Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) promises to integrate voice, data, text, and video services within the context of existing telephone networks. It is a set of standards, or engineering design specifications, that will permit anyone to attach any innovative device to it as long as it abides by the network's protocols. (MLW)

School districts should have a plan to reduce potential losses in the event of a data processing disaster. Describes the plan devised for the Fairfax County (Virginia) school system. (MLF)

A five-year follow-up study compares the current business school curriculum content in electronic data processing and statistical sampling to the requirements of business. Differences still exist but there is evidence of progress by business schools in meeting the needs of business. (JOW)

Reviews the potential of a data acquisition system for illustrating the nature and significance of ideas in digital signal processing. Focuses on the fast Fourier transform and the utility of its two-channel format, emphasizing cross-correlation and its two-microphone technique of acoustic intensity measurement. Includes programing format. (ML)

Explains an experiment in text-searching retrieval for cancer questions which developed and used computer procedures (via human simulation) to select search words from medical dictionaries. This study is based on an earlier one in which search words were humanly selected, and the recall results of the two studies are compared. (Author/LRW)

Describes the advantages of optical data disk-based storage systems including cost, performance, and space required. Conversion from tape-based to optical disk-based data management via a flexible, hardware-based optical archiving system is discussed. (Author/LRW)

A study was conducted to identify stage characteristics in terms of technology, applications, the role and responsibilities of the office automation organization, and planning and control strategies; and to describe the respective roles of data processing professionals, office automation analysts, and users in office automation systems development…

The use of modern technology in education has reached a turning point. Equipment found in schools is increasing, and computer-assisted instruction has been shown to achieve positive results. Learning to use computer utilities and databases should be given high priority. (MD)

Defines forms and the processing characteristics of working forms, and introduces the proposed prototype form definition language to specify the information requirements and to describe the nonprocedural execution in activity processing. The article also outlines the integrated forms-based information system, focusing on the interactions among the…

Cornell University is installing a high-speed telecommunication system that will link campus telephones and computers with the outside world. Voice communication, computer data, and video images will travel through a university-owned multipurpose system. (MLF)

In this second of two installments, a discussion of role of information science (IS) in numerical databases (NDBs) and vice versa highlights two elements of IS needed to develop NDBs: technical (hardware, software, artificial intelligence, degree of database reliability); social (man-machine interface, social infrastructure). Research requirements…

The University of Southern California has implemented a decentralized management philosophy. Implementation of this approach to management is facilitated by making accurate management information available to decision-makers in their offices in real time. (MLW)

A tongue-in-cheek, point/counterpoint discussion between a user and a computer professional is presented. Personal computing, it is suggested, can help strike a balance between what users can do for themselves to gain control and responsibility and what computer professionals can do to support that. (Author/MLW)

The optimum use of the microcomputer can emerge when it competes both in cost effectiveness and actual qualitative performance with all other educational media available. Mainframe computers, available in most school districts, can share data with microcomputers via terminals in schools and classrooms and allow microcomputers to operate most…

Defines and describes the components and functions that constitute a microcomputer--bits, bytes, address register, cycle time, data path, and bus. Characteristics of 8-, 16-, and 32-bit machines are explained in detail, and microprocessor evolution, architecture, and implementation are discussed. Application characteristics or types for each bit…