DIGITAL COMPUTER ANrEWSLETTER waI I Oh 14 N11 1 Vtoi1 April 1058 Ktdittor 1 1dsteln ktitm III Catmptlml Assi l Kdlltor JO TAALK OIV CONTKNTV hedlord Massachusaetts AILWAC Corporation ALWAC 111-N ll-awith rno Coll 1-1ti 1 liendix CnPtilor Div of enodit Aviation 0- IP 1hipboard loooAllation ha Ant o t Calitototo IA roraltu1 'yptns t•Llullou notnese Maihines 4 International f• Now York N V 1000 Inatellation 5 Mlina ooplle-lioneywell Regulator Co Dltamitngl Newton Highland Massayhusllett 6 The National Cash Rellister Comtpaniy NCR A04 Da Ioen 9 Ohit 7 Packard-ltoll Computer Corporation TRI'Nb and MUI riVERvInh Los Angeles California a RCA Bervice ComIpany FLA I and 11 Patrick Air 'orce IR Florida 9 Remington Rand tlniva X- 304 1 Paul Minnesota 10 Tolerogiuter Corp lfranift Airways heservatiuns System Stamford I I 3 I 4 4 conslocEtictu Development Censor Simulatiun and Computation New Mexicro Division Holloran Air Force hase A Arm Division of American Bosch Arma Corporation Computalion Center Garden City N V 6 6 3 George Washington University Logislics Research Pruject Washington DC 4 New York University AEC Computingi and Applied Mathematics Center Now York New York 5 Rand Corporation Numerical Analysis Department Santa Montca California 6 Southern Methodist University Computing Laboratory Dailola Texas 7 University of Toronto Computation Centre Toronto Canada C U S Army Chief of Engineers Data Processing Center Washington D C 9 U • Naval Proving Ground Naval Ordnance Computation Center Dahlgren Virginia 10 U S Navy Electronics Laboratory Computer Center San Diego California 2 6 7 7 7 8 8 9 10 10 k Uvrety Naplesa Center of Electronic Calculus Naples Italy Politocnico Digital Computing Center Milano Italy COMPONKNTS -1 Colean Engineering Company Inc Input Devices Los Angeles California 2 Laboratory for Electronics Inc HDl-File Drum Boston Massachusetts 3 Mellonico High Speed Circuit Checker Tucson Ariaona 11 1 12 MISCELLANEOUS 1 l WXXAWC ser ' Asociation Eiwlectrodata Div of Burroughs Corp Pasadena California Contributions for Digital Computer Newsletter 3 -4 for iodez'll ' Clkllhh' h u hmca l OOT S t L Approved by 1 h The Ulnder scrotary of the Navyb 20 Auguat 1957 12 7 1 o J • l ' 'I' NAVEXOS P-645 COMPUTERS AND DATA PROCESSORS NORTH AMERICA ArCHtC MAUNXIIV commuERAltnOtK - MrxcAmmWixix mrEono MAISACHU111EflT1 WKSKA KCK CFNTERN wh macthine was deveiopwit by the Univat' Di viskiw of rry GRand under oontract withte Cumputer Laboratory AFCHC 11 o two address mertal vixiod-devimnai maghetll drum macinelr destigned around diode logito and Rtatuy type magnetic amiplifiers operating at a bit rate of 000 ko The word length is 10 digits plum sign add timne is 90 niior'oseetm d with minimum latency ooding input-output to presently a photoelectriv tape reader and a Flexowriter Plans are now behin made to ottach a 100 word inagnetic core memory and a higth speed printer to thes ma chino F rom July 1957 to February 1950 the useful operating lim e has averaged abont 901 of the scheduled operating Urns two hours a day are devoteid to preoentil maintenance ALWAC 131-E - ALWAC CONPORA11ON - HAWTHORNE CALIFORNIA The ALWAC Corporation has 31 ALWAC 111-K computers in operation in the United states Canada and Europe They have 7 installation scheduled in the first quarter of 195 11 and have approximtately 110 additiona orders The 7 Installations include Menasco Milanufacturing Co Burbank Calif Naval Research Establishmeont 11alifax Canada Litton Industries Boverly Hills Calif Consolidated Electrodynamics Corp Pasadena Calif Sateway Storesi Inc Oak lsand Calif Cleveland Electric Ulurinating Corp Cleveland Ohio and Data Processing Corp Palo Alto Caif Initially gateway will use the computer for sales onalysis Eventually it will be utilized for inventory anti ordering control Cleveland Electric's computer will be for utility billing and Data Processing Corp's will function as a service bureau Some recent ALWAC 111-K sales Include Liggett Drug Col New York City for Inventory control and Pharmaceutical Inc Newark Now Jersey for inventory control 0-15 SHIPBOARD INSTALLATION - BENDIX COMPUTER DIV OF BENDIX AVIATION LON ANGELES CALIFORNIA - The Navy's USS Compass Island is a floating laboratory carrying a 4 million dollar electronic navigation setup Except for the two G-15 Bendix computers and magneftc tape units all equipment aboard is experimental The computers are being used to develop as fast and precise a method as posuible for calculating latitude and longitude reaquirements for long-range missile launching The magnetic tape units store the information on approximately 1500 stars--day declination rate ascension rate etc Information from special electronic equipment is automatically converted from the electrical Gray cods into the binary code used by the 0-15s This Information is fed directly into the computers to eliminate manual type In The computers will determine the speed of the ship position time drift dead reckoning etc and compare more than one system to find the moat accurate In all 17 programs will be coordinated in this one installation Ile ship is equipped with special stabilizer fins to minimize the pitch and roll of ocean going conditions In an air condlitioned room the computers are rigidly bolted to