Bowin 



storage capability. 



The tasks to which modern computer facilities may be directed 

 lie in four categories: 1) numerical and logical analysis, 2) acqui- 

 sition and collation of information, 3) display of information, and 

 4) control of equipment and instruments. Of these four tasks, only 

 analysis techniques have reached a stage of implementation that 

 could be considered young adulthood. To continue the analogy, 

 display may be in adolescence, and acquisition and control are yet 

 in childhood. Although notable improvements have been made in 

 acquisition and control computers during the last five years, the 

 implementation of these capabilities remains an effort beset by 

 equipment specifications and timing problems; still very much 

 dependent on the individual computer being used. The solution of 

 these problems for one particular computer does not necessarily 

 simplify the effort in accomplishing the same task on another 

 computer. Developments that I expect to take place during the next 

 several years include programming and equipment improvem.ents 

 that will facilitate acquisition, control, and time-sharing capabil- 

 ities; reduction in the size and cost of peripheral equipment; and 

 greater stress on reliability of commercial computer systems. 



Digital computers now offer far more speed and computational 

 abilities at lower cost then the machines of five years ago. The 

 decision today is not whether to take a computer to sea, but which 

 computer and how many tasks should be assigned to it. The main 

 decision during the next several years will be in choosing between 

 the alternatives of a large central computer system, a medium - 

 sized central computer with small satellite computers, or many 

 small independent computers for the accomplishment of a total 

 program. Many factors will influence this decision including: the 

 rate at which funding is expected; the future cost of large versus 

 small systems; the memiory size, computing power, and extent of 

 peripheral devices desired; the degree to which future expansion 

 capability is desired; and the degree of reliability that is required 

 by the mission of the system. 



REFERENCES 



Bernstein, R. and C. O. Bowin, 1963. Real-Time Digital 

 Computer Acquisition and Computation of Gravity Data at 

 Sea, IEEE Trans, on Geoscience Electronics, vol. GE-1, 

 no. 1, pp. 2-10. 



262 



