041 1 1 IHIIALLIED WITH USA OF THE GOVERNMENT WERE PAID MONEY UNION FROM n Ix 1 0 lIX1 O'l ry It I NU A I I 1U1111JI 1IO1U KIIIIoKoI'U U6V It IphIIIt IIHUGTlh EQUIPMENT DETAILS OF THE BUNKERRAMO 85 CONTROL DISPLAY CONSOLE Fig 11 1 ELECTRONIC DISPLAY-Text symbols point plots and lined drawings may be produced on the 12- by 16-inch active display area of the 23-inch aluminized TV-type screen Each display I JJI•Hi I101u WISHTOMAKE SEVERALGENERAL REMARKSCONCERNING CAUS 00 RELATIVELY YOF THE AMERICANGOVERNMENT AND CONSIOEREO ONESELF ITSELF ALSO S ELICITED FOR US SERIOUS DOUBTS OF CORRECTNESS OF PU AT B Figure 9 -Computer translation of Rut qian to EligJishl 39 Figurc 1U -Dispiay analysis console use d in the flunker-Rarno Oni-Line Computer Center 2A 43 Figure 11 -Type 85 Cuntroi Display Cuonsolu element may be placed at any one of 512 positions along any of 384 horizontal lines Up to 32 lines of 64 alphanumeric symbols may be placed on the screen Symbols are generated at the rate of 100 000 per second may be produced in two sizes and may be made to blink on the screen 40 'I 2 DIGITAL BUFFER UNIT-A 4096-word 9-bits-par-word manmtic core memory retains the information for the display and refreshes it at from 30 to 60 cycles per second The cornputer has random access to the memory and can transfer words into or out of it at 100 000 words per second of text he may display 4different prtions oi memory or clear them The keyboard also has control and information functions reiated to the light gun the cursor and the status of 'ne console 6 CURSOR CONTROL-An electronically generated crosshafr pattern may be placed on the screen and moved to any position using the cursor control a sphere mounted so that it can be freely rotated Coordinates of the cursor indicate the position of data to be displayed and may be sent to the computer 3 PROGRAM KEYBOARD-30 keys labeled with thin interchangeable plastic overlays are used to send messages to the computer Each of the possible 64 overlays 128 with optional second keyboard re-identifies the key functions so that it is possible to perform any of 64 or 128 major programs containing up to 1920 or 3840 different routines The light next to each key is controlled by the computer and maybe programmed to cue the operator as he uses the keyboard 7 LIGHT GUN-A photoelectric pointer with which the operator may point to any display element on the screen to identify it to the console logic The address in display memory producing that element may be used by the console or sent to the computer 4 ALPHANUMERIC KEYBOARD-Used to enter alphanumeric information into the display memory from where it Is displayed on the screen Shift carriage return back-space and advance keys operate like those on an electric typewriter 8 STATUS LIGHTS-25 lights labeled by replaceable plastic overlays and individually controlled by the computer These lights furnish the operator with program status information and other fixed messages 5 CONTROL KEYBOARD-Twenty keys and lights to assist the operator in off-line message composition and editing The operator may create change or delete line segments or point plots he may initiate typewriter mode of operation and copy or delete words or whole lines 9 ERROR LIGHTS-These lights inform the operator that a fault condition exists within the system or that he has committed a procedural error An attention light flashes when any one of the lights comes on PLATO 11 and Ill CoordinateLd SCiewr I4d liIEPV The InjriveIy q Jlli1 ne INTRODUCTION physics experiment has been rewritten for the PLATO III system An introductory explanatory sequence for the lesson is being added in preparation for use of the lesson by 60 elementary school students beginning April 1 The purpose of the PLATO project see Digital Computer Newsletter October 1961 July 1962 April and July 1964 Is to develop an automatic teaching system for tutoring simultaneously a large number of students in a variety of subjects The central control element of the teaching system is a general purpose digital computer The PLATO system differs from most teaching systems In that a single high speed digital computer is used to control all student stations Thus it can bring to bear the power of a large digital computer in teaching each studont P Lru n A PlATO program for instruction and data collection In mathematical problem solving is being developed for use with the PLATO II equipment The prototype model called PROOF and general characteristics of the new progr m are described ini Cuu dinated Science Laboratory Report R-186 INQUIRY TRAINING PLATO COMPILER Three phases of the CATO Compiler for Automatic Teaching Operations program have been in progress this quarter During this quarter the PLATO