the deck and side of the ship Top-side equipment Io mounted on stabilizer platforms developed by the Navy Material Laboratory In the tests-runs held mn1957 the computers have shown no operational impairment due to pitch rollpr vibration On the builder's test run they were the only equipment in the electronic system vot affected by heavy seas that caused 150 roll ass TYPII4C CALCULATOR - INTKRNATIONAL 1111011428 NKW YORK N Y MACHINES CORPORATION - Thes lectrio Ty pewriter iiviaion of the Intornittional Business Machines Corporation has sawuwowod the IBM 631 itectronia Typing Calculator designed primarily for the business tpplil ation of Invoice and order proparation Prioed at klpproxtmately $5 600 the now computer can be programmed to automatically retain And type out totcel gross sales taxes shipping charges Invoice totals or other selected acceumulittIons for nmanalfeiont review duily The calculator consists of an electric typewriter a ton-key companion keyboard a magoetic core memory within the coumputer unit and a program reading device Because numerioal iniformat on keyed lit on this companion keyboard can be added subtracted multiplied rounded oft and held In memory for later processing the equipment can automnatlteally type extend carry totals compute taxes subtract discounts position decimals justify multi -digit numbers and type out results Instructilons and decisions for a complete application are provided IV a plastic taps within tlia program reading device The tape can be changed for a different office procedure in a few seconds The IBM Electric Typewriter with conventional keyboard automatically acts as the computer's output and can also be used at any time for general typewriting purpoises Delivery is scheduled for second quarter of 1958 DATAMATIC 1000 INOTALLATION - MINNAPOUiS-HONEYWELL REGULATOR CO NEWTON HIGHLAND MASBACHUSETRr - Michigan Blue Cross-Blue Shield is the first organization to use the new Datamatic 1000 system Other firms said organizations in Boston Minneapolis Baltimore Washington and Los Angeles have ordered similar systems The equipment will keep track of the hospital and medical records of more than 1 600 000 Michigan subscribers and their families a total of some 3-1 2 million people It ham been estimated that the daily task of searching 1 400 000 records and bringing an average of 25 000 of them up tp date will take the syqtem only two hours of each eight hour day The remaining six hours will be used for billing operations and for compilation of Blue Cross-Blue Shield statistics The system reduces the amount of floor space required for record storage to a single cabinet occuiying loes than six square feet With the new equipment all permanent records in'volving 3 700 000 members will be stored on 20 reels of 2 700 foot long tapes each 10 inches in diameter NCR 304 - THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY DAYTODN 9 OH11O - S C Johnson Son Inc has placed the first order for one of the NCR 304 series Other order@ have been received from American United i fe Insurance Company and General Tire Rubber Company The United States Marine Corps has announced its intention of procuring three of the systems The marketing of the new series See Digital Computer Newsletter April 1957 marks the entry of the company into the commercial computer field Earlier electronic computers sold by NCR were designed for scientific applications rather than business use Johnson's Wax will use the system for order billing accounts receivable sales analysis inventory production and purchasing control payroll and some general accounting In a d tion the equipment will be used for business research studies American United Life Insurance CompaqW will use the system for file maintenance premium billing and collection commission and dividend accounting Initial applications will include accounting for company issued and re-insured policies mortgage loans aud investment securities plus actuarial situdies General Tire Rubber Company will use the system for controlling analyzing and billing orders This includes processing all new orders for factory shilpment both to dealers and -2- warehouse v'onslgnment Mile will be prepared daily for all shipments and accounts reacivable records kept for all customers The Marine Corps will use the three system primarily for providing the personnel ac counting data needed to efficiently manage and control the distribution of personnel and to plan their training and promotion both on active duty and while serving in the inactive Organ ised Reserve Bevral additional applications are planned in the areas of cost accounting payrolling fiscal accontting and tho management of major items of equipment in the hands of troops a Of medium sie the NCR 304 series ranges in price from approximately $760 000 to more than $1 350 000 dependtirn upon the components required for a given installation A typical smaller 304 system for example might consist of a central dots processor a controller unit several magnetic tape memory unlts a high speed printer and its electronic controller end a high speed paper tape reader Larger systems will employ additional units such as an electrunic converter or high speed card reader plus more magnetic tape memory units and additional