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Papers and presentations at the 1971 symposium of the Digital Equipment Computer Users Society (DECUS) are presented. The papers deal with medical and physiological applications, computer graphics, simulation education, small computer executive systems, management information tools, data acquisition systems, and high level languages. Although many of the papers are highly technical, a sizeable number are discussions of educational applications which are intelligible to the informed layman. (JY)

The problem of peace is considered to be ecological. Ecology is the study of the complex interrelationships between organisms and their environments. To clarify this approach, three major types of social complexity--organizational, problem, and conceptual--are briefly reviewed together with their interactions and their effect on the individual. A practical approach to handling, generating, and facilitating comprehension of this complexity by the use of interactive computer graphics is then described in terms of its significance for a variety of users. The paper does not suggest a new theoretical model to examine the problems of peace, but rather shows the relevance of an existing device to many such inquiries. In demonstrating this relevance, peace is treated as an ecological problem because of the high tolerance of the ecological approach to complexity of the order detected in the psycho-social system. The closing sections comment on the relevance of this approach to value and knowledge requirements for peace and suggest some practical steps which could be taken. (Author)

The following papers in English from this international conference may be of particular interest to those in the field of education. T. Nakahara, A. Tsukamota, and M. Matsumoto describe a computer-aided design technique for an economical urban cable television system. W. D. Wasson and R. K. Chitkara outline a recognition scheme based on analysis of the contour characteristics of visual patterns. S. H. Durrani discusses the possible communications and systems requirements for commercial satellite systems during the next 15 years. A brief description of the satellites and experiments proposed by the Application Technology Satellite program is presented by H. L. Gerwin. In R. E. Greenquist's paper, the proposed Western Union multipurpose domestic satellite system is discussed. Computer-aided design of computer networks via computer graphics is explained by J. D. Foley and K. Lau. G. P. Lewett deals with "systems science," the systems approach, and situation analysis. R. B. Wadsworth outlines the application of systems engineering to education. J. C. Castle describes communication system design in multiple access computer networks. The German contribution to aesthetic computer graphics and the corresponding rational theory of art are interpreted by H. W. Franke. J. R. Pierce describes his 20 years of experience with computers and music. Others of the 231 papers are in Spanish. (JY)

A literature survey of works dealing expressly with computer animation of motion pictures is presented in this report. Twenty-four papers are cited, ranging in date from 1964 to 1969. The papers are divided into three categories: general discussions, animation languages, and specific applications. The author provides a short description of each paper. An author index is appended. (Author/JY)

The objectives of this workshop were: (1) To provide assistance in the exploration of the technological and related issues, which include the latest techniques, methods for employment, equipment and benefits to be obtained from the application of computer-controlled typesetting and photographic composition; (2) To provide an opportunity for representatives of the various interest groups to meet and discuss papers prepared in advance by the participants on the most important issues in this field and (3) To provide a record of the proceedings for the broader use by the scientific community. The 45 participants of this two-day conference are listed. The gathering provided a unique opportunity for invited industry leaders to discuss computer composition among themselves. The material is presented in chronological order. The paper by Arthur F. Gardiner, "The Future Isn't What it Used to Be" is considered the challenge paper. The eleven prepared papers are followed by a "Statement of Problem Areas." The panel discussions, summary of the workshop and a bibliography are included. The index is arranged so that what was said by whom on what subject can be easily located. (Author/NH)

This paper gives a technical description of various computer graphics programs developed on the Sigma 7 computer. Terminals used are the Adage 100 and the Tektronix 4002-4010. Commands are Metasymbol procedures which access Metasymbol library subroutines; programs can also be coupled with FORTRAN programs. Available, inexpensive graphic terminals are reviewed. Relatively minor changes are required to adapt the coding to terminals using different graphic coding. Graphics software is discussed, and the applications of graphics to teaching physics is emphasized. (RB)

New, more versatile and inexpensive terminals will make computer graphics more feasible in science instruction than before. This paper describes the use of graphics in physics teaching at the University of California at Irvine. Commands and software are detailed in established programs, which include a lunar landing simulation and a program which teaches the laws of motion. Graphic teaching is held to be more intuitive than nongraphic and the possibility of student-written graphics (once software is perfected) is considered favorably. (RB)

APL is a computer language (A Programing Language). Papers at this conference of APL users deal with the following topics: an APL approach to interactive display terminals; graphics in APL; an interactive APL graphics system; modeling a satellite experiment on APL; representing negative integers in bit vectors; APL as a teaching tool--two versatile tutorial approaches; the evolution of an interactive chemistry laboratory program; a collection of graph analysis APL functions; management of APL time-sharing activities; saving money by saving space in APL; security of APL application packages; enhanced interaction for an APL system; subtasking in APL; suggestions for a "mapped" extension of APL; APL as a notation for statistical analysis; an adaptive query system; microprogram training--an APL extension; and APL electronic circuit analysis program and use of APL in teaching electrical network theory. Also included is a bibliography of 340 items dealing with APL. (JK)

