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C00002 00002	Need for Additional PDP-10 Support on the ARPAnet
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Need for Additional PDP-10 Support on the ARPAnet

Reference: [1] L. Earnest, "Tip Access and Outside Computer Time",
		letter to C. Fields, 22 Nov. 1974.

[This may be a duplicate message;  I attempted to mail it earlier
and received an ambiguous response from the network exchange.]

This note is intended to make more specific our earlier request [1]
for access to outside Tenex computer support.  Over the next two
years, we need Interlisp services at the level of about 210 console
hours per week. 

There are two sizable projects in our laboratory that use the
Interlisp system:
 1) Cordell Green's group, working on program-understanding
    systems, and
 2) Terry Winograd's group, working on natural language
    understanding.

Our current timesharing system does not support Interlisp. 
Considering the heavy computing demands that Interlisp programs make
and the already overloaded state of our computer facility, we could
not provide computational support to these groups even if the
compatibility problem were solved. 

Both groups have been getting along, barely, by begging time from
various Arpanet sites, mostly late at night.  In recent months,
however, access to these resources has become increasingly restricted
by the legitimate priorities of the operating organizations. 
Unfortunately, this comes at a time when these projects are beginning
to mature and consequently are increasing their computing
requirements. 

For the forseeable future, the eight people in Winograd's group and
nine in Green's group will each need Interlisp support for 2 to 3
hours per day (assuming reasonably good service), or about
  (2.5 hours/day)*(17 people)*(5 days) = 212 hours/week.
If we cannot find a way to provide this support, their research
programs will have to be curtailed.  We seek your help in solving
this important problem.