The aim of this bibliography is to provide a guide to the diverse body of literature that deals with the "geographic or spatial characteristics" of the data elements and data items in each of the following five phases: (1) Specification, (2) Acquisition, (3) Processing, (4) Dissemination and (5) Application. It is intended to provide…

This study guide in data processing is designed to make the subject accessible to the secondary student. It contains the following units: Historical Developments, Understanding the Computer, Careers in Data Processing, The Tabulating Card, Keypunching, Interpreting, Sorting, The 514 Reproducer, The 85 Collator, and The 402 Accounting Machine. The…

Examines the external change forces in the environment and their resultant impact on the internal structure and activities of an organization designed to jointly develop uses of computers and data processing techniques to facilitate the administrative, instruction, and research activities of member school districts. (Author/IRT)

Reviews the history of federal regulation in the communications industry, places the "Bell Bill" in some historical perspective, and relates the significance of activities in the regulatory sphere to the concerns of libraries. (Author/VT)

Trends in information exchange are discussed, including computer technologies becoming faster, smaller, and cheaper; human labor costs rising; electronic information exchange utilized in more phases of our daily lives; and the continuing increase in the volume of data. Implications for the information science profession are considered. (Author/MB…

After a brief discussion of the history and current status of business data processing versus computer science, this article focuses on the characteristics of a business data processing curriculum as compared to a computer science curriculum, including distinctions between the FORTRAN and COBOL programming languages. (SH)

The author discusses differences between the business data processing and the computer science curriculums in postsecondary education. The business data processing curriculum requires little math and science, and the computer science curriculum little business preparation. He cites characteristics of each discipline and suggests that both…

Discusses four basic aspects of data reference work: 1) How files are created as related to the main sources for acquisition of data files; 2) What publications help to identify available data files; 3) What variables appear in which data files; 4) What information about the physical medium of file storage is needed to use the file on a computer.…

Presents a detailed analysis of courseware design activities based upon the use of conceptual data models for content elaboration. Highlights include discussions of computerized training systems, authoring languages and authoring systems, and the distinction between processing and data. (Author/LRW)

Appropriate strategies for teaching students to interpret and understand quantitative data in marketing, management, accounting, and data processing are described. Accompanying figures illustrate samples of percentage markups, trade discounts, gross earning, gross commissions, accounting entries, balance sheet entries, and percentage problems. (CT)

Because automated natural language processing relies heavily on the still developing fields of linguistics, knowledge representation, and computational linguistics, no system is capable of mimicking human linguistic capabilities. For the present, interactive systems may be used to augment today's technology. (MSE)

Describes the latest technology in videotape cassette systems and other magnetic storage devices and their possible effects on optical data disks. Highlights include Honeywell's Very Large Data Store (VLDS); Exabyte's tape cartridge storage system; standards for tape drives; and Masstor System's videotape cartridge system. (LRW)

This three-part article introduces a population dynamics model of an information processing system. The first part describes the general model and defines the terms used, the second describes the functional relationships between components, and the third explores the hypothesized emergence of increasingly complex, hierarchical information systems.…

With more and more users in colleges and universities relying on electronic information, the need for a contingency plan in the event of a disaster has become more pressing. Setting objectives, impact analysis, interim processing strategy, working with users, and a two-level approach are discussed. (MLW)

Provides guidelines for proper computer environment, care, and handling. Successful implementation of equipment and programs depends on adequate electrical circuitry, antistatic carpeting, and proper lighting and room temperature, among other factors. Hints are also provided concerning computer furniture, care of software, and personnel…