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A network for computer users

Published: 04 June 1973 Publication History

Abstract

Computer networks are an accepted fact in the world of computing, and have been for some time. Not so well accepted, however, is the definition of a computer network. Some claim that to be a network the communications system must connect a group of computers as opposed to a network of terminals communicating with one computer. Still others hold that both are examples of computer networks; the first being a ring network and the latter a star network.
Within education, computer networks of many descriptions exist. Most such activities have dealt with the institutions of higher education, but there are some notable exceptions. These networks are operated by universities, independent non-profit corporations, branches of state governments, and private industry. Some are time-sharing systems, some operate in the remote batch mode, and others offer both types of service. Most of the computing done through these networks has been for instructional purposes; however, a great many research problems are processed with administrative applications last in amount of activity, although increasing.
During 1968 the National Science Foundation initiated a number of projects which gave a great impetus to computer networks, mainly among colleges and universities. This effort continues today in a different form through the Expanded Research Program Relative to a National Science Computer Network of the NSF.
Currently the National Institute of Education is supporting the development of the Nationwide Educational Computer Service, a network designed to help colleges and school systems meet their computing needs at a minimum of cost. This network will consist of a large scale computer serving a series of intelligent terminals in institutions in various parts of the United States. The system is configured in such a way so as to assist the student, faculty, and administrator at a cost effective rate. The factors involved in producing this saving include the particular hardware and software at the central site and at the terminal location, the mode of operation and the effective use of existing tele-communication facilities.
  1. A network for computer users

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      cover image ACM Other conferences
      AFIPS '73: Proceedings of the June 4-8, 1973, national computer conference and exposition
      June 1973
      936 pages
      ISBN:9781450379168
      DOI:10.1145/1499586
      Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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      • AFIPS: American Federation of Information Processing Societies

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      Association for Computing Machinery

      New York, NY, United States

      Publication History

      Published: 04 June 1973

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