The New Media Consortium's Horizon Project is an ongoing research project that seeks to identify and describe emerging technologies likely to have a large impact in education and other industries around the world over a five-year time period. The chief products of the project are the "Horizon Reports", an annual series of publications…

Computer literacy has evolved from writing simple BASIC programs to using desktop productivity applications. The shift from mainframe to personal computer brought about the need to rethink computer literacy courses to introduce basic skills and familiarity using desktop productivity applications. While these skills remain important, the recent…

A study of computer facilities in British libraries highlighted the respective benefits and disadvantages of using the parent institution's central computer or using a dedicated minicomputer. The large computer's technical advantages include greater opportunities for sharing or buying operational software, and the availability of experienced…

Discusses the user benefits of write-once optical storage devices; describes typical applications in archival storage, one-off complex instruction sets, and information storage and retrieval systems; and identifies current trends toward standardization of equipment. (CLB)

Reflecting recent developments in computer-based information systems, this book consists of verbal and flow-charted descriptions of 35 exemplary federal systems. They are arranged by government agency, with each description providing background information, discussions of current operations, and future plans. (SH)

This article defines three separate categories of microcomputers--personal, desk-top, multi-user devices--and relates storage capabilities (expandability, floppy disks) to library applications. Highlghts include de facto standards, operating systems, database management systems, applications software, circulation control systems, dumb and…

The report explains the major design concepts of the Reporting and Evaluation System for Occupational Education (RESOE) and provides a framework for the system's utilization by New York State's occupational directors and guidance personnel. Following an introduction the second section summarizes the functional specifications and general design…

The Canadian Department of Education developed this manual to provide teachers and administrators with information about the potential use of computers. Part I describes at length the five components of the computer input, output, storage, control, and arithmetic/logic functions) and gives a discussion of computer languages, programing, batch…

A methodology is described for an automatic design system initially defined in terms of logical processes or program modules. Processes and files are grouped and reorganized in such a way as to produce an optimal design with respect to a specific target machine. Performance criteria for the optimal design are defined in terms of transport volume…

This study of musicology develops computer programs, data, and procedures for using the computer in the field of thematic indexing. The thematic index is a means of identifying anonymous works, arranging and cataloging the works of a particular composer or genre, and collating the varied manuscript and printed sources of a particular form or…

The author suggests that informative abstracts be published with articles in this magazine so that readers may glean their contents in a fraction of the normal reading time. (Author)

Preliminary specifications of major equipment and programing systems characteristics for a remote terminal central computing facility serving 25-75 secondary schools are presented. Estimation techniques developed in a previous feasibility study were used to delineate workload demands for four model regions with different numbers of institutions…

Describes EDP (electronic data processing) insurance, which provides coverage for such things as the loss of computer programs and accumulated transaction data, and the consequences of an interruption in processing. Discusses what is and is not covered by EDP insurance, how to plan for EDP insurance, the amount of coverage to get, and how to avoid…

The inventory system designed for six storerooms in three buildings at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's School of Chemical Sciences replaced an issue-slip and transactions record system with barcode technology. Data collection error reductions have been significant, making it easier to determine stock levels and plan purchases.…

Examines the current development of computer compact disk storage devices (CD-ROM). Describes the basics of how the CD-ROM operates and identifies educational uses. Lists companies currently providing CD-ROM software and producing CD-ROM players. (MVL)