output equipment Delivery of the first regular production system is scheduled for 1059 TRICE AND MULTIVERTER - PACKARD-BELL COMPUTER CORPORATION LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA - TRICE the Transistorised Realtime Incremental Computer has been generating stable sine waves at over I000 cycles in real time The Integrator and control circuitry are completely debugged and operating The Multipliers and Digital Servos are in the throes of being debuggel A prototype system should be ready for dolivery to Army Ballistics Missile Agency Redstone Arsenal within sixty to ninety days Based on the nature of the problem the individual computing elements are interconnected by means of a plugboard The whole system iterates at 100 000 times per second Increasing the number of computing elements does not affect the speed of the system since it operates in parallel and each Integrator bas its own memory in the form of delay lines Another feature of the system is the ability to time share an integrator among several functions where high upced is not necessary This feature makes possible an economy in the amount of hardware required for a given system The MULTIVERTER voltage to digital digital to voltage converter is in production with the first deliveries scheduled for March and April of 1958 The D series of Multiverter--which are digital to voltage converters-have been announced These can be made in a version as small as 2 x 4 x 4 should miniaturization be required FIJAC I AND II - RCA SERVICE COMPANY - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE FLORIDA FLAC I Operating record for the period 20 November 1957 to 20 February 1958 Category No of Hours Data Processing Code Checking Analysis Lihrary Maintenance Power Failure Idle Time Preventative Maintenance Unscheduled Maintenance 888 8 302 4 49 1 51 2 17 2 2 2 189 0 105 2 55 35 18 84 3 07 3 19 1 08 13 11 78 6 56 1605 1 100 00 Total Manned Hours for Period See Digital Computer Newsletter - October 1957 - - Percent of Manned Hrs FLAC I continues to be scheduled 24 hours each day for five days each week processing missile test data Er I Although still under Engineering control for the addition of programmed improvementis FLAC IUi usually available for approximately two 8 hour shifts each day for data processing The following is a breakdown of data processing time for the same period of Utmen Catteory No of Hours Data Processing Code Checking Library Maintenance 482 1 46 3 11 7 Total Hours for Period 539 8 Output Core Duffer Systems have boon delivered for both computers The unit scheduled for FLAC n is currently being installed and chocked out The Buffer will permit reading and computing while reading out to a multiple paper tape punch system Multiple magnetic tape as an input output medium is now operational for evaluation purposes on FLAC nI X-308-REMINUTON RAND UNIVAC ST PAUL MINNESOTA The X-308 is a general purpose modified single address digisal computer using Ferractor magnetic amplifier logic It has a magnetic core memory wit a capacity of 4096 twenty four bit words One feature enables the computer to operate on a wL -is word or any 8 bit third of a word In this way the computer's storage capacity is Increased to 12 228 eight bit words Addition can be performed at 25 000 per second It can take figures from storage perform arithmetic operations and store the answers at a rate of 1 000 000 per minute The functions 'Include manipulating data differentiating various forms of data and performing analytic counting and arithmetic operations F fty seven instructions are available to the programmer Fifty two of these can be modified by any of seven different B-index registers The B-index registers sometimes called B-boxes are used to store constants which modify Instructions In addition one of the 15 bit B-boxes is wired as a counter for the repeat instructioa Physically the computer cabinet is 96 x 33 x 68 tall and the console is 50 x 23 x 48 tall Overall the computer uses 225 vacuum tube5 25 000 diodes and 2 500 magnetic switch cores There are 2 500 printed circuit cards however only 13 different types are needed Four X-308's have been constructed for a classified applicatior BRANIFF AIRWAYS RESERVATIONS SYSTEM - TELEREGISTER CORP STAMFORD CONNECTICUT Airline reservations clerks in remote cities can now query a central electronically controlled Inventory in a distant city with the use of simple teletype messages and without recourse to other personnel In the Teleregister reservations system built for Br aniff International Airways messages sent via teletype from cities in the Braniff system are transmitted to Dallas and through the data processor The messages punched on teletype tape are automatically fed by readers into the electronic data processor with a magnetronic drum containing the inventory If space is available the drum is automatically updated Once the flight has reached a predetermined cushion then a stop sales message is generated by the data processor and transmitted back to all offices in the Braniff system advising them that they can no longer sell seats on that particular flight Should the operator make an error In transmitting his message then a printer at the Teleregister installation prints out the erroneous