At this point, a sort task is attached which allows the data tliat 

 were requested to be sorted into depth planes while control is returned 

 back to the scientist. The scientist may then display other data sets 

 or change program parameters while the sort is taking place. At any 

 time, the scientist can interrogate the system and see if his latest 

 data set has been completely retrieved and sorted. IVhen the sort is 

 complete then the oceanographer may request tliat tlie data lie pre- 

 processed. The data elements of interest are then selected fi-om the 

 whole retrieved data set and stored on disc memory in a format quickly 

 accessed for display. In most cases, this will take less than a 

 second. The scientist can then call for a scattergram plot, a grid 

 display, or a contour chart of the variable in question. To make the 

 grid and contour displays, a grid must first be developed. This is 

 done with an objective analysis. This is an analysis that evaluates 

 all data falling within a certain range of a grid point and assigning 

 a computed value to that grid point. This grid is then ]5rocessed to 

 generate a contour chart or grid plot, if desired. 



During this wliole process the 2250 operator can request that: 

 (1) the stations involved in a retrieval be pointed out in their 

 entirety, (2) retrieved data sets be saved on magnetic tape, data 

 cell, or disc, (3) contour analyses be refined and produced in hard 

 copy. 



V. MILITARY APPLICATIONS 



Applications of the live atlas to military needs and fleet require- 

 ments are numerous. Furthermore, there are many non-military uses 

 which would come to light as a result of military developments. 

 Realizing a capability which consists of an extensive but compact data 

 file, a means of rapid access of these data, and displaying them almost 

 instantaneously on a CRT in any form desired, it is likely that each 

 and every one of us could come up with an extensive list of possible 

 applications. That is not necessary, however, since tl^ere are existing 

 requirements which have a need for a live atlas. 



The tabulation and preparation of data for release in the form of 

 atlasses, such as the National Intelligence Survey, has been a long 

 and laborious task which consisted of searching through large quanti- 

 ties of data. Through improved technology, the updating of such docu- 

 ments may become physically impossible in the future unless new 

 techniques are employed. The CRT has one feature which undoubtedly 

 will prove indispensable; i.e., the scientist has a means of looking 

 at large quantities of data in rapid order. As an example, a request 

 to update an atlas would involve loading a magnetic tape data file on 

 a computer and editing these data by physically scanning and display- 

 ing them on the CRT. The operator would have the capability of se- 

 lecting and storing all or that part of the data which he has judged 

 epresentative of an area or best suited to meet the study which lie 



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