M U 
Museum and 
D P I E n q. 1 
University Data, Program, and Information Exchange 
INTERINSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM EXCHANGE 
The first major step toward development of methods for the exchange of biosytem- 
matic information among museums and universities took place on September 12, 1967. 
Ralph Axtell, of the Biology Department of Southern Illinois University, called the 
Smithsonian Institution, using the teletype connected to his time-shared computer, 
and asked for a program for the calculation of standard deviations. The Smithsonian 
then sent two programs, one for calculating S. D. using ungrouped data, and a second 
for use with grouped data, using prepunched tapes. Axtell cut a tape directly from 
the teletype, and then fed that tape into the GE 235 computer for permanent storage. 
This demonstrates the first of our major premises--that it is fast, practical, and 
feasible to exchange programs in the BASIC language, written for use by biosystem- 
atists, between institutions in the United States. 
EXISTING INSTALLATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 
To our knowledge, there are now three installations in the United States with 
teletype connections to time-shared computers. These are: 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. Area Code 202, 393-4876 
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois (R. Axtell) 
Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02181 (R. Shoop) 
Also, according to a recent letter, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 
Pa., will have their connection established in October. If these and other instit¬ 
utions will make their telephone number and area code available to us, we will 
announce them in future MUDPIES, so that a wider exchange of information can be 
^ established. 
PROGRAMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM SMITHSONIAN 
1. STDDEV--Calculates mean, range of values, variance, standard deviation, 
mean ± twice standard error, mean ± one standard deviation, and the 
coefficient of variation, for ungrouped data. 
2. SDGRPS--Calculates same values as no. 1, but for grouped data. 
3. REGRES--Calculates regression values for a pair of variables, printing 
significant data as well as the regression equation, the slope, 
the Y- intercept, and other values, for ungrouped data. 
4. REGRPS--Calculates same values as no. 3, but for grouped data. 
vv 
5. JAPFRF--Calculates faunal resemblance factors, printing them out as a matrix, 
using any one of eight different coefficients of similarity. 
6. PR0VAL--Calculates the same set of values as no. 1, but does it on proportional 
values rather than on meristic data. 
Anyone wishing tapes of these programs should first call J. A. Peters at Area 
Code 202-- 381-5460, and arrange to call on the teletype number above. Anyone who 
