Standards for user procedures and data formats in automated information systems and networks

Abstract

At the present time, a low-cost, suitably connected teletypewriter, and a telephone call, is the "passport" that can permit a person to make direct contact with any of more than two dozen computer-based information storage and processing capabilities within academic and research establishments scattered across the country. By the same method of access, one can in addition make contact with at least as many commercial services offering similar capabilities. By any reasonable estimate, there are now (Spring 1968) in operation more than two thousand such teletypewriter units which are being used by students, faculty, scientists, engineers, secretaries, and administrators. New accessible computer facilities, both academic and commercial, are being announced with regularity. In addition, large projects, both privately and governmentally sponsored, are under way with the purpose of creating vast topical information stores with associated processors. An important part of some of these plans is the linking of the stores into large networks, both for the exchange of information among the stores, as well as for presentation of the information to, and service to, the directly-connected ultimate user.