Discusses problems in using ASCII for data communications and computers and provides a historical perspective on the development of Unicode, a new universal encoding scheme. The future of Unicode is considered, implications for libraries are discussed, and a sidebar explains how computers store textual data. (LRW)

Pinpoints problems associated with personnel operations' inclusion in large complex information systems: personnel information system redesign requirements, potential confidentiality loss, reduced information accessibility, awkward data format requirements, and psychological problems. Discusses single chip micro-processor and micro-computer…

Describes the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and the inclusion of abstracting and indexing industry databases in OPACs. Topics addressed include the implications of including abstracting and indexing tape and CD-ROM products in OPACs; the need for standards allowing library systems to communicate with dissimilar CD-ROM products; and computer,…

The demand for computers to help manage learning comes mostly from those engaged in attempts to individualize education, who have discovered a need for computers to help them make decisions and organize their data. This paper considers the problems that can arise in implementing computer-managed learning by indicating what has happened in…