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␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α⊃Research Proposal Submitted By

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?Stanford University

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈αβStanford, California

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α to

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α_for

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRONIC NEWSPAPER



␈↓ ↓H␈↓αProposed starting date:  1 July 1975

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α        Two-Year period ending
␈↓ ↓H␈↓α        30 June 1977
␈↓ ↓H␈↓α                                        Amount Requested (by fiscal year):

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α                                                        FY 76  $138,831

␈↓ ↓H␈↓α                                                        FY 77  $122,254
␈↓ ↓H␈↓α␈↓∂_________________________________________
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂John McCarthy - Co-Principal Investigator
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Professor of Computer Science


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂___________________________________________
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Edwin B. Parker - Co-Principal Investigator
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Professor of Communication


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂____________________________________
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Dan Drew - Co-Principal Investigator
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Professor of Communication


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂____________________________________
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂For the University

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂file: news75.pro[cur,jmc]

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α2␈↓αFebruary 1975
␈↓ ↓H␈↓β␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α>Abstract




␈↓ ↓H␈↓ Economic,␈α∂environmental,␈α∂and␈α⊂technological␈α∂forces␈α∂are␈α∂pushing␈α⊂toward␈α∂the␈α∂day␈α⊂when␈α∂computer
␈↓ ↓H␈↓terminals␈α∂in␈α∂the␈α⊂home␈α∂will␈α∂provide␈α⊂easy␈α∂access␈α∂to␈α∂many␈α⊂information␈α∂sources.␈α∂ A␈α⊂major␈α∂impetus
␈↓ ↓H␈↓toward␈αwidespread␈αuse␈αof␈αthe␈αhome␈αinformation␈αutility␈αis␈αlikely␈αto␈αbe␈αthe␈αdevelopment␈αof␈αelectronic
␈↓ ↓H␈↓newspapers.␈α∩ Before␈α∪the␈α∩electronic␈α∩newspaper␈α∪and␈α∩multi-use␈α∩home␈α∪terminals␈α∩become␈α∪a␈α∩reality,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓however,␈α∩research␈α⊃will␈α∩be␈α∩needed␈α⊃in␈α∩the␈α⊃areas␈α∩of␈α∩man-machine␈α⊃interaction,␈α∩file␈α∩handling␈α⊃and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓retrieval techniques, computer-to-computer interfaces, and readership patterns.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓To␈α∂perform␈α⊂this␈α∂research,␈α⊂support␈α∂is␈α⊂requested␈α∂over␈α∂a␈α⊂two-year␈α∂period␈α⊂so␈α∂that␈α⊂an␈α∂experimental
␈↓ ↓H␈↓electronic␈α
newspaper␈α
can␈α
be␈α
established,␈α
made␈α
operational,␈α
and␈α
evaluated.␈α
 The␈α
newspaper␈αwould
␈↓ ↓H␈↓be␈α∞offered␈α∞as␈α∞a␈α∞campus␈α∞service␈α∞at␈α
Stanford␈α∞University,␈α∞with␈α∞segments␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞student␈α∞and␈α
faculty
␈↓ ↓H␈↓populations as its readership.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓We␈α
see␈α
the␈αeventual␈α
conversion␈α
of␈α
newspapers␈αto␈α
electronic␈α
form␈α
as␈αa␈α
potential␈α
solution␈αto␈α
problems
␈↓ ↓H␈↓of␈αinformation␈αmonopoly.␈α
 ␈↓∧First␈↓∂,␈αthe␈αcost␈αof␈α
entry␈αto␈αthe␈αnewspaper␈α
business␈αwill␈αbe␈α
reduced␈αsince
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂the␈αnewspaper␈αwill␈α
not␈αrequire␈αa␈α
production␈αor␈αdistribution␈α
organization␈αand␈αwill␈α
be␈αable␈αto␈αlive␈α
in
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂publicly␈αavailable␈αtime-sharing␈αsystems.␈α ␈↓∧Second␈↓∂,␈αif␈αthere␈αis␈αno␈αproduction␈αimposed␈αlimit␈αto␈αthe␈αsize
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂of␈α
the␈α
newspaper,␈α
it␈α
will␈α
be␈α
easier␈α
for␈αa␈α
newspaper␈α
to␈α
cater␈α
to␈α
the␈α
interests␈α
of␈α
special␈αgroups.␈α
 ␈↓∧Third␈↓∂,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂since␈α⊃all␈α⊃"letters␈α∩to␈α⊃the␈α⊃editor"␈α∩are␈α⊃automatically␈α⊃and␈α∩instantly␈α⊃accepted,␈α⊃individuals␈α∩or␈α⊃groups
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂considering␈αthemselves␈αunfairly␈α
treated␈αin␈αstories␈αwill␈α
be␈αable␈αto␈α
make␈αtheir␈αreplies␈αavailable␈α
within
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂minutes␈α∞of␈α∞noticing␈α
the␈α∞alleged␈α∞unfairness.␈α
 Since␈α∞this␈α∞will␈α
be␈α∞before␈α∞most␈α
readers␈α∞have␈α∞read␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂individual␈αstory,␈αand␈αsince␈α
a␈αreader␈αwill␈αbe␈α
able␈αto␈αask␈α"and␈αwhat␈α
does␈αthe␈αGovernor␈αhave␈α
to␈αsay
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂about␈α⊃that"␈α⊃immediately␈α⊃after␈α⊃reading␈α⊃the␈α⊃story,␈α⊃the␈α⊃danger␈α⊃of␈α⊃hit-and-run␈α⊃journalism␈α∩will␈α⊃be
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂reduced.␈α We␈αwill␈αexperiment␈αwith␈αthis␈αfacility␈αlocally␈αat␈αStanford,␈αbut␈αthe␈αexperiment␈αwill␈αbecome
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂realistic␈α∀only␈α∀when␈α∀there␈α∀are␈α∀enough␈α∀terminals␈α∀so␈α∀that␈α∀the␈α∀subjects␈α∀of␈α∀news␈α∀stories␈α∀find␈α∪it
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂worthwhile to keep track of what is said about them and reply.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂In␈αthe␈αabove␈α
respects,␈α␈↓βThe␈αStanford␈α
Electronic␈αTimes␈↓∂␈αdiffers␈α
decisively␈αfrom␈αother␈αexperiments␈α
with
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂new␈α⊂ways␈α⊂of␈α⊂providing␈α⊂information␈α⊃to␈α⊂the␈α⊂home.␈α⊂ In␈α⊂these␈α⊃systems,␈α⊂the␈α⊂user␈α⊂is␈α⊂passive␈α⊃in␈α⊂two
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂respects.␈α
 First,␈αhis␈α
capacity␈αto␈α
select␈α
information␈αis␈α
limited,␈αand␈α
second,␈α
he␈αdoesn't␈α
have␈αan␈α
effective
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂low-overhead right to reply or originate information.

















␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧1␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α/␈↓∧BEHIND THIS PROPOSAL


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂ Experts␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞computer␈α
science␈α∞and␈α∞communication␈α∞fields␈α
envision␈α∞a␈α∞day␈α∞when␈α∞most␈α
American
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂homes␈αwill␈αhave␈αcomputer␈αterminals␈αproviding␈αspeedy␈αaccess␈αto␈αa␈αmultitude␈αof␈αinformation␈αsources.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Using␈α⊃a␈α⊃home␈α⊃information␈α⊃terminal,␈α⊂a␈α⊃person␈α⊃could␈α⊃call␈α⊃up␈α⊂books␈α⊃or␈α⊃reference␈α⊃files␈α⊃from␈α⊂the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂library,␈α
receive␈α∞information␈α
about␈α
goods␈α∞and␈α
services␈α∞available␈α
in␈α
the␈α∞community,␈α
or␈α∞read␈α
stories
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂produced by the local newspaper.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Benefits␈αof␈αsuch␈αa␈αsystem␈αwould␈α
be␈αtremendous.␈α Individuals␈αwould␈αbe␈αable␈αto␈α
obtain␈αinformation
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂more␈α⊗quickly␈α∃and␈α⊗easily␈α∃than␈α⊗ever␈α⊗before.␈α∃ They␈α⊗would␈α∃also␈α⊗have␈α∃more␈α⊗control␈α⊗over␈α∃the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information␈α∂they␈α∂received.␈α∂ The␈α∂system␈α∂would␈α∞be␈α∂receiver-oriented,␈α∂not␈α∂sender-oriented␈α∂as␈α∂is␈α∞the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂present␈α⊃system.␈α∩ A␈α⊃reader,␈α⊃for␈α∩example,␈α⊃could␈α⊃bypass␈α∩news␈α⊃summaries␈α⊃prepared␈α∩by␈α⊃newspaper
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂editors␈α⊂and␈α∂search␈α⊂their␈α∂files␈α⊂for␈α⊂information␈α∂about␈α⊂subjects␈α∂of␈α⊂particular␈α⊂interest.␈α∂ Newspapers
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂could␈αprovide␈αgreater␈αquantities␈αof␈αmore␈αvaried␈αinformation␈αbecause␈αthey␈αwould␈αnot␈αbe␈αtrapped␈αby
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂the␈α≠strict␈α≠space␈α≠limitations␈α≠presently␈α~imposed␈α≠by␈α≠economic␈α≠constraints.␈α≠ Also,␈α~publishing
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂opportunities␈α⊂would␈α⊂expand␈α⊂because␈α⊂a␈α⊂large␈α∂organization␈α⊂would␈α⊂not␈α⊂be␈α⊂necessary␈α⊂to␈α⊂produce␈α∂a
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂newspaper␈α∩or␈α∩magazine.␈α∩ The␈α∩environment␈α∩also␈α∩would␈α∩benefit:␈α∩Fuel␈α∩presently␈α∩used␈α∩to␈α∩deliver
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂newspapers,␈αbooks,␈α
and␈αmagazines␈α
would␈αbe␈α
conserved␈αand␈α
trees␈αnow␈α
destined␈αto␈αbecome␈α
newsprint
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂would be saved.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂A␈α∪major␈α∀impetus␈α∪toward␈α∪widespread␈α∀use␈α∪of␈α∪home␈α∀information␈α∪terminals␈α∪is␈α∀likely␈α∪to␈α∀be␈α∪the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂development␈αof␈αelectronic␈αnewspapers.␈α Publishers␈αare␈αturning␈αto␈αcomputer␈αtechnology␈αin␈αan␈αeffort
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂to␈αincrease␈αthe␈αspeed␈αand␈αefficiency␈αof␈αtheir␈αproduction␈αdepartments.␈α In␈αsome␈αoperations,␈αreporters
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂and␈α∀editors␈α∀ply␈α∀their␈α∀craft␈α∀on␈α∀computer-operated␈α∀video␈α∀display␈α∀terminals.␈α∃ Optical␈α∀character