Computer Assisted Synthesizer System (CASS), a portable music synthesizer system which can produce tones from ordinary paper and pencil graphs, was developed and its usefulness for music instruction evaluated in this study. After completion of a pilot study to determine the feasibility of developing CASS and to run a trail test period, 28 fifth and eighth grade students were randomly selected to be given instruction utilizing the system. Subjects received six weeks of instruction, and at the end of this period, they were compared with random samples of instrumental music students and with general music students from the same school. The results indicated that the CASS training was as effective as the study of conventional musical instruments. Because of some unexpected results with the general music students, it is considered that another variable, such as motivation, may be of importance in predicting the differential response to the three treatments. (The technical aspects of CASS are described in an appendix.) (Author/SH)

The arrangement of this publication follows, as nearly as possible, the actual conference program. The seven sections represent the topics selected by the planning committee as areas of concentration. Each section includes a state-of-the-art paper and related talks and discussion. The topics covered are: the library of the future, file organization and conversion, file storage and access of bibliographic information; graphic storage techniques and applications, microforms, output printing for library mechanization; library communications and networks, automation of library systems; library systems analysis; and mathematical models and system design. Biographical data and a list of the conference participants are included. (AB)

This paper provides a review of computer typesetting in the United Kingdom with an emphasis on the use of data originating from a computer rather than from a printing environment. It explains the need for an alternative to the computer line-printer when large amounts of data are being processed, and the effect of new techniques on the printing industry. A selection of current and potential applications is reported under sectional headings to illustrate the range and volume of possible development. The use of data banks to provide a source of copy for the production of varied publications is dealt with, and an estimate of future trends is offered. (Author)

A rationale for the use of gaming and simulation for instructional purposes is developed in the introduction to this paper. The major portion of the text is comprised of several models of computer programs for economics instruction. (SHM)

Abstracts of 23 papers given at the conference are presented. These deal with a variety of subjects related to educational uses of computers, including: 1) information networking, 2) computer-managed test item banks, 3) learner-controlled instruction and courseware, 4) computer-assisted instructional (CAI) systems such as Coursewriter III and PLATO, 5) CAI programs in different content areas, 6) CAI authoring, 7) cost-effectiveness and cost analysis of CAI, 8) computer graphics, and 9) minicomputers. Information on the Catalog of Instructional Resources for Computer Utilization in Teaching (CIRCUIT) is provided and minutes of the business meeting, a roster of persons attending, a financial statement of the Association for the Development of Computer-Based Instructional Systems (ADCIS) and a resolution of the Association supporting the leadership of the National Library of Medicine's efforts to implement CAI are appended. (PB)

This paper consists of three parts. Section 1 considers how difficult it is to analyze natural languages by computer, and, therefore how difficult it is to evaluate automatically the student's responses to some types of questions in computer-aided instruction systems for language teaching. Section 2 discusses drawbacks of conventional computer aided instruction systems for language teaching and of conventional language laboratories, and presents a picture of an idealized computer-aided instruction system as an extension of classroom instruction--a long range goal which cannot be technologically and financially achieved in the immediate future. Section 3 outlines a more modest goal that is within the bounds of the present hardware and software developments in computer sciences--that is, a system for aiding textbook authors in compiling and revising language textbooks, and for aiding classroom instructors in using textbooks in a way more suitable for their students' needs. Added to such a system is the capability for printing non-standard characters on computers, which will make it possible to produce language textbooks printed in the orthographics of the languages. (Author/FWB)

This study defined a type of information-processing task analysis and an index relating different instructional sequences to this analysis. One hundred sixty-four college students were taught, with computer-assisted instruction, an imaginary science by various instructional sequences or by selecting their own sequence. A program-controlled instructional sequence conforming to the sequence defined by the task analysis was most effective. Learner-controlled sequences yielded poor performance. The contributions of the cognitive abilities of induction, associative memory, and general reasoning to performance under learner and program-controlled sequence and the ability by sequence interactions were shown. (Author)

At a conference concerned with the role of computers in medical education, papers were given on the use of computers in continuing medical education, in clinical medical education, and in undergraduate medical education. Other subjects discussed were: medical technology and social change, criterion models of medical practice, faculty selection, EDUCOM (University Communications Council), automation in the medical library, MEDLARS, funding and costs, evaluation of computer use, and proper goals for medical education. It was resolved that the conference be held on an annual basis. (MF)

A computer program has been developed that will accept as inputs the physical description of a portion of land, and the parking design standards to be followed. The program will then give as outputs the numerical and graphical descriptions of the maximum-density parking lot for that portion of land. The problem has been treated as a standard optimization one in which the number of parking stalls are to be maximized subject to the constraint that a statistically representative vehicle could easily maneuver in the lot. Dynamic programing was used to obtain the optimum solution. (Author)

A detailed account is given in this paper of the procedures and the equipment used in producing six computer-animated instructional movies. First, the sequence of events were described in a script, which, together with the analytical expressions that were dealt with, formed the basis of a program. Then, the program was run on a computer and the output stored on a magnetic tape. The information on the magnetic tape was transferred to an oscillograph screen with the help of a digital-analog converter. From the oscillograph screen, the pictures were photographed with a movie camera. After development and cutting, the film was ready for showing. The movies were chiefly about antennas. A next step, that is considered to be very simple, is to add sound to the movies. (MF)

A major feature of the Brunel Symposium was an exhibition of on-line equipment operating either from a local computer or over telephone lines to a remote backup processor. Manufacturers also presented lecture-demonstrations on applications of their systems, and participants were able to see and operate the graphic equipment.