Inquiry Training lesson REPLAB on the bi-metal strip 41 1 The Fortran resident system was adapted for use with CATO use by non-technical persons wishing to prepare matcrial for PLATO The afpp•mnh for the instruction of the PLATO lesson writer is one which progresses from subject matter or psychological objectives to a final logic which can be translated by the compiler into a working program The illustrative material being uped in the lessons is a series in astronomy which has interdisciplinary aspects The potential user of the PLATO system will follow the astronomy lesson as a student while he is being shown the steps involved in the translation of subject matter from text material to programmed lesson It is hoped that after completing the instruction series of lessons persons with a minimum of technical knowledge Will be able to prepare material for PLATO fairly easily 2 Major changes in and additions to the Fortran compiler have been coded 3 Corrections and changes to CATORES the resident routine for CATO have been made and code checked CATORES is now a working program The logic portion of the CATO compiler is to be grafted to the Fortran system in the very near future Further improvements which will facilitate modifications and additions to the program are planned INSTRUCTION IN PLATO LESSON PREPARATION PLATO III SYSTEM EQUIPMENT A series of PLATO lessons are being written to teach potential users authors not students the operation of the PLATO system without involving them in all the technical detail The new PLATO compiler facilitates PLATO During this quarter work continued in the development and construction of circuitry required for the realization of a 20-student station teaching system Olgital d display o slayx tie ints Fv -0 Ss S -v 0 o Panel array pulse Y 'S oH-s - -- a if which is not fired An individual gas cell which is fired I I points 0 x switching network s o 9S O • V d y switching Path obc def is selected by the various S 2 - 2 network 0 y PulseS Figure 1 -Direct use of digital display order and response path selected for the order 0110 42 I--S i Circuitry constructed to date includes all for the present storage tube system Work logic circuitry required for operation of 8 student stations all storage tube circuitry required for 2 student stations all scanner circuitry required for full slide capacity of 122 slides and all video switch circuitry necessary for 2 student effect the sugpresently are above 2 studentInstations that onlystations gests operables du'ila i•is quarter has been directed towards a further simplification of the switching network for the plasma discharge display tube The remaining circuitry required for full operation of 20 student stations is either under construction or undergoing development Included In circuitry being constructed is logic and storage tube screen protection circuitry Included in circuitry being developed is storage tube video and deflection circuitry video switch circuitry and power control circuitry the switching network from the panel array The need for the isolation networks has been eliminated by the introduction of a series cell in each line at the tie points to the panel array Fig 1 This allows all the tie points in the switching array to be held at the same potential Since the reference for the x and y switching networks is arbitrary the x tie points may be held at V and the y tie points at 0 Thus the sustaining voltage for the array is automatically supplied by the In the previous progress report we reported that the switching network can be made an integral part of the display device and that isolation networks R C filters were needed to isolate It is expected that progress in the develop- switching networks This choice of reference will cause one of the swiching networks to have its input terminal held at V so a series cell is added to put this reference back to zero as shown In Fig 1 ment and construction of circuitry referred to above will yield the first of the remaining 18 student stations during the coming quarter PLASMA DISCHARGE DISPLAY TUBE In the next quarter we hope to pursue the problem of races and firing of adjacencies within the array The purpose of the plasma discharge display tube is to develop a less expensive replacement Ihv I IFEQ Prog•ram P a 'A re C fii 1111a A novel program DIFEQ has been written for the IBM 7094 computer Its purpose is the solution of systems of ordinary differential equations i e finding numerical values of particular solutions with assigned initial conditions Although many Integration routines have been developed DIFEQ has several features which distinguish it from other programs necessary to adjust various program parameters The program will yield its best possible