To make computing power broadly available and truly friendly, both soft and hard meshing and synchronization problems will have to be solved. Possible solutions and research related to these problems are discussed. Topics considered include compilers, parallelism, networks, distributed sensors, dataflow, CEDAR system (using dataflow principles),…

Recently medium-sized computers have begun to play an important role in scientific research involving small groups of investigators, especially in the health sciences. Discusses computer applications in some of the projects at the National Institutes of Health, and applications in the fields of medicine and mental health. (JR)

Discusses small-scale integrated (SSI), medium-scale integrated (MSI), large-scale integrated (LSI), very large-scale integrated (VLSI), and ultra large-scale integrated (ULSI) chips. The development and properties of these chips, uses of gallium arsenide, Josephson devices (two superconducting strips sandwiching a thin insulator), and future…

In a very short time, data processing has grown from virtually nothing to a position of great importance in the technical scientific system of civilization in the Federal Republic of Germany. Both the public and private sectors have contributed significantly to this expansion. Research and development have now reached large proportions. Thus there…

Computers, chip technologies, networking, and artificial intelligence all need vast improvement just to take their place as tools for building new computers. Research efforts, progress, and needs in each of these areas are addressed. (JN)

Discusses the controversy surrounding the initial decision to establish, and the current decision to phase out, the National Resource for Computation in Chemistry (NRCC), a computational chemistry center jointly sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. (CS)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded support for supercomputer centers at Cornell University, Princeton University, University of California (San Diego), and University of Illinois. These centers are to be the nucleus of a national academic network for use by scientists and engineers throughout the United States. (DH)

To break the bottleneck inherent in today's linear computer architectures, parallel schemes (which allow computers to perform multiple tasks at one time) are being devised. Several of these schemes are described. Dataflow devices, parallel number-crunchers, programing languages, and a device based on a neurological model are among the areas…

Defines artificial intelligence (AI) and discusses its history; the current state of the art, research, experimentation, and practical applications; and probable future developments. Key dates in the history of AI and eight references are provided. (MBR)

Computer applications in scientific instrumentation are traced from early data processing to modern computer-based instruments. Probable pathways toward instruments with increased "intelligence" include, among others, implementation of hierarchical computer networks and microprocessor controllers and the simplification of programing. The…

Discusses the recent decision to close down the National Resource for Computation in Chemistry (NRCC), implications of that decision, and various alternatives in the field of computational chemistry. (CS)

Discusses Japanese endeavors to create a new generation of computers endowed with intelligence, and the U.S. and European responses to these endeavors. Major U.S. efforts have been through private industry and the Defense Advanced Research Agency, while the National Science Foundation has increased support for developing advanced scientific…

Intelligent relationships with people are among the goals for tomorrow's computers. Knowledge-based systems used and being developed to achieve these goals are discussed. Automatic learning, producing inferences, parallelism, program languages, friendly machines, computer vision, and biomodels are among the topics considered. (JN)

Documentation centers are needed to handle the vast amount of scientific and technical information currently being issued. Such centers should be concerned both with handling inquiries in a particular field and with producing a general catalog of current information. Automatic analysis of texts by computers will be the best way to handle material,…