Distributed computer processing, increasingly common on campuses, brings the convenience of open and broad access to information but must be combined with well-planned and regularly reviewed security measures. Ethical codes must be defined and followed, and a combination of security components required to gain access should be used when possible.…

Describes the design and operation of four software packages, or macros, written in the programing language of Microsoft's EXCEL for use on the Macintosh computer for data manipulation and presentation used in educational research. Reordering tabulated data, reversing the scoring of tabulated data, and creating tables and graphs are explained.…

Business teachers who teach computer applications face three major challenges: making their classes attractive to students; managing individualized, multiactivity classes; and developing independent business software users. The last-mentioned goal is the primary reason for the existence of the business department. (SK)

Trends in mechanical translation are reviewed briefly, and difficulties in selecting appropriate equivalencies are cited. Decisions dependent upon real world knowledge rather than dictionary equivalents and grammar are illustrated. (15 references) (LB)

Presents a new image compression algorithm that employs some of the most successful approaches to adaptive lossless compression to perform adaptive online (single pass) vector quantization with variable size codebook entries. Results of tests of the algorithm's effectiveness on standard test images are given. (12 references) (KRN)

Evaluates the performance of different methods of data compression coding in several situations. Huffman's code, arithmetic coding, fixed codes, fast approximations to arithmetic coding, and splay coding are discussed in terms of their speed, memory requirements, and proximity to optimal performance. Recommendations for the best methods of…

Presents an inference algorithm that produces a weighted finite automata (WFA), in particular, the grayness functions of graytone images. Image-data compression results based on the new inference algorithm produces a WFA with a relatively small number of edges. Image-data compression results alone and in combination with wavelets are discussed.…

Describes the process of developing a data collection (coding) form to extract a minimum data set from nursing service records and a method of training lay coders to use the form. Explains how the Nursing Minimum Data Set can be used for research and program improvement. (JOW)

Discusses telecommunications between computers and terminals and the software needed to transfer information files between computers. Technical management of computers and telecommunications in libraries is considered, computer networks are discussed, and a glossary of terms encountered in computer communications is presented. (Six references)…

Discusses the use of optical character recognition (OCR) for inputting documents in an information retrieval system and describes a study that used an OCR-generated database and its corresponding corrected version to examine query evaluation in the presence of noisy data. Scanning technology, recognition technology, and retrieval technology are…

The ability to undertake approximate calculations and to get a rough feel for data is an important skill which should not be overlooked. Presents some ideas for teaching and assessing approximate calculation. Contains 13 references. (Author/ASK)

In the first of two studies of the data processing program at Johnson County Community College (Kansas), students enrolled in data processing classes during spring 1978 were surveyed to collect basic demographic data and to obtain opinions about the program. There were approximately as many men as women enrolled and the median age was 25, slightly…

This information memorandum describes three federal laws which govern public access to federal records and the treatment of personally identifiable information by federal agencies or under federal programs. It is noted that these laws generally apply only to federal agencies in the executive branch of government. The first of four major sections…

Experience with data processing must be included in courses dealing with computer science. A series of examples of data processing problems suitable for classroom use is presented. (SD)