results the first time In specifying initial conditions and equation constants inexact data is allowed i e data of the form X ± E These initial errors will also be taken into account by the program In addition to providing approximate solution values the program supplies a rigorous upper bound on the total error of each solution component at each computed point The user may think of the results as having the form Y i E where Y is the approximate solution and c is the error bound If y is the exact solution at the given point then I y - V Y I c holds In scientific computing errors accumulate i e errors due to rounding the replacement of integrals by finite sum approximations and so on Often no error analysis is performed and thus there is no certain knowledge of the accuracy of the final results In other instances extensive a priori error analysis is performed This may be a formidable task even for a special case In order to use DIFEQ the user need only supply his differential equations and initial conditlons The program itself determines all the intrinsic parameters such as initial and subsequent step sizes and the like One implication of this feature is that no reruns will be To take full advantage of the speed of the automatic digital computer it is desirable that error analysis be mechanized In 1958 Dr Ramon E Moore of Lockheed recognized the possibility of using Interval arithmetic as a 43 ineans of automatic error ana iyuio by Lu ita computer The numerical method used in DIFEQ is a special application of interval arith- pY rf nf then IFEQ routing A compiler type program utilizes XPOP to generate the required coding for the computation of values of the Tay- metic by Dr Moore lor coeffcleinta This is dose in such a way that the computing time to get the nth Taylor coeificient goes up only linearly with n Because of this fact it Is possible to compute efficiently with the nine forms of the Taylor series Solutions are obtained in a step-by-step fashion by means of expansions IlL faylor series truncated at the ninth term The remainder term in the Taylor series is bounded by the program over intervals it constructs about each new solution point The step size is chosen so thal the solution remains in the interval for all intermediate values between one solution point and the next This containment is tested by the program Use of interval arithmetic throughout the computations enables the program to produes rigorously correct upper bounds on the overall error even including error due to inexact initial conditions conversion of decimal input to binary in the machine and so on Currently work is underway to improve DIFEQ Plans include improvement in 1 ease of use by adding an algebraic compiler type language in which to write the differential equatlions 2 generality by providing various additional options such as alternate formulas in the differential equations on opposite sides of discontinuity points 3 increased accuracy by adding built-in interval functions for sin cos exp and the like and by providing for program a double precision version Submission of the to the IBM SHARE is planned so that potential users throughout the country will have access to the program A macro-expander program called XPOP developed under the direction of Mark Halpern IProject MAC - Timesharing l emonstrated Acroms the Atlantic A future trend in the use of large computer and it was made possible by the cooperation and systems was shown by a demonstration in Nor- assistance of Project MAC Massachusetts In- way at a meeting of the Norwegian Society for stitute of Technology RCA and the Norwegian Information Processing The demonstration was following a talk given by Mr Lars MonradKrohn of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment a former DSR Staff Member of Project MAC Massachusetts Institute of Technology This was the first public demonstration of the general use of a computer across the Atlantic Telegraph Administration The programs demonstrated were a filter design-program investigating a personnel file on-line and writing FORTRAN programs which were compiled and run instantaneously llyhrid Techniques for Reul-Time Flight Simulation Canlihrinip- ' 39 Al • it In May 1964 the M I ' Electronic Systems wh in dl l l supplemented by a small high-speed analog Laboratory completed the construction of and demonstrated a hybrid analog-digital computer designed r primarily real-time flight k mu- interfsce The model used in the aircraft simulation studies was a complete six-degree-of-freedom representation of the F-100 including engine fuel flow atmospheric variations discrete inputs and outputs and pilot control Inputs This model was initially solved in real-time using an all-digital