DISPLAY CONSOLE
Several basic hypotheses resulted from the study program and have been used in the formulation of the initial design concepts. First, it is advantageous to handle many routine operations at the console in order to minimize communication between the con- sole and the time-shared computer. This approach reduces the demands on the central computer and should result in more rapid access to the central machine when required. It further reduces the cost of transmitting information from the time-shared com- puter to the console, an important consideration in any large operational system. Second, careful attention should be given to the size and content of the console alphabet, the ability to produce superscripts and sub- scripts, and to the human engineering aspects of the console in order to ensure favorable user reaction to the console and to the overall system. Third, it must be possible for the uninitiated user to become familiar with the operation of the console and the catalog system rapidly and easily. Finally, the design of the console should be such that it can be economically reproduced. This feature is a necessary prerequisite to the wide-scale use of computer-stored augmented-catalog systems. Consideration of these hypotheses has led to the formulation of the design concepts described in the following paragraphs.
Design efforts are directed towards realizing a console that uses a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display with ap- proximately 1,800 alphanumeric-character capacity. The data-communication between central computer and con- sole will initially be 200 characters per second with provisions for higher data rates. Several character sets should be possible in addition to the English alphabet. User communications are entered by means of a type- writer keyboard, and special function buttons which designate frequently encountered commands. The user's message is displayed on the CRT prior to the trans- mission to the time-shared computer, and editing of displayed commands is possible. As the user's con- versation with the catalog system progresses, certain data supplied by the computer may be stored locally for future reference, edited as required, and eventually printed in hard-copy form.
In order to reduce the cost of individual consoles, it is advantageous to cluster consoles around a local station which includes data storage and processing that is common to all clustered consoles. Initial investi- gations indicate that it should be possible to design economical console systems which cluster about ten consoles at distances of several hundred feet from a local station. Thus, the consoles could be placed in several different rooms of a single building. Inter- connections between the consoles and the station are made with coaxial cables, while the transmission from
the station to the time-shared computer utility is over one or more telephone lines or a wideband communi- cation line. A high-speed photographic printer will be located in the vicinity of the console to produce hard copy on command from any of the consoles.