This report covers the background, scope, and findings of a multifaceted research project which focused on data collection and analysis related to online public access systems (OPAC's); the ultimate goal of this project is to improve information access through OPAC design and enhancement. To assist library decision-makers when planning for the…

Human factors engineering can be defined as the application of scientific principles, methods, and data drawn from a variety of disciplines to the development of engineering systems in which people play a significant role. Since human factors issues arise in every domain in which humans interact with the products of a technological society, six…

Technology and Basic Skills in Mathematics (TABS) is a project to develop innovative technology-based instructional materials at the upper elementary or middle school level, emphasizing the non-computational mathematics basics of probability, geometry, estimation, and computer literacy. In each area, attempts are being made to bring together…

Different aspects of human-machine interaction are discussed in the five brief papers that comprise this report. The first paper, "Some Observations on Mental Models," discusses the role of a person's mental model in the interaction with systems. The second paper, "A Psychologist Views Human Processing: Human Errors and Other…

The third report from a comprehensive Unesco study, this document traces the history of the application of computer-based technology to the book distribution process in the United States and indicates functional areas currently showing the effects of using this technology. Ways in which computer use is altering book distribution management…

This article consists of general and specific descriptions of seven Computer Assisted Instruction programs currently used by students. The programs are intended primarily for prospective teachers, but students in other areas such as business and the social sciences have also found them to be useful. Two of the programs deal with the structure of…

The current emphasis on energy conservation in buildings must be balanced by a careful consideration of how proposed approaches affect building occupants. A headlong rush toward building designs that conserve energy at the expense of the quality of buildings as judged by occupants would be a very shortsighted approach. There must be a continual…

The major findings and generalizations of nine separate experiments summarized in this report have come out of a program of research on human factors in telecommunications and teleconferencing systems at Johns Hopkins University. These findings, already published in greater detail in the open literature, relate to (1) how people naturally…

Presented is a report on a Research and Development program in the use of computer-assisted instruction to teach mathematics in grades 4 through 6. Approximately 60 computer terminals of the PLATO type were installed in elementary school classrooms, 4 terminals per classroom. Each student received one-half hour of mathematics lessons, via…

This online pilot project demonstrates the feasibility of using the OCLC transaction tapes to create an online catalog, and the utility of the BRS database structure for loading this data and for online searching. It also shows the feasibility of a user-cordial interface for patrons and for staff and provides an opportunity to test many factors…

The Voice Interactive Analysis System study continued research and development of the LISTEN real-time, minicomputer based connected speech recognition system, within NAVTRAEQUIPCEN'S program of developing automatic speech technology in support of training. An attempt was made to identify the most effective features detected by the TTI-500 model…

The paper examines information systems from the viewpoint of implementations based on current knowledge and experience. It reviews studies that report on how information has been and can be communicated for its exploitation. It discusses various types of systems and schemes that have been developed to aid the information transfer process,…

The Network Measurement System (NMS) represents the implementation of a new approach to the performance measurement and evaluation of computer network systems and services. By focusing on the service delivered to network customers at their terminals, rather than on the internal mechanics of network operation, measurements can be obtained which are…

To minimize training time, an adaptive training model for optimizing path sequencing in computer aided instruction was developed. The model reduced a course to logical components or quanta, then plotted the material for possible sequences and evaluated each component quanta as to importance to subject assimilation. For implementation and testing,…

As a response to several specific economic analysis questions asked by the staff of Massachusetts' Management and Information System for Occupational Education (MISOE), this paper focuses on concepts of costs and benefits required for cost-effectiveness analysis, as well as the methodology of cost-effectiveness analysis. Useful as background…