It is best to keep the academic computing program separate from the data management problemsolving required by educational, administrative, and business activities. Educational value and real cost effectiveness should be used in and out of the educational system. (Author/DN)

This paper presents a study on the effects of various data compression methods from the viewpoint of central computer to terminal communications on a large graphics oriented timesharing system, PLATO IV. The desired goal is to increase terminal display speed without significant increase in the transmission error rates. While the major emphasis in…

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…

The administrator has four options in choosing the most practical method of administrative, instructional and research computer usage. (Editor)

Reviews the experience of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with an on-line registration system and a subsequent change to the use programmable terminals with the Sanders 810 computer, which is considered a significant improvement at less cost. Advantages and disadvantages of both systems are detailed. (JT)

Automated management information systems (MIS) process a great deal of data at a relatively low cost. Staff involvement is vital to the success of any MIS. Designers must consider how information moves in the organization and coordinate the system design with this movement. (JAC)

Installation of a small computer and the use of specially designed programs has proven a cost-effective solution to the data processing needs of a university medical center's ophthalmology department, providing immediate access to grants accounting information and avoiding dependence on the institution's mainframe computer. (MSE)

This monograph on the cost and use of computers in education consists of two parts. Part I is a report of the President's Science Advisory Committee concerning the cost and use of the computer in undergraduate, secondary, and higher education. In addition, the report contains a discussion of the interaction between research and educational uses of…

Outline of basic requirements needed to outfit a small public library with microcomputers discusses necessary equipment, cost effectiveness, management information systems, statistics generated, software available, and library procedures to be automated. Fifteen references are cited. (EJS)

Indicates that board members and superintendents from smaller districts should start thinking about the wise variety of potential uses for a computer. Points to the increasing numbers of regional computer centers giving small districts access to computer power. (Author/WM)

The Registrar at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada, reviewed the student records system, a data base structure using IBM's IMS package. Over 13 interviews were conducted to determine use of the system, problems, and suggestions. An estimated $50,000 could be saved annually by adoption of recommendations. (SW)

To support the position that the use of computers can make educational administration more cost-effective, the minicomputer-based information system in the Ridgeway Public School District in New Jersey is described. A model of the information system is included. (JJD)

Michigan's Wayne County Intermediate School District, which serves 36 constituent districts, has converted from a centralized to a distributed computer system, resulting in improved and expanded data processing service to local district administrators, staff, and students at a substantially lower cost. (Author/MLF)