Physicians wishing to become computer literate face two immediate problems. First, there is no readily available nor universally accepted statement of what such literacy should entail, and second, such pedagogic mechanisms as exist are not widely available. This paper addresses both problems. (SSH)

Describes new microcomputer software and hardware which simplify data communications between computer systems. "Dumb" terminal software, programs which enhance a computer's data communications flexibility by means of character translation and data buffering, stand-alone versus integrated systems, and "smart" modems are…

Describes and evaluates the hardware, software, peripheral devices, performance capabilities, and programing capacity of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum microcomputer. The computer's display system, its version of the BASIC programing language, its graphics capabilities, and the unique features of its data entry keyboard are discussed. (JL)

A wide range of computer crimes and the need for computer security are discussed. (MK)

Reviews several CD-ROM products displayed at the March 1989 International Conference on CD-ROM sponsored by Microsoft. Product capabilities for handling text, audio, images, and full motion video are described, and potential applications for information retrieval are discussed. (CLB)

Discusses the movement toward digital-based platforms including full-motion video for multimedia products. Hardware- and software-based compression techniques for digital data storage are considered, and a chart summarizes features of Digital Video Interactive, Moving Pictures Experts Group, P x 64, Joint Photographic Experts Group, Apple…

Explores the use of analog optical disks as a practical, cost effective means of building picture databases. Questions that should be asked to determine whether optical disk is a suitable picture storage alternative for a particular application are identified and three implementation issues--imaging, indexing, and integrating--are discussed. (CLB)

Large central databases which support multicampus users require thorough planning and coordination, special communication with both users and input sources, and organized retrieval systems. In the developmental process of identifying variables that should be in the system and designating the source of that data, old habits of multiple official…

Describes the information processing system employed by Chemical Abstracts Service which utilizes computers to organize material from the data base, convert it to the appropriate type face and format, and photocompose it in a form suitable for conversion to offset printing plates. (GS)

To help the librarian in negotiating with vendors of automated library services, nine authors have presented methods of dealing with a specific service or situation. Paper topics include computer services, network contracts, innovative service, data processing, automated circulation, a turn-key system, data base sharing, online data base services,…

This basic introduction to microcomputers provides the neophyte with the terminology, definitions, and concepts that explain the microcomputer and computing technology in general. Mathematical operations with binary numbers, computer storage, controlling logic, and the concepts of stack and interrupt are explained. (RAO)

An interactive search and editing system, 3RIP, is being developed at the library of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm for large files of textual and numeric data. A substantial part (on the order of 10-E9 characters) of the primary file of the search system will consist of bibliographic references from a wide range of sources. If the…

This document describes the development of the PLATO system, and six figures illustrate the chronological development of PLATO terminals, lesson programing languages, instructional material, and system usage. A list of financial supporters of PLATO and the Computer-based Educational Research Laboratory is followed by a chronological listing of…

Interactive computers are providing more services to greater numbers of users. However, before such systems can be economically applied to public education, the cost of high performance memory must be reduced. By using massive amounts of serial memory in conjunction with a highly sophisticated memory controller, a system was constructed which…

The Inverted File Information Retrieval System (INFIRS), is a document search system which offers a comprehensive range of search facilities. It has been developed at the United Kingdom Chemical Information Service (UKCIS) as a general purpose retrieval tool, suitable for handling a wide variety of data-bases (both free-text and controlled…