program on the PDP-i alone The same model was then set up on a hybrid basis The hybrid computer utilizes a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-1 computer a 75amplifier solid-state analog computer designed and built at M I T and single analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion channels 44 I I with the analog equipment serving as a linear skeleton version of the aircraft and the digital computer providing nonlinear effects decinlon management and engine simulation It was found that the solution rate of 20 per second employed in the all-digital study could be reduced to 1 per second when the hybrid configuration was used In effect such a reducLion increases the ultimate real-time capacity of a given computer by a factor of 20 for this important class of problem solution of problems ormulated in partial differential equation form Using ad hoe inalog and digital equipment various PDE mathematical techniques have been tested experimentally prior to implementation on the hybrid Such preliminary Investigations have been carried out for the diffusion equation the Orr-Sommerfeld equation of hydrodynamics the Laplace equation the wave equation the Helmholtz equation and several distributed systems encountered in process control dynamics To augment the capability of the hybrid computer to handle this class of problems the parallel development of a high-speed high-capacity analog memory has been undertaken Upon completion of a series of simulation tests other areas of applied mathematics will be investigated with the hybrid particularly the JOSS An Experimental n-I ne Tjnit-Shar'd Compttiing Syst'n 01h IR INNI C ' n mtmn • IlJllI • I 'lll U An experimental on-line time-shared cornputing system has been developed and installed for use by staff members on The RAND Corporation Santa Monica California The system called JOSS for JOHNNIAC Open Shop System is designed to provide the individual scientist or engineer with an easy direct way of solving his small numerical problems A key design feature is that it relieves the user fronm having to learn to use an operating system a compiler and debugging tools further he does not have to ixplain his problems to a professional computer programmer and then check the latter's results alterthe computations have been run l 1 U lI closed-shop practices Phy isically JOSS consists of the JOHNNIAC computer 10 remote consoles in the current rather limited configuration and a multiple typewriter comarunication system to mediate between JOHNNIAC and the consoles The remote station coneoles consist of an IBM model 868 typewriter and a small box with lights and switches to indicate syetem status and to control the functions of the local communicatilon terminal electronics The following indicators u re provided a POWER light an ENA13LE light showing that JOSS service is available a READY light showing that output is acceptable at the typewriter a red light to show that JOSS controls the typewriter a green light to show that the user controls it an IN REQUEST light to show that the user has depressed the IN button for control but JOSS hasn't yet responded and an OUT REQUEST light to inform the user that JOSS has an administrative message for him such as Shutting down at 2330 The ease and directness of JOSS is attributable to an interpretive routine in the system computer the JOHNNIAC which responds quickly to instructions expressed in a simple language developed by J C Shaw' and transmitted over telephone lines from convenient remote electrictypewriter consoles The system has been In daily use since January 1964 and an austere version saw limited use throughout most of 1963 An evaluation of the system has shown that in spite of severe constraints on speed and size of programs and the use o an over-age machine of the vacuum-tube era JOSS provides a valuable service for computational needs which cannot be adequately satisfied by conventional The multiple typowriter commmuilatiUton systern provides 16 line-Luffers controls the states of the remote consoles and registers signals from them The JOSS system program in JOHNNIAC commands block transfers between core and the line buffers It also commands the comainunication system to enable or disable a console request or relinquish control of a console clear a line buffer assign a line buffer to a console or transmit a line buffer to a console It also conmnmands the communication system to rThu views expressed herein Ohold not he interpretud as ruflucting the views or upinions of The RAND Corporation or thu official upinion or policy of any of itS govurnniviLitl or private research sponsors relxort action signals from the consoles The basic JOHNNIAC computer provides no parallel 45 3 