Tuesday, November 28, 1987
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7
New computer combine jobs of two in "batch processing"
By S. Allen Winchester Kansan Staff Reporter
A new computer at the Data Processing and Computation Center in the basement of Summerfield Hall can receive, compute and send information to and from "remote terminals" located elsewhere.
The new computer is the General Electric (GE) 625 which combines the jobs it used to take two computers to do. The computers use the "batch job processing technique," said Gary D. Shilling, systems supervisor at the Center.
This means one computer read punch cards and transmitted the information on them into tape form. The tape was then taken to the other computer to perform the prescribed computations. When this was done, the tape was returned to the first computer to be printed or punched, Shilling said.
625 combines processes The GE 625 combines these processes internally, he said.
The GE 625 was chosen because of four main attributes: expandability, local job processing, remote job processing and real time capabilities, Shilling said.
Expandability means the computer can be expanded as new components are available. "Previously, computers have been replaced about every two years," Shilling said.
Rents the computer
The Center rents the computer on a monthly basis, said Robert Robinson, associate director of the Center. Rental cost is about $23,000 a month.
Local job processing is programmed in Summerfield. This means data is collected, computed and stored in the Center.
Remote job processing means the computer can accept input and communicate output to and from terminals located beyond Summerfield.
KUMC uses 625
Shilling said the KU Medical Center in Kansas City has such a terminal. Doctors wishing to use the computer can give their programs to a teletype operator at the Medical Center, who in turn, sends the program over the wire to Lawrence, The program is computed and returned to Kansas City by teletype.
Watson Library has a remote terminal which records book circulation. Each time a book is checked out the title or number of the book and student number is sent to the Center. Circulation records are stored at the Center.
Real time capabilities allow remote terminals to communicate on the job and receive answers immediately. Shilling said. This means an experiment can take place with data and solutions sent and received while the experiment is going on.
Tutors burglars
MIL.WAUKEE, Wis. —(UPI) Two men arrested for breaking into a drug store told police Monday they had been tutored by television.
Although most remote terminal inputs are keyboard teletype, research is being done on voice transmission. Vocabulary difficulties have put the input audio research far into the future. Closer at hand is research on computers which send output back in an audio response.
[ ]
Math instruction is now being taught by computers, said Shilling. Students feed and receive responses from the computer by teletype. Audio response would greatly popularize and simplify this instruction.
One of the dreams of the Center is to become one of the major computing facilities of the midwest for federal supported colleges. This is one of the reasons we chose the remote terminal system, Shilling said.
Projecting farther into the future, Shilling visualized a "checkless society," where all money transactions are done by computers. There would be no need for cash, because accounts could be kept on master files. Retailers would readily know whether a customer could pay for his purchase, Shilling said.
like the weather, were brisk Monday.
---
Chorale performs tonight
Simeone's concert is the first in a special Hoch Series arranged by the Student Union Activities Special Events Committee.
Tickets of all prices are still available. Tickets will be sold at the door for $2, $1.50 and $1. Several hundred tickets were sold last week, and the ticket sales,
Harry Simeone, his 15 singers and five musicians entertain KU students today at 7:30 in Hoch Auditorium.
The second in the series will be a concert Dec. 13 by the Fifth Dimension, a rock and soul group.
PATRONIZE KANSAN ADVERTISERS
SENIORS & GRADUATE STUDENTS
ARCHITECTURE-ENGINEERING
Representatives of GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Will be on campus DECEMBER 1
If you are interested in employment in KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
SIGN UP FOR INTERVIEW NOW At the Student Placement Office
An Equol Opportunity employer in
The Career Federal Service
GROW WITH THE SPACE AGE AT
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER GREENBELT, MD.
ENGINEERS-SCIENTISTS-MATHEMATICIANS
LINK YOUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE WITH YOUR OWN
A GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER REPRESENTATIVE WILL VISIT YOUR CAMPUS TO DISCUSS YOUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THIS GROWING NASA CENTER ON: TUESDAY, DEC. 12, 1967