message In the Braniff Dallas message center which can take corrective measures by advising the agent making the error Agent Sets at the reservation control center provide a continuous visual check on the -4- i• inventory The system employs the same teletype being utilised by the airline for its other routine circuits formerly used by Braniff aNO still operations The system It capable of handling more than 8 000 000 seat reservations per month and can sell or cancel space in less than one second excluding line transmission time thus reatly speeding up Branlff's service to its passengers The 140 Braniff offices in the United 'ttes maintain an inventory on 250 flights per day for 31 days ahead It is the first to employ teletype messages as a means of placing reservations requests and seat Information dt-' t into the electronic equipment BraiLff pioneered the existing manual type world's airlines when it introduced Auto Bell and varied daily teletype messages received in to flight data then routed to the proper control of reservation system now used by most of the in 1946 Under this former system the many the reservations center were sorted according position within the office where they were read and Interpreted by an agent who then had to take appropriate action The agent made amnril entry blocking a seat for each sale made or an erasure for an entry if a cancellation was indicated All charts kad to be scanned constantly so that sales could be stopped promptly whenever available space reached a critical level When this occurred a message was manually prepared in the reservations center and sent by teletype to all Braniff sales offices This manual processing of thousands of entries on hundreds of charts was a slow and tedious operation The new electronic system eliminates entirely the delays inherent In a manual process Each booking message is accurately worked In a matter of seconds When a flight reaches sold-out condition a message tape stopping further sales is automatically prepared and broadcast immediately The increased speed and accuracy in handling transactions will make it possible for our sales office to provide an improved service to our passengers The changeover from the manual to the automatic operation was made without interruption of service The prime consideration In the layout of the system and the selection of components was the need for utmost reliability The electronic part of this system was constructed In duplicate so that two systems function simultaneously in synchronism Automatic check equipment continuously compares the performance of one electronic system against the other For preventive maintenance routine checks are made and test patterns introduced daily into the central equipment as part of the Teleregister maintenance service Teleregister has provided especially designed automatic reservations systems for other airlines including American National Northeast Pan American and United and Is building systems for TWA and Western Air Lines The corporation also is building reservations systems for three major railroads the New York Central New Haven and Santa Fe as well as automatic savings account systems for three major mutual savings banks The Howard Savings Institution of Newark New Jersey the Society for Savings in Hartford Cornn and the Union Dime Savingis Bank in New York City They have also recently Inaugurated automatic hotel reservations space for the Sheraton Corporation of America and built an inventory control system for the B F Goodrich-Hood Rubber Company plant in Watertown Mass COMPUTING CENTERS SIMULATION AND COMPUTATION DIVISION - AIR FORCE MISSILE DEVELWPMENT CENTER - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE NEW MEXICO The Simulation and Computation Division Directorate of Research and Development Air Force Missile Development Center Holloman Air Force Base New Mexico has received its second 1103A Univac Scientific Computer see Digital Computer Newsletter October 1957 which I now being checked out -5- i The two digital computers are being used in conjunction with research and deveopment of a Real Time Missile Performance Analysia System at AFMDC COMPUTATION CENTER - ARMA DIVISION OF AMERICAN BOSCH ARMA CORPORATION - GARDEN CITY N Y The ARMA Division has recently installed a Computational Center The center has a Datatron digital computer and a GEDA analog computer These are used for research development and design activities in the following areas Systems analysis of weapon control systems navigational systems missiles and simulation of complex problems involved in basic high precision components Design and development of gyroscopes accelerometers servos special purpose digital computers airborne and fixed location and feedback systems LOGISTICS RESEARCH PROJECT - GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON D C - The Project has received delivery from Advanced Electronics Manufacturing Corporation Los Angeles California the Input-Output Buffer Store noted as having been contracted for in the April 1957 Digital Computer Newsletter It is currently being checked out Card input output to and from this buffer will be handled by means of an IBM 077 Collator and 523 Summary Card Punch tape input output by means of two Ferranti