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…

The design and operation of a time-sharing monitor are described. It runs under OS/360 MVT that supports multiple application program interaction with operators of CRT (cathode ray tube) display stations and of a teletype. Key design features discussed include: 1) an interface allowing application programs to be coded in either PL/I or assembler…

To improve the instructional process, time shared computer-assisted instructional methods were developed to teach upper division undergraduate chemical engineering students the concepts of process simulation and analysis. The interactive computer simulation aimed at enabling the student to learn the difficult concepts of process dynamics by…

Three outstanding features of the Rapidly Extensible Language (REL) System are discussed. REL itself is an integrated software system designed to facilitate conversational interaction with the computer, especially by those working with dynamic, highly interrelated data. The system's main parts are: 1) the operating system, which manages the…

REACTIONS OF A USER POPULATION (SCIENTISTS/ENGINEERS AND LIBRARIANS) TO AN OPERATIONAL TEST OF AN ON-LINE SYSTEM FOR RETRIEVING DOCUMENT CITATIONS (RECON) WERE STUDIED AT SEVERAL NASA FACILITIES. DURING A TWO MONTH OPERATIONAL TEST PERIOD, DATA WERE COLLECTED REGARDING FREQUENCY OF USAGE AND DEGREE OF SUCCESS ENCOUNTERED IN CONDUCTING ON-LINE…

An attempt is made to provide a comprehensive guide to design of the dialogues between man and computer that take place at computer terminals. Particular topics include problems with conventional alphanumeric dialogues, dialogues with sound and graphics, pyschological characteristics of computer terminal users, problems of designing dialogues for…

IN GENERAL, PROBLEM SOLUTIONS CAN BE FOUND ALONG A CONTINUUM OF ABSTRACTION FROM THE SPECIFIC TO THE GENERAL. THERE IS, AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOLUTION, A MOST EFFICIENT OR OPTIMUM STRATEGY. IN INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION IS USUALLY OBTAINED, AT A MORE SPECIFIC RATHER THAN AT A MORE ABSTRACT LEVEL. THE…

Engineering is coming to rely more and more heavily upon the computer for computations, analyses, and graphic displays which aid the design process. A general purpose simulation system, the Time-shared Automatic Control Laboratory (TACL), and a set of computer-aided design programs, Control Oriented Interactive Graphic Analysis and Design…

The computer is currently a vital tool in engineering analysis and design. With the introduction of moderately priced graphics terminals, it will become even more important in the future as rapid graphic interaction between the engineer and the computer becomes more feasible in computer-aided design (CAD). To provide a vehicle for introducing…

A two-stage project is investigating the educational potential of a low-cost time-sharing system used as a simulation tool in Electrical Engineering (EE) education. Phase I involves a pilot study and Phase II a full integration. The system employs interactive computer simulation to teach engineering concepts which are not well handled by…

A new technique called computer augmented lectures (CAL) now in use at the University of Texas at Austin is discussed in this report. The technique is described as involving the integration of on-line interactive time-sharing computer terminals and theater-size video projectors for large screen display, the goal being to promote student learning…