processing however the multiple typewriter 1 2 communcation system does provide for parallel ac•ivlty¢ at many consoles through higrh -popal line-scanning and time-shared use of the logic circuits JOSS takes advantage of this independent parallel processing in the communiction system by switching its attention rapidly from one user to another to give adequate service to all active users i e by time sharing Each active user is represented by a block of inforniation which resides on the drum except when JOSS is actually processing it in core 1 3 I I- h 2a -h-qrt b 2-4 a c ' a Y t x 2 Type Y I ine Set Svt a b -- Los -sqrt O Set C- Do part 1 x x 2 -7 -2 iog 1 - for b 2 3 0 13149 x 2319601o x l h 85410195 Do part xtl I Y 2 X l x 2 JOSS services the requests of users at the remote consoles in such a way that the users' activities are logically independent if one another 4 W699035 S 1 R1 1152 01967qq44 Up to 8 of the 10 stations may be served concur- rently by the tiame-sharing techniques In addition to administering input output and swaps of user blocks JOSS interprets and executes both direct and indirect i e stored-program instructions couched in a readable and easily learned language igiurc I -- impte JOSS program showinVg ' aur's statucmunt of his problem the input data and inLtructions aUl normally typed in gruen and the JOSS solutions spLak ts normally typed shows how the use of familiar iymbols and a nata ral languagv fac ilitate comni•lcation and make he re indented fLiv in black Thiu First priority for JOSS' attention goes to the servicing of signals from the consoles carriage return page on off in out and end-of-transmission JOSS looks for these signals in the communication system when idling and between interpretive steps when executing a user's program An end-of-transmission signal requires only that JOSS record that the line buffer is available and direct the transmission of the next line of output to the same station if one is ready JOSS then continues with its previous activity A carriage return however like several other signals requires that JOSS break off its current activity move the current user's block out to drum move the signaling user's block into core and finally interpret and act on the line of input just released by the carriage return examnl l JOSS statements readily understandable the asturisk inldicats xponcntiatlon suggests the readability of the language and the power of expression A striking feature of the system is that the user commands JOSS directly in the same language that he uses to define procedures for JOSS to carry out indirectly A numeric label as a prefix to a step is an implied command to JOSS to store the step in sequence according to the numerical value of the l abel JOSS differs from other on-line systems by requiring the user to supply his own step numbers on all steps of his stored program Thus the user always has the option of typing a direct command or an indirect step without having to explicitly call for another mode to get the desired option The numeric label determines whether an indirect step is an addition an insertion or a replacement for another step Second priority is given to users who have given JOSS output-limited tasks Third priority is given tc users with unfinished tasks on which JOSS works for two seconds apiece in roundrobin fashion A user's priority changes dynamically according to this discipline which successfully exploits the parallel processing of the communication system Under a typical load JOSS responds to simple requests in a fraction of a second and rarely in as long as 3 seconds Users who are skilled in typing can maintain irapressive rates of interaction with JOSS Elsewhere the language is very explicit For example in conjunction with numerical expressions it requires full words to denote steps parts or output formats forms This too contributes 1o readability A step is limited to a single line and a line is limited to a single step neither being much of a constraint As a result a rtep number serves to identify not only the logical step but the stored string and the typographical line as well Arbitrarily complex expressions may be used everywhere except as step label prefixes which must be explicit It is convenient to consider JOSS to be a computing aide interacting with the user by means of a simple language The sample problem Fig 1 gives some insight into the kinds of JOSS-user interaction that can take place and 46 decimal numerals The 52 upper- and lowercase letters are the only identifiers to which the user can asigrn numrerica l values 'handles at varioua levels of aggregation so the user Isn't forced to do his editing piecernea1 at the level of individual steps forms and values Steps are