Page 6 University Daily Kansan, July 1, 1983 'ZIP plus 4' system to make codes longer, sorting quicker At 3 a.m. the Lawrence Post Office clocks begin to sort first-class mail. The mail is delivered in a box. At 6:30 a.m. the mail carriers come in to send the mail by carrier routes. It is up to them to identify and route the mail. But this time-consuming task of manually sorting the mail will be improved soon when the "ZIP plus 4" system goes into effect later this year. Lawrence Postmaster Jack Harris said yesterday he expected nine-digit ZIP codes to be used by this fall, or January 1984 at the latest. The first five digits of the code will remain the same, while four additional numbers will be added. These four numbers form a new number in the graphical area than the five-digit ZIP. The area covered by a nine-digit ZIP could be anywhere from the size of a quarter to the size of a basketball. The Academic Computer Center will conduct three informational seminars on Zenith microcomputers this month and provide an official of the Center said yesterday. Herb Harris, assistant director of user services, said that the free seminars would give information about how the machines work and how to buy them and that participants would get to use the microcomputers. Zenith computer seminars start today The seminars will be held at noon today, Tuesday and Friday, July 8. KNOWLEDGE SERVICE EDUCATION COMMODORE EPSON MORROW DESIGNS VICIOR 9000 KAY PRO ORIDATA WB. 80 W. 23th St. a11-0994 Computerark 1912 W. 25th 842-3416 9-5 Monday-Friday PARK PLAZA SOUTH APTS. *on bus route *close to shopping One and two bedrooms start at $190 of an apartment complex, Harris said, depending on the number of people involved. KATY'S CELLAR SHOPPE Machines then will be able to sort the mail down to the point of these smaller areas. This would eliminate many types of problems by the clerks and carriers. Harris said. NEXT-TO-NEW CLOTHING FOR WOMEN 745 NEW HAMPSHIRE THE MARKETPLACE (BEHIND THE HARVEST) 842-7456 He said that the additional four digits had not yet been assigned to specific parts of town. He intends to notify residents and use the new-digit codes are definitely established. Another change awaiting is the addition of a third ZIP code for Lawrence. Beginning Jan. 1, 1884, the area of Lawrence served by the Jayhawk station, 1519 W. 23rd St., will have the new ZIP code 60046. The Jayhawk station serves the area south of 19th Street and the Alvamar area in West Lawrence. The third ZIP code was reserved for Lawrence when the ZIP code system began 20 years ago. Harris said the three zones correspond to another 16 years. Another Zip code, 66047, still is reserved for Lawrence. ZIP system still perfecting after 20 years LAUGHING UP ITS sleeve, the article went on to "Suppose grudgingly" that the new code would improve service. "We say this hopefully, having stopped trying to dial information on our telephones." Art Fry, KU postal clerk and long time guardian of Lawrence's other zip code, 60645, agreed with Smith that the codes early years were relatively calm. "Starting today, more of our lives will be by the numbers," the editorial writes. A July 1, 1963 New York Times editorial titled, "DearMr. 10036," mirrored the skepticism of the people who believed that news media as communication services in general. "Residential consumers will eventually follow suit as they did in the 1960s, because they'll see how well it works," he said. "Before you knew it, it was like knowing your own house number." HE SAID THAT there was some confusion at first, especially during the first two Christmas seasons, but that the problems worked themselves out. "Although it took awhile to settle in, the transition was smooth and the mail certainly has gotten faster because of it." Smith said. He said the primary objective now was to get voluntary compliance in the use of the new code primarily by giving incentives to industries. The postal zip code celebrates a birthday today, and even though it's now 20 years old, it's still growing. ACCORDING TO HARRIS, further bypassing of present hand-sorted steps in the mail cycle will be the biggest advantage of the new system. The incentives will be in the form of lower postal rates for those businesses, industries and other heavy mailers who have been issued their added zip numbers. The widely accepted five-digit Zone Improvement Program code began voluntary compliance on July 1, 1963, and has since gained four extra digits. Staff Writer Survival: 9:20 Panky: 11:15 Fry said he guessed the new nine-digit code would help and he had no doubts as to the success of the 20-year-old model. "No doubt about it, the zip helped speed.mail sorting a lot," he said. Back in 1963 it took the average letter a day or two longer to go from front porch to delivery, but with the institute's recent effort to curb entering entered the age of enlightenment. PLUS "HANKY PANKY "It will allow us to sort mail right down to each carrier's route," he said. Bv. GARY SMITH THE SURVIVORS The nine-digit number is being used under voluntary compliance by heavy mail users around the country and in Lawrence. SUNSET WATERFRONT HARBOUR WATERFRONT "THE NEW NINE-DIGIT code will be voluntary, just like the five-digit zip was in 1963, and still is today," said John B. Harris, Lawrence postmaster. Harris explained the process that he said leads to another smooth transition. Harris said the post office isn't quite ready for full implementation of the plan. "EVERYBODY COMPLAINED back when the zip started because they, had five more numbers to remember," said Lester Smith, veteran of more than 26 years of postal work in Lawrence. He said the reaction was similar to present day complaints and anxieties concerning the new "ZIP plus four" program. Eve, 7:30-9:30; Mat. Sat.-Sun.-Mon. 2:00 "It itdn't seem too bad back then, he said. "The post office had a big push WIGHT ONE "First we've got to get all the machines installed to optically read and sort the nine-digits automatically," he said. Smith said people worried about the zip 20 years ago but were slowly convinced of the added benifit of faster delivery. Harris added that the system would start going on line by the end of this year and that it should lead to faster, more efficient delivery of mail, just as the 20-year-old five-digit zip code seems to have done in the past. in the first few years to be sure people used it, and it worked." 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