Corporate Computer Research Articles

ISDMS—a scientific data management system

AbstractThis paper describes the design and development of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Scientific Data Mangement System (ISDMS). The ISDMS is an integrated system providing organization, processing, control and retrieval of scientific time series data in a large laboratory environment using Control Data Corporation (CDC) computers. Data reformatting, graphics, data manipulation, data management, engineering analysis and general utility functions are offered to engineers, scientists, and other end users. The ISDMS usage has grown steadily since its first release into production status in early 1979. The current configuration is well received by the user community and meets most requirements for studying and analysing data in a scientific environment.

The development of fault tolerant computer systems using dual processing techniques

The paper discusses ways of building a dual processed computer system to provide a highly reliable fault tolerant configuration. The need and justification for fault tolerant systems is discussed and the comparative availability that can be expected from single and dual configurations is calculated. Based on systems implemented by CAP, two of the most important types of dual processing systems are discussed: namely load sharing and continuous processing systems. The load sharing approach to fault tolerance is particularly important for transaction processing applications because it offers the opportunity to build a fault tolerant system for a cost close to that of a conventional single-computer system. An example based on CAP's system for the Durham Constabulary on Perkin-Elmer equipment is discussed. The continuous processing system described is based on CAPTEC, CAFs operating system for Digital Equipment Corporation computers, which provides a continuous processing system where the system continues uninterrupted on a single failure.

Development and implementation of a health surveillance system.

With the formation of Shell Oil Company's Health, Safety and Environment Organization in 1976, an expanded employee health surveillance program was started. A computerized system was developed to facilitate collecting, storing, retrieving, and analyzing employee medical, exposure and work history records. System requirements included large storage capacity, confidentiality, operability, flexibility, quality assurance, and minimum impact on user locations. A key element of the system is the Job Exposure Profile (JEP). A JEP describes the work tasks and identifies the chemical and physical agents associated with individual jobs at a location. Employee work history data are collected by utilizing existing payroll systems in conjunction with the JEP. Successful implementation of the system within our manufacturing (refineries, chemical plants and complexes) and products distribution locations has been completed. This was done by obtaining top management support and commitment at each location. A team consisting of corporate industrial hygienists, computer experts, and location staff was responsible for developing JEP's and setting up a system to collect data on the work histories. The system can now be used to prepare reports for location or corporate use, conduct statistical analysis of exposure data and maintain an exposure/work history record for epidemiologic studies.

Joint DEC and microprocessor users’ groups report

The results of a joint meeting of users of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computers and various microprocessors are reported. The meeting included a review and a discussion of Unix and of recent hardware and software products from DEC.

Interactive Short Circuit System

During the past few years, power system engineers have used interactive computing as an aid in solving power system planning problems. Most of the development work has been concentrated in the load flow area. Interactive load flow systems have been implemented on dedicated mini-computers as well as on large general purpose corporate computers.

1980 DEC users’ group report

The 1980 meeting of users/owners of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computer equipment is discussed.

1979 joint DEC and microprocessor users group report

A summary is provided of the format and results of a meeting involving users of microprocessors and of Digital Equipment Corporation computers.

Organizational arrangements for MIS units

Decisions on organizational arrangements for MIS units comprise location in the organization, rank of responsible executive, organization of MIS implementators, degree of centralization, the user interface, the study group, the steering committee, the data base administrator, the corporate computer staff, and external assistance. Based on a wide-ranging survey of papers in the field of MIS, the authors have formulated guidelines which derive from the impact of organizational decisions on the success or failure or MIS and MIS projects.

1978 DEC user group report

The 1978 meeting of users/owners of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computer equipment is discussed.

DEC vs. DEC-compatible hardware

In recent years, users of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computers have been offered compatible products manufactured by other companies. This paper reviews the results of a survey concerning the purchase and use of non-DEC products; comments concerning advantages or disadvantages of buying DEC vs. non-DEC products are noted.

Performance evaluation of speaker verification in entry control

Texas Instruments has controlled access to its corporate computer facility for four years by voice authentication. Imposter acceptance rate is less than 2%. User rejection rate averages 0.5%, with 0.2% rejection between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and 0.9% between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. User rejection rate is 0.3% for single entrants and 0.8% for accompanied entrants. An analysis of this system's voice authentication performance will be presented.

PLE: A high-level multiprogramming language for psychology

This paper describes a software system called PLE that is designed to turn a Data General Corporation computer system into a sophisticated infinite-channel tachistoscope. We describe hardware and software characteristics of the PLE system and evaluate its performance in comparison to a typical tachistoscope. Additionally, we describe two example experiments that have been implemented in the PLE system.

User adaption in operational speaker verification

Texas Instruments controls entry to its corporate computer facility by speaker verification. During two and one half years of operation, 0.4 million verifications have been performed for 300 users. Current performance is 99.9% user acceptance with 99% impostor rejection. Initial user acceptance is not as good (99%), but steady‐state performance is achieved after 50–100 verifications. Careful user orientation is important, and user adaptation and voice consistency continue to improve over a long period of time. The variance of input speech data for those 36 users (24 men, 12 women) who had been verified at least three thousand times was plotted versns session number. Average variance was 108 at 250 sessions, 105 at 500, 101 at 1000, 96 at 2000, and 93 at 3000 sessions. How do you explain this continued improvement?

An economical operant space interface for the PDP-8 computer

An inexpensive input/output transfer system between a PDP-8/I Digital Equipment Corporation computer and two operant stations is described. An interrupt facility is included. Slight modification of this interface will also permit it to work with the newer PDP-8 series computers.

Review of "Operating a Corporate Computer Center by Charles Skidmore"

No abstract available.

The strategic dimension of computer systems planning

Abstract : The computer, formerly a determinant of the efficiency of internal corporate systems, is fast becoming a key to corporate effectiveness in the total business environment -- a major factor influencing corporate performance viz-a-viz competition. To effectively capitalize on the true potential of corporate computer systems today, all levels of management must contribute and participate in their development. Too often the orphan of company computer system planning has been corporate top management, and the chief executive officer in particular. A fundamental requirement for the computer systems success is direction from the top. The form of this direction should be a company computer strategy: an explicit statement by top management of the computer's role in attaining the strategic objectives of the corporation.