organized into parts according to the integer parts of the step numbers Parts then become units that can be typed or deleted as well as natural units for specifying procedures in hierarchical fashion Values too may be organized into vectors and arrays if indexed letters are used and letters by themselves may be used to refer to entire arrays for purposes of typing or deleting Still higher aggregates may be typed or deleted by using the expressions all steps all parts all forms all values and all JOSS represents all numbers internally in scientific notation-nine decimal digits of significance and a base-ten scale factor with an integer exponent in the range -99 through 499 JOSS presents an exact input interface familiar decimal arithmetic internally and an exact output interface Addition subtraction multiplication division and square root are carried out by JOSS to give true results rounded to nine significant decimal digits except on overflow which yields an error message or an underflow for which zero is substituted The decimal nature of JOSS gives the user easy control over exact calculations that would require especially careful attention in a binary system The functions in the language Include a set of logical functions which together with the numerical relations and and and pr lead to powerful direct expressions of conditions which can be attached to any step Care has been taken in a basic set of elementary functions to hit certain magic values on the nose and to provide reasonably full significance of results The general exponential routine to compute a4 b for example factors out error situations and the special cases of b 0 a 0 b 1 b an integer and a an integer power of 10 b 0 5 b -5 and b an integer with 2 5 b --29 before resorting to exp b log a The interpretive technique on which JOSS is based enables the user to edit his stored program freely and quickly-even when JOSS interrupts at the user's request or suspends work on a task to report an error Inserting and replacir g steps or forms is Implicit in the treatment of any new line of input Deleting and typing are called for explicitly and the language provides The goal of the JOSS experiment has been to provide personal computing service especially useful to RAND's technical staff Emphasis has been placed on the development of a tool for problem-solving rather than just answergetting and production computing Although the present system is limited by too few stations and the unreliability of the 12-year-old vacuumtube computer over 150 RAND staff members are using the 10 stations distributed throughout the building Based on the daily usage log and judging from reports from users JOSS does provide a personalized computer service not previously available The exceedingly close interaction between the user and JOSS via the conversational language results in a very productive mode of operation for most users It is interesting to note that JOSS has attracted many users with no prior programming experience A number of RAND staff members have turned to JOSS as an effective and helpful assistant even though other alternatives are availablesuch as open-shop programming avaiLable service programmers and computing aides Digital Fire Control R D Facilities I 'VS Na' y uh 'au e A'i• al I 'ajom s RREl -7 I Wm'ahinglon D t 20•0 INTRODUCTION example electrical connections are set up so that an entire unit or any component of a unit of experimental equipment can be inserted easily for evaluation and additional testing equipment can be incorporated at any point in the system The special equipment test facility located on the G-1 Guided-Missile Range at NOTS has been designed for the experimental test and pre-prototype evaluation of new concepts and equipments relating to both digital and analog surface fire control systems Basic considerations governing the setting up of the installation were flexibility and adaptability of test facility equipments and their components For Figure 1 is an R D facilities schematic The solid lines represent the present R D setup the broken lines show future R D equipment plus other G-1 Range equipment and instrumentation adaptable for use in surface fire control 47 equipment tcVting nd mraluation The fility and range from the digital-to-analog servo sys- is available for use by activities operating under tern DASS I Navy auspices For information and scheduling criteria contact the Instrument Development Division Attention Code 3042 U S Naval Ordnance Test Station China Lake California 93557 The Digital Fire Control DFC Radar the DFC UNIVAC 1218 Process Controller and the Digital-Analog Servo System are described below DIGITAL FIRE CONTROL DFC UNIVAC 1218 PROCESS CONTROLLER The UNIVAC 1218 is a