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂recognition␈α∃scanners␈α∃convert␈α⊗copy␈α∃to␈α∃machine␈α∃language␈α⊗for␈α∃processing␈α∃in␈α⊗a␈α∃phototypesetter.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Newspapers␈αare␈αalso␈α
using␈αthe␈αcomputer␈αfor␈α
information␈αstorage␈αon␈αa␈α
limited␈αscale.␈α The␈α␈↓βNew␈α
York
␈↓ ↓H␈↓βTimes␈α∞␈↓∂␈α∂has␈α∞established␈α∞an␈α∂information␈α∞bank␈α∞which␈α∂is␈α∞available␈α∞to␈α∂subscribers␈α∞and␈α∂which␈α∞shows
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂promise for future growth.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂A␈αnumber␈αof␈αforces␈αare␈αbeing␈αfelt␈αby␈αthe␈αnewspaper␈αindustry,␈αhowever,␈αthat␈αmight␈αpush␈αthe␈αuse␈αof
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂computer␈αtechnology␈αone␈αstep␈αfurther␈α--␈αinto␈αthe␈αnewspaper␈αreader's␈αliving␈αroom.␈α Foremost␈αamong
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂these␈α
is␈α∞a␈α
newsprint␈α∞shortage␈α
that␈α∞is␈α
expected␈α
to␈α∞worsen.␈α
 This␈α∞shortage␈α
--␈α∞and␈α
the␈α∞probable␈α
cost
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂increases␈α∞associated␈α
with␈α∞it␈α
--␈α∞could␈α
make␈α∞the␈α
video␈α∞terminal␈α
located␈α∞in␈α
the␈α∞subscriber's␈α∞home␈α
an
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂attractive alternative to newsprint.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Despite␈α⊃gains␈α⊂in␈α⊃production␈α⊂efficiency␈α⊃through␈α⊃the␈α⊂use␈α⊃of␈α⊂computer␈α⊃technology,␈α⊃the␈α⊂newspaper
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂distribution␈α∂system,␈α∂for␈α∂the␈α∂most␈α∂part,␈α∂remains␈α∂as␈α∂it␈α∂has␈α∂for␈α∂years.␈α∂ Men␈α∂load␈α∂bundles␈α⊂of␈α∂bulky
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂newspapers␈α∞on␈α∞trucks␈α
that␈α∞take␈α∞the␈α
papers␈α∞to␈α∞newspaper␈α
carriers,␈α∞who␈α∞in␈α
turn,␈α∞deliver␈α∞it␈α∞to␈α
your
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂front␈α∂door.␈α∂ An␈α∂electronic␈α∂distribution␈α∂system␈α⊂would␈α∂reduce␈α∂the␈α∂time␈α∂between␈α∂the␈α∂lockup␈α⊂of␈α∂the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂paper␈α∞and␈α
its␈α∞arrival␈α
at␈α∞the␈α
home.␈α∞ In␈α
fact,␈α∞lockup␈α
of␈α∞the␈α
newspaper,␈α∞in␈α
the␈α∞current␈α
sense␈α∞of␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂term␈αwill␈α
be␈αunnecessary.␈α
 Cable␈αtelevision,␈α
which␈αis␈α
expected␈αto␈α
cover␈αmost␈α
American␈αhomes␈αin␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂next␈α⊂two␈α⊂decades,␈α⊂may␈α∂be␈α⊂the␈α⊂eventual␈α⊂mode␈α⊂of␈α∂transmission␈α⊂for␈α⊂the␈α⊂electronic␈α⊂newspaper,␈α∂but
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂telephone transmission is also quite feasible.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Before␈α∩the␈α∩electronic␈α∩newspaper␈α∩and␈α∩the␈α∩multi-use␈α∩home␈α∩information␈α∩terminal␈α∩become␈α∩reality,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂however,␈α
a␈α
number␈α
of␈α∞problems␈α
will␈α
need␈α
thorough␈α
research.␈α∞ This␈α
proposal␈α
seeks␈α
to␈α∞develop␈α
an
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂experimental␈α∞electronic␈α∞newspaper␈α∞on␈α∞the␈α∞Stanford␈α∞University␈α∞campus␈α∞which␈α∞would␈α∞serve␈α∂as␈α∞the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂basis for research in the following areas:



␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧2␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂1.␈α⊂␈↓βMan-machine␈α⊂interaction.␈α⊂␈↓∂An␈α⊂electronic␈α⊂newspaper␈α∂must␈α⊂be␈α⊂designed␈α⊂so␈α⊂the␈α⊂casual␈α⊂user,␈α∂who
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂knows␈αlittle␈αor␈αnothing␈αabout␈αa␈αcomputer,␈αcan␈αuse␈αit␈αeasily␈αwithout␈αreading␈αanything␈αlonger␈αthan␈αa
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂placard␈α
on␈αthe␈α
terminal.␈α The␈α
"reader"␈α
also␈αshould␈α
be␈αable␈α
to␈α
use␈αthe␈α
system␈αafter␈α
a␈α
long␈αabsence
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂without␈α⊂having␈α⊂to␈α⊂relearn␈α∂procedures.␈α⊂ This␈α⊂requires␈α⊂the␈α∂development␈α⊂of␈α⊂a␈α⊂uniform␈α⊂and␈α∂easily
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂remembered style of interaction.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂These␈αsame␈αproblems␈αapply␈αto␈αthe␈αcommunicator's␈αuse␈αof␈αthe␈αnew␈αtechnology.␈α The␈αsystem␈αmust␈αbe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂designed␈α⊂so␈α⊂reporters␈α⊂and␈α⊃editors␈α⊂can␈α⊂insert␈α⊂and␈α⊂update␈α⊃information␈α⊂in␈α⊂a␈α⊂way␈α⊂that␈α⊃would␈α⊂not
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂hamper their journalistic functions.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂2.␈α∩ ␈↓βFile␈α∩handling␈α⊃and␈α∩retrieval␈α∩techniques.␈α⊃ ␈↓∂The␈α∩Associated␈α∩Press␈α⊃A-wire␈α∩alone␈α∩produces␈α⊃some
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂375,000␈α∞characters␈α∞per␈α∂day.␈α∞ Because␈α∞a␈α∂newspaper␈α∞collection␈α∞would␈α∞be␈α∂kept␈α∞over␈α∞long␈α∂periods␈α∞of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂time␈α∩from␈α∩several␈α∩wire␈α∩services␈α∩and␈α∪its␈α∩own␈α∩local␈α∩sources,␈α∩news␈α∩data␈α∩indexing␈α∪and␈α∩handling
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂techniques must be developed to handle the tremendous volume of information.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂3.␈α∂ ␈↓βComputer␈α∂interface.␈α∂ ␈↓∂Because␈α⊂of␈α∂the␈α∂large␈α∂amounts␈α⊂of␈α∂information␈α∂from␈α∂various␈α⊂sources␈α∂that
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂would␈α∪have␈α∪to␈α∪be␈α∪stored␈α∪on␈α∪computer,␈α∪it␈α∪is␈α∪necessary␈