readers and two teletype tape punches This equipment is capable of composing from each IBM card a total of 80 digits of Logistics Computer entries and of supplying them to the computer registers for processing one entry at a time Both the entry lengths and the sequence code which designates a program starting point may be varied from card to card and within a card when more than one entry is to be read from a card Output may be made up of blocks routed to it directly from input data and of data resulting from computation The two collator feeds and the two Ferranti readers operate on random call from the computer AEC COMPUTING AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS CENTER - NEW YORK UNIVERSITY NEW YORK NEW YORK - The AEC Computing Center at NYU has now been assigned the primary objective of research in computing methods anud applied mathematics in general as related to the solution of problems in the many fields of AEC interest At the present time the emphasis is on work in multi-dimensional fluid flow and shock waves Monte Carlo neutronics reactor mechanics magnetohydrodynamics and general studies in numerical analysis especially the solution of partial differential equations Under this program there will be no charge to AEC contractors for machine time on eithei the UNIVAC or IBM 704 for problems deemed eppropriate to the overall objectives of the Center Contractors of other government agencies will be given machine time as available for approved problems at established hourly rates Inquiries should be addressed to Professad H J Greenberg Associate Director AEC Computing and Applied Mathematics Center 4 Washington Place New York 3 N Y ORegon 7-0200 - 6- NUMERICAL ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT - RAND CORPORATION SANTA MONICA CALIFORNIA Installation of the first IBM Type 738 core memory for the 704 was complets e• The 738 contains 32 768 thirty-six bit words This memory unit has been functin since its installation and has served to speed up many routines by a factor of five or During March 1957 a new high speed transistorized logical adder was installed in the JOHNNIAC a Princeton-class computer built by RAND To date no transistor failures have occurred and the total number of transistor-hours now exceeds 107 RAND has also completely transistorized the control for a new high speed printer installed in the JOHNNIAC in November 1957 The printer built by ANelex provides 136 columns only 120 are presently in use at 10 to the inch with 58 characters per column Maximum speed is 1200 lines per minute The Rand analog facility was considerably modified during the year and the computer was subsequently renamed TRAC for The RAND Analog Computer The system now includes electronic multipliers with 64 asiciaTed aniplifiersT function generators 80 amplifiers 2 X-Y plotters digital readout and servo resolvers All components are connected to a single large plugboard A complete range of data processing services including analysis programming coding and operation of the 704 with the expanded of core storage is available from RAND Rates for the computer associated peripheral equipment or the services of the staff are available on request COMPUTING LABORATORY - SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY DALLAS TEXAS - Southern Miethodist University has opened a Computing Laboratory on its campus A new building houses the Univac Scientific 1103 Computer the Remington Rand Service Bureau and the S M U Computing Laboratory offices and classrooms The computer is operated jointly by Remington Rand as a service to Industry and by S M U as an academic service for research and teaching The operation is associated with the University's New Graduate Research Center Professors and students have free use of the machine for academic research and training in computer work Training programs are available for faculty and students Computing projects are now underway in fields of engineering mathematics psychology law religion management and others S M U regards its laboratory as a regional university computing facility and will make the computer available to other universities and nonprofit institutions on a cooperative arrangement involving only a nominal fee for overhead Inquiries leading to such use of the machine are invited COMPUTATION CENTRE - UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO TORONTO CANADA - Since FERUT's installation In the spring of 1952 at the McLennen Laboratory Computation Centre an impressive list of computations has been carried out with it but the last five years have seen computer changes which have made it an obsolete machine Recently a number of companies among them the International Business Machines Co has been offering to universities computers on generous terms It has therefore been decided to replace FERUT with an IBM Type 650 Machine with alphabetical device auxiliary floating point index accumulators and magnetic tapes This system will provide at somewhat less cost a computing facility of appreciable greater capacity than FERUT and one which is in the line of the present developments and therefore more suitable for teaching -7- The Centre realizes that many users have made a significant investment in FERUT programs but feeis there is available a very large library of 650 programs which will in a short time more than offset the losses due to the change At the Centre they are now setting up a library system and a method of routine organization which will eventaally be distributed to potential users There will be included a simplified programming system for those persons who have been operating on FERUT with Transcode To partially offset the cost of rewriting programs from FERUT to 650 no charge will be made for developing and testing an existing FERUT program which is being translated to 650 language The 650 is scheduled to arrive at Centre on 1 May 1958 DATA PROCESSING CENTER - U S ARMY CHIEF OF ENGINEERS WASHINGTON D C - A - Engineer Data Proccslag Ccntex as a field agency of the U S Army Corps of Engineers has been established to apply automatic data processing techniques and equipment in the handling of reports and statistical data and in solving various engineering and computational problems The Center presently located in Building T-7 Gravelly Point Washington D C will also coordinate all activities at Corps of Engineers data processing installations NAVAL ORDNANCE COMPUTATION CENTER - U S NAVAL PROVING GROUND DAHLGREN VIRGINIA NORC Tape Reliability It is believed that the magnetic tape system associated with the Naval Ordnance Research Calculator NORC has been in operation longer than any other tape system of comparable high performance The following statistics on its reliability may therefore be of interest to those contemplating the use of the newer high-performance tape systems Achievement of good performance with the NORC tape system requires high standards of mechanical maintenance tape cleanliness and the use of pre-tested tapes On the basis of number of bits transferred it is believed that the error rate of the NORC system compares favorably with conventional systems having lower information transfei rates Statistics - NORC Tape System 1956-1957 1 Operating time excluding scheduled maintenance idle time operator error etc q703 hrs 2916 2 Total number of tape system errors 3 Time lost due to tape system includes repair time error correction rerun 301 5 hrs 4 Meart free time between errors 3 3 hrs 5 Percent of scheduled time lost due to tape system 3 1 % 6 2 min 6 Average time lost per error 7 Estimated reading and writing time as a per cent of scheduled operating time 8 Estimated number of bits transferred per error 8 - 15% 3 5 x 108 9 Estimated breakdown of error repair methods and causes %of Method of Repair Total Errors Possible Cause a Reposition and re-read 10 Skew failure of read or check circuits first evidence of tape wear loose dirt b Clean error area on tape with solvent reposition and re-read 20 Dirt on tape c Reposition or restart and rewrite possibly clean tape or replace worn tape 70 Wear on tape dirt on tape seldom failure of write circults ve y seldom 10 Tape system characteristics a transfer rate 70 000 digits sec 280 000 bits sec b density 510 bits per in each track c linear speed 140 in sec d data structure binary-coded decimal in 4 parallel tracks e non return to zero polarity change on binary zero self clocking recording method f method of error detection modulo four count of bits present in the 64 bit word and comparison with stored bit count g number of tape units 10 including 8 on line 1 on Card Converter 1 spare COMPUTER CENTER - U S NAVY ELECTRONICS LIBORATORY SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA Although only four months old the Datatron 205 in the NEL Computer Center has already been put on a two shift operation Due to the nature of the contract which allows unscheduled down-time to be reallocated and the ingenuity of the NEL programmers the computer has now been operated for a total of 712 hours with a loss of only 2 5 hours due to power failure and no loss at all to idle time The statistics for the first four months of operation are Oct Nov Dec Jan 1957 1957 1957 1958 Problem Solution Program Testlnj Hrs % Hrs 5 26 107 5 108 5 208 2 46 61 62 6e 29 63 0 65 8 94 3 52 36 37 31 Demonstration 5 3 5 1 7 1 5 Power Failure Total Time Idle Time % Hrs Hrs % Hrs 1 2 1 1 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mrs 0 0 0 0 56 178 176 304 The computer was delivered 7 October and installation completed 22 October giving a single shift availability of 56 hours for that month Second shift operation was authorized on 10 January 1958 increasing the normal 176 hours by 128 for the remainder of the month -9- During December a floating polit unit wan Installed primarily to speed the work of Open Shop programmor COMPUTERS OVERSEAS CENTE'R OF I1LECTRONIC CALCULUS - UNIVERSITY OF NAPLES NAPLES ITALY The Center has been oplrating for about a year in tho School of Engineering at the University of Naples It it equipped with a Bendix Digital Differential Analyser Model D-12 purchased by the Italian Ministry of Public Education with E R P funds Calculations are made for both scientific institutes and industries mainly in the aviation field as the calculating machine installed is particularly muitable In this latter field The Electronic Calculus Center of ' he University of Naples in under the direction of Prof Dr Savastano with the cooperation of Drs Napolitano Vinciguerra and Spanipinato It should be noted that the above Center Is the first in Europe equipped with a DDA computer DIGITAL COMPUTING CENTER - POLITECNICO - MILANO ITALY The Digital Computing Center has been in operation since 1954 It is equipped with a CRC 102A connected with a magneti tape unit input output is provided via punched paper tape and Flexowriter The Center comprises an electronic division and a numerical division The 2Jtq2llA division provides maintenance and modification services for computer Modification to date includeT 1 Special orders for automatic decimal to binary and binary to decimal conversions for fixed point numbers Automatic fill and punch of numbers with or without conversion it also now possible 2 A counter order useful in programming loops this order may also be used as an instructions modifier sometime with automatic reset i e transfer of a track into another may be obtained with only two instructions 3 Test bits orders an extension of the original test overflow 4 Floating point add subtract multiply instructions Magnitude is represented by absolute value and sign with 33 bits the exponent is represented by one's complement form with 8 bits In addition to these major modifications several others were accomplished to increase the reliability The doubling of the magnetic drum memory positions from 1024 to 2048 Is now in progress The numerical division has developed subroutines and programs of g oneral interest matrix algebra algebraic equations differential equations etc Among many others the following problems were studied 1 Numerical solution of Laplace and Polsson equations By making extensive use of magnetic tape armonic fields giving rise to systems up to 700 unknowns were computed The problezms solved were oritinated from the study of electrical fields also with non-homogeneous - I i I - J i I I 10 - m w • N dielectrics hma•• lent experiensce wa attained in techniques fto' speeding up the oonvergeo New iterative methodsa were also studied 1 liqerinales in critical compu tations of two $roups several re1 0ns spherical rowtore--mpciailiy suited for small vomputero 3 Analysis of the molecular structure of thallium uiphide and of dichotlne by trial and error methods 4 Rvaluation of systems of booloean alebrali equations of the number of loop In oldotrical networks of th ienorallaed oval of finite deoartjoslan plane d C nAtlNw ftollitlee Problems are accepted for solution from scientific laboratories of univef -•an'fom'•aetrili organlaation mainly of northern Italy several customers have their own epogrammers Teach The students of the Engineering Slhool are offered courses in numerical nMAysis andog and digital computers and programming COMPONENTS INPUT DEVICES - COLEMAN EGEINEERDIN COMPANY INC - LOS ANOELES CALIFORNIA Coleman has announced 3 types of digital input units The Flaxowrter In•_m Unit In designed to accept digital input data program the desired format asc the digtal iriormation into a Flexowriter-Tape Punch combination modified to permit input from an external nource Model NV-58 with sufficient capacity to scan up to 56 information bits decimal digits command symbols etc can provide any code 8 channels maximum and permits changes in format to be made readily by means of a patching program plug The unit incorporates a plug-in printed circuit coding matrix The Flexowriter Input Unit coupled to the Modified Flexowriter and Tape Punch provides a complete package that transforms numerical input into a visual record typewritten copy as well as a punched tape record suitable for computer input The Tape Punch Input Unit mounts directly on a motorized Tape Punch manufactured by CommerciafControls The integral unit accepts digital input data programs the desired format and scans the digital information into the tape punch Designated Model CCV-40 the unit features a patching program plug to permit format changes to be made easily capacity up to 40 Information bits digits command symbols etc and a diode matrix to provide any desired code up to 8 channels The Typewriter Input Unit is designed to operate with an IBM Output Writer or other solenoid operated electric typewriter directly The unit includes a patching program plug the arrangement of which is easily variable and which determines the format of the typewritten copy Thu combination of Input Unit and Typewriter form a usable as is package that needs only the digital input to form a working system Two models each complete with 90 volt DC power supply are avallable Model AV98 with capacity of up to 98 bits of information digits tabs carriage return etc and Model AV48 with capacity of up to 48 bits of information HD-FILE DRUM - LABORATORY FOR E IECTRONICS INC - BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS The HD-FILE DRUM is a high density random access bulk storage device with wide application to data processing systems It stores 1040 bits per inch on 320 tracks 20 tracks are - 11 - e for a total o It mlUton bits Access time to stored data is 1O0 millieeconds average o oi lets s ofa file drum the drive and lubrication systemsa I by 10 by 10 track-Helestiee mercury relay matrei a linea read-out preamplUler aadndfna i writi amptUier The file dram 15 inches in diameter and 14 inches tall is completely enclosed sealed ir All components approach telephone quality and are designed for maximum trouble-froo life For example the drum ItNif dynamically balanced at 1100 rpm is ground and lapped by optical techniques to a surface finis better than one microinch rms The operating faces of each double head re optically ground and lapped so that the two surfacee are flat amd coplanar to ane wavelength o light This attention to detail extends to all components to achle the high performance and reliability of the file drum The complete unit Is 48 inches long by proximaely 700 pounds a9 inches wide by 48 inches high and weighs ap- NIGH SPEND CIRCUIT CHXCKER - MELLONICS TUCSON ARIZONA - Until recently absolute checking of large arrays of point-to-point wiring has been either impossible or Impractical Point a Is checked against point b to prove interconnection but an there any incorrect connections or shorts between a and any of the other terminals In large systems this question has been unanswerable because the number of possible interconnections becomes astronomical Melionices has manufactured the first fully automatic high speed circuit checker capable of making necessary and sufficient checks for complete wiring verification It has been installed at the Systems Division of Beckman Instruments Anaheim California Operating speed is 90 000 to 00 000 circuit tests per minute For some applications even higher speeds are reallied They employ the checker for proving out printed circuit drawer modules used in their Type 112 Data Processing Systems As many as 40 slide-in printed circuits plus back connectors exist In one module and the maximum number of terminals is about 1500 To make a complete check on one of these modules involves over one million wiring combinations The new circuit checker will do this Job in 10 to 20 minutes Simpler systems such as large cable harnesses can be checked in a minute or loss The principle of the device Is based on the use of punch cards to both program the checker and store the pattern of correct wiring connections Setup time is zero and the different kinds of equipment can be checked out as fast as they can be connected to the checker MISCELLANEOUS ALWAC USERS' ASSOCIATION In June 1957 in Washington D C the Alwac Users' Association was formed for the purpose of exchange of ideas routines and technical material in connection with the use of Alwac electronic digital computer systems A second meeting was held in New York in November 1957 and a spring meeting is planned for May 14-16 1958 in Cleveland Ohio Participation Is open to organizatio i and individuals using or planning to use computing and or data processing facilities consisting of the Alwac computer and related peripheral equipment Interested persons may contact the President Dr C G Veinott Reliance Electric and Engineering Company Cleveland Ohio or the Executive Secretary Mr Henry Millang Alwac Corporation 10 Columbus Circle New York New York - 12 - sponsors a journal TRADE 1eohniques In addition to scheduled meetings the Association and floutines Alwac Jata Jxohanp to facilitate further exchange of information among Alwac usors Communication concerning TRADE may be addressed to the Editor Miss Bertha P Harper Personnel Research Branch The Adjutant General's Office Department of the Army Washington 35 D C ELECTRODATA DIV OF BURROUGHS CORP PASADENA CALIFORNIA 4 - Burroughs Corporation set a new record in December when It shipped nine Datatron electronic data processing systems and other computing equipment valued at $3 600 000 from its ElectroData Division Plant The increased year end volume reflected customer ability to accept and install systems rather than expanded production The division's previous delivery record of six computer systems in one month was set in March 1957 Total shipments for the year were up 50 percent over 1956 Burroughs has installed 245 computer systems nationwide including the medium-sized Datatrons and desk-slsed E101s CONTRIBUTIONS FOR DIGITAL COMPUTER NEWSLETTER The Office of Naval Research welcomes contributions to the NEWSLETTER Your contributions will assist in improving the contents of this newsletter and in making it an even better medium of exchange of information between gcvernment laboratories academic institutions and lidustry It Is hoped that the readers will participate to an even greater extent than in the past in transmitting technical material and suggestions to this Office for future issues Because of limited time and personnel it is often impossible for the editor to acknowledge Individually all material which has been sent to this Office for publication The NEWSLETTER is published four times a year on the first of January April July and October and material should be in the hands of the editor at least one month before the publication date in order to be included in that issue The NEWSLETTER is circulated to all interested military and government agencies and the contractors of the Federal Government In addition it is being reprinted in the Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery Communications should be addressed to GORDON D GOLDSTEIN Editor Digital Computer Newsletter Information Systems Branch Office of Naval Research Washington 25 D C -13- 047975