general-purpose stored-program real-time digital computer It has a magnetic-core memory with a 10 384-word capacity Word length is 18 bits Eight input and eight output channels are available Each channel provides 18 parallel data lines plus necessary control lines Channels can be paired to form 38-bit dual channels The computer has a repertoire of 98 flexible instructions and 32 nondestruct memory locations for initial load and automatic-recovery routine The digital fire control DFC radar systern is basically a monopulse type target-tracking radar system operating in the X-band range The transmitter is a tunable magnetron with a peak power of 250 kw Pulse repetition frequency is 1000 pps Operation is continuous in azimuth Tracking modes are manual aided and automatic Tracking rates Range Azimuth 750 mils sec Elevation 750 mils sec Slewing rates Range Azimuth There are two UNIVAC 1218 computers on G-1 One is in the DVC system the other is part of the range control system RCS The one used in the DFC system does not have the peripheral gear associated with the computer Computer instructions are transmitted from magnetic or paper tape through the RCS unit and a connecting cable to the DFC computer Program-loading encompasses a single 18bit parallel transfer or a dual 36 bit parallel transfer computer-to-computer capability Separate cabling-45 twisted-pair per cable-is installed for input and output functions 1 000 yd sec 12 000 yd sec 750 mils sec Elevation 750 mils sec The digital range unit designed at NOTS for use with this radar modified the range capabilities as follows Range Range rate Acceleration limits selectable low gain low gain 'out' Inputs to the DFC UNIVAC 1218 computer are 130 000 yd DFC radar range azimuth and elevation 3 000 yd sec Passive-tracking unit azimuth elevation and tracking error proposed 10 g 90 g IRIG Inter-Range Instrumentation Group Time of Day The digital range unit has a least significant bit of 1 yard with a repeatability of 1 yard Programming instructions Outputs from the computer include The DFC radar with the digital range unit has a real-time eadout of azimuth elevation and range to the DFC UNIVAC 1218 computer and a record of IBM 7094 compatible tape for data reduction Visual decimal readout presentation is available at the radar building console In the readout velocity is presented in yards per second range is given in yards and azimuth and elevation are recorded in mils or degrees Launcher pointing information to DASS Computed data to recorder DIGITAL-ANALOG SERVO SYSTEM DASS DASS designed and developed at NOTS as part of the surface weapon fire control supporting research program accepts digital-position data from shaft-angle encoders on the Mk 5 Mod 1 launcher and digital target-position and velocity data from the DFC UNIVAC 1218 computer This radar system can receive digital target acquisition ininrmation in azimuth elevation 48 The computer position information is upý The primary function of the servo loop Is to dated by integrating the velocity and then cornparing it with the encoder position readomt to obtais An error signal errors in bearing and elevation rate of signals change of errors are then translatedand to analog DC voltages proportional to the error and sent to the launcher drive elements to correct the launcher aimpoint Figure 2 is a block diagram of the digital-analog servo system translate digital-computer outputs into the anR ng form required by the launcher Additionally the updating elements of DASS provide intermediate outputs keep the launcher from being driven in largetostop Increments which would cause It to hunt Parameters DASS serves In shipboard fire control systerns as the link between the computer and the launcher It accepts computer positioning and velocity data extrapolates between computer outputs to update launcher positioning data compares the extrapolated data with position information from the launcher and continually sends new positioning and velocity data to the launcher drive elements Computer output rate 10 cps to 2 kc Updating rate 250 cps to 2 kc Position error Rate of change of position error output transfer rate 49 50 cps to 2 kc 200 cp6 to 2 kc I I I FIFEGJNIRJ RADAR RADAR I I TAS I I 50 noz-Jo 2-10 l l El momma 1 1551 HUNGER POSITION STOH WIT Wu l O BIGITN AM SERVO SVSTEH PASSIVE 0 3V TRACKING UNIT SUBOODN 3 RADAR P05 STOR 151 I lul ISHIP IFI smuu ron IFI IEI 39v VJ DIG TM 111 UNIT i FIRE comm LNIVAC I2IB TAPE CH2 RECORDER I 0 1 1 Figure facilities schematic 3 Eg TAS RADAR DATA IUFFER IBM INPUT-OUTPUT '70 BUFFER DIGITAL CGMPARA LINE DRIVERS UNCHEH 51 LAUNCHER comm-lo Posmau STORAGE 3 UNIT 3 38'123-2 SECKMAN atoms EVE L 9 2o TAPE cauvenren CON- Eg'l nzcoanen VERTER Eg'tz'q Figure servo system