The series, of which this is the initial report, is intended to give a selective overview of research and development efforts and requirements in the computer and information sciences. The operations of information acquisition, sensing, and input to information processing systems are considered in generalized terms. Specific topics include but are not limited to: (1) source data automation and remote sensing techniques, (2) communication systems and data transmission links, (3) audio and graphic inputs, (4) preprocessing operations upon input items, (5) character recognition, (6) speech recognition and (7) various other aspects of automatic pattern recognition. Supplemental notes and a bibliography of over 640 cited references are included. (Author/NH)