The introduction and diffusion of automatic computing facilities during the 1960's is reviewed; it is described as a time when research strategies in a broad variety of disciplines changed to take advantage of the newfound power provided by the computer. Several types of typical problems encountered by researchers who adopted the new technologies, together with the solutions adopted by the researchers, are described. It is shown how the local computing facility expanded to the centralized facility as a result of these problems; new types of needs and uses for computers continue to favor evolution and change. One result was the growth of large-scale computer networks. An alternative to established forms of networks--hierarchical computing systems--is suggested as providing better answers to more kinds of needs. The Minicomputer Interfacing Support System (MISS), developed at the University of Chicago, is briefly described as a prototype system allowing minicomputers to be used in a hierarchical system which would provide more powerful capabilities when they are needed. Finally, it is suggested that traditional attitudes of researchers toward computation facilities should be reevaluated, as new possibilities are being developed and made available. (WDR)