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This article presents information related to the 5th Annual Symposium of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of ACM. On October 29, 1965, the topic "Computers--Software for Online Systems," was discussed. Over 300 people attended this symposium which reflects the great interest in the topic. The papers given represented the broad interests in the time-sharing field of the diverse organizations from government, business and universities. The impact of online systems has been felt in each of these areas. The Octopus operating system for the Control Data 6600 is one of the first steps at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Livermore, California, to interconnect various types of computers and storage devices. This system provides a response within reasonable time to users located at remote teletypes. Up to 100 programs are known to the system at one time, of which ten are active and in main core. Programming the Octopus system has required two calendar-years and fifteen man-years.

The article features the radio newspaper industry in the U.S. which is confident that it can surpass the obstacles related to the transatlantic process of transmitting data in 1937. It mentions that the technique of the recording of images and adapting radio to the transmission is at least 12 years old, however, the development of printing-press gadget is possible through experimentation. The author states that the transatlantic systems that are used by the industry for reproducing photos cost two U.S. dollars per square inch of a picture transmitted.

The article focuses on the use of the telegraphic style in the transmission of the firm's memoranda in the U.S.

This article focuses on the proposed USA Standard, which presents control procedures for the data communication systems. This employs the USA Standard Code (SC) for Information Interchange. It is intended for systems that are controlled through the use of the communication control characters provided in USASCII. Other standards have been adopted or are being developed which prescribe the character structure, bit sequencing, signaling speed, message format, and other parameters vital to the communication of information in a data system. In the development of this standard both historical and present data communication practices were considered. In addition, consideration was given to the requirements for future systems and to the applicable standards being developed internationally. This standard is intended for systems that are controlled through the use of the communication control characters provided in USASCII. This standard specifies a variety of data communication control procedures to meet the needs of data communication links having different configurations or complexity.

The U.S. Air Force recently announced a program for adapting its far-flung network to requirements of the space age, cost what it may. This conglomerate assemblage of circuits, comprising voice, data handling, graphics and teletype, is collectively known as GlobeCom or Air communications Complex (AirCom). The plan for its modernization and futurization is called "Quick Fix." A press conference revealed that the program would continue "through 1970 and beyond." In view of this longevity and the fact that the system is classified, none of the attending generals or their budget assistants could venture to put a dollar estimate on the ultimate cost of the program.

The article offers information on the plan of Texan computer salesman Sy Joffe to develop Datran, a 400-million dollars nationwide microwave network for data transmission. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has studied Joffe's proposal for the past 18 months. It is said that there are challenges to Datran's plan of casting its data communications net over the country, despite optimism of Joffe, who is now the vice chairman of Data Transmission Co.

The article discusses the next goal of computer industry which is to acquire centralized control of all stages of production in the U.S. It focuses on the progress of computer services which have broadened the scope of control from automated accounting to inventory control and production scheduling. Data Communication networks or systems are addressing the procedures for control links with manufacturing operations thus facilitate on the transmission of data through telephone lines.

The article reports on Telesat, the first communications satellite system that will be operated by Canada in which it would broadcast telephone and communications services throughout the nation. It states that the Canadian system is being developed carefully to prevent any type of legislative complications which hinders the plans of the U.S. to develop a domestic satellite system. It says that Telesat would offer various channels and ground lines needed for data and telephone transmission.