Written for secondary students, this booklet provides an introduction to several computer-related concepts through a set of six classroom games, most of which can be played with little more than a sheet of paper and a pencil. The games are: 1) SECRET CODES--introduction to binary coding, punched cards, and paper tape; 2) GUESS--efficient methods…

An introduction to the problems of variable-length message transmission in distributed loop computer networks, with a summary of previous accomplishments in the area, begins this technically-oriented document. An improved technique, overcoming some of the inadequacies in presently used techniques, is proposed together with a conceptual model of…

A summary of the initial planning meeting for the Pacific Educational Computer Network (PECN) is presented. Representatives from the United Nations, Australia, Japan, and the United States met to inquire into the feasibility of the proposed PECN. Topics discussed were the status of computing in the Pacific, the technology of a Pacific network, the…

Some of the major results of future goals of an automatic program synthesis project are described in the two papers that comprise this document. The first paper gives a detailed algorithm for synthesizing a computer program from a trace of its behavior. Since the algorithm involves a search, the length of time required to do the synthesis of…

Nine job control language (JCL) procedures for the Rapidly Extensible Language (REL) batch system are presented. The REL system itself is a total software system designed to facilitate communication with the computer in very high level languages. Its goal is an interactive time-shared system, but for a variety of reasons it has been desirable to…

A study was made of several dialects of the Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC). The purpose was to determine if it was possible to identify a set of interactive BASIC dialects in which translatability between different members of the set would be high, if reasonable programing restrictions were imposed. It was first…

A description is provided for WISE-ONE, an information retrieval program designed to provide fast, efficient access to computer-based information files. The author focuses upon WISE-ONE's application to the Educational Resources Information Center's (ERIC) data base; WISE-ONE was designed specifically to meet the needs of researchers using ERIC,…

This report presents the results of a survey to ascertain the extent of computer use in Canadian education. Of 307 administrative units responding to the questionnaire, 83 indicated they used electronic data processing services. Business management services accounted for most of the computer use, while administrative and instructional services…

Three Project Solo modules are presented. They are designed to teach the concepts of elementary matrix operation, matrix multiplication, and finite-state automata. Together with the module on communication matrices from Newsletter #17 they form a well motivated but structured path to expertise in this area. (JY)

The focus of this project was to determine the relevance of the computer to the academic disciplines of business, mathematics, physics, chemistry, economics, biology, and engineering and to subsequently write computer programs that would provide students with an additional learning tool. Over two hundred programs were written, catalogued into a…

Instead of instructions residing in the main memory as in a fixed instruction computer, a micro-programable computer has a separete read-only memory which is alterable so that the system can be efficiently adapted to the application at hand. Microprogramable computers are faster than fixed instruction computers for several reasons: instruction…

The main problem in computer gaming research is the initial decision of choosing the type of gaming method to be used. Free-form games lead to exciting open-ended confrontations that generate much information. However, they do not easily lend themselves to analysis because they generate far too much information and their results are seldom…

Presented in this study are a number of laboratory projects typical of those found in a course on digital logic design. In addition, an attempt is made to fuse together the theoretical and practical aspects of logic design. It was the purpose of this study to present an experience in the requirements of a logic design laboratory to the interested…

The availability of low-cost minicomputers in the last few years has opened up many new control and special purpose applications for computers. However, using general purpose computers for these specialized applications often leads to inefficiencies in programing and operation. GRI Computer Corporation has developed a common-sense approach called…

Recent developments in computer technology are reducing the limitations of computers as mass communication devices. The growth of remote teleprocessing is one important step. Computers can now interact with users via terminals which may be hundreds of miles from the actual mainframe machine. Many terminals can be in operation at once, so that many…