RECOMMENDATION FOR ONLINE REMOTE TERMINAL IN DD/S&T AREA (SYSTEM CENTER)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00501R000100070037-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 9, 2002
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: January 6, 1967
• Content Type: MF

7013005 R000100070037-8
Approved For ffelease 2002/06/14 NA
W Am
DD/SW-060-67
6 JAN 1967
Executive Officer, DD/S
Recommendation for Online Remote Terminal in DD/MT
Area (System Center)
need for an effective and efficient menaaement infhsr:t3_on
ations of the existing system for tauter processing-of contra
system as it is now organized does not Ally pass the first two
and relevance, ------.T
2, Timeliness is offset by the necessity to input new and revised
date into the system in the batch-processing mode, only, and by the
lack of means for direct access to the information in storage. Accuracy
is handicapped by lack of direct control over the key-punching process.
Both requirements can be measurably improved by using any one, or a
combination, of available remote terminal, devices which give online
access to the computer and its storage units. In addition,, such devices
provide an iu eassurable improvement in the man/machine relationship
(an area of customer psychology that is too frequently overlooked) without
degrading the efficiency of the central outer. in fact, we have
already reached the stage in a rapidly advancing technology where
cr mnicati:ona and display design and hardware are more important to
integrated or total information systems than new, more powerful computers.
A total, integrated system enables management to manage an enterprise,
not just account for it.
3. Two more or less abstract, but nonetheless real
conside
,
,
must be added to the argument for an online, remote tenninPi _ r -f.TA
v ;ne propoaition that management information and Control systems
can function efficiently only in an online mode, then it follows that
DD/S&T, as the top management echelon in the Agency's science and
technology field, should lead in the experimental development and usage
of such applications. Additionally, when and if the Agency M..I. . (now
under development) becomes a reality, integration of the DD/SW sysstem.
Approved For Release 2002/06/14: 005.01 Oft"
car t
!?'!!fl 8Stt11Riak
downgrading ad
"ons{tt ial
 Approved Forlelease 2002/06/14 I70B00501R0001 00070037-8
Page 2
So-67
into the larger one will be more othly facilitated by the combined
assets of some existing hardware, software and usage experience.
4. The urgency of a hardware procurement request, the choice
of herdware models, the development of software and the need for a
secure coo ication line between the terminal and the computer center
are all subject to the influence of a variety of complex factors
related to the current posture of OCS. As to urgency, only last week
OCS spokesman defined the total plan of S for a time-shared system
with remote terminals in tens of and limited to the twelve customer
installations listed in their 6 June 1,166 memorandum to the Director
Cc.~ications. He strongly suggested that additional requirements for
remote terminals must be surfaced. in the very near future. As to the
security specifications for communication lines between terminals and
omputer center, no hard and test guidance has been provided to date
OC or OS although this was promised to OCS by 15 September 1966. A
software development, OCS support is critically limited by a shortage
;rienced personnel. They forecast that the next 18 months will
be considered an experimental period in the use of the terminals now
planned for.
5. Yore detailed consideration must be given here to the choice
of hardware among the many available models. No two people with whom
this matter has been discussed, including two OCS "authorities," have
agreed on the same model. Because of a basic desire .thin OCC manage-
mt to simplify as much as possible the hardware ccaatibility problem
some fine equient produced by Control Data Corp, and a very elaborate
ITT unit (currently available at no cost from DOD) will not be
reco mended; nor will the product of any manufacturer other than II I
further considered here. It offers four mod4ls (two CX and two
board/printer units) diieh are described as follows-
- a 21 inch CRT with display area of 12 b;
1250
inches altor mexitmmi display of 5rows of
s
(38I6 total characters
74 character
as graphic plots - rental, i62E3 mo,
e of disp1eying 12 rows of 80
rental. 5O_ mo.
1050 - a, remote keyboard printer console wi
add paper tape punt , card punch, etc.
rental, 9,
Approved For Release 2002/06/14: ( e4TOB00501 R000100070037-8
 Approved For elease 2002/06/14: C " 800501 R000100070037-8
27l?1 - a abler keyboard/printer without above options
basically a .Selectric typewriter with 15 inch carriage -.
rental, mo.
6. view of the complexity of problems involved, the choice
of an initial unit fkcn toe listed above can fairly eaf3ily be
narrowed down to a choice between the 2260 and the 2741. Both can
be considered to be effective input devices for fly updating of
the master file (necessary for timeliness and accuracy). Certain
characteristics of the 2260 give it a slight advantage in this respect.
is also considerably faster in retrieval and display of desired
information but does not provide "hard" copy at the mote site. On
the other hand the 2741 provides only "hard" copy but its peed would
not allow it to be used for vole :reports of the type obtained from
the current batch proceasirag mode. 8o a comparison at this point of
the a dvantages and disadvantages of both units v mild tend to favor the
2260, the unit that CAS is beginning to experiment with. However, the
2260 requires a coaxial cable for its communication line while the
27+1 requires only a telephone line. While the security qualif icati s
of ei.tber type of line have not been established, it is reasonable to
,e that they can be fixed for a telephone line much sooner than
cable.
7. Another consideration is the fact that OM I7 is ready
to begin developing the program required to use the COZ A1S file in an
online mode and this application can be available in the next three
r four months. While it is being written for the 10? unit,, the
Program will also be compatible with the 27+1. Further, the
m a eturer's software will be available for the 2741 in April;
a, all things considered, we should be able to have a 21741
in
operation by aver whereas the 2260 may not be
ive for as much as a year later.
In view of the facts now available, ae itte
ecomuended that 't e immediately place 008 under obligation to
procure, install and as e operate , e 2741 remote terminal in the
Information Center at the earliest practicable dale.
25X1A
Comptroller
Directorate o:C
Science and ?ea hnology
c r l 9 Release 2002/06/14: CI A 00501 RO00100070037
W Addressee - Orig. & L
Norio - 1 ;,- DD/$&T Registry - 2 0/DD/?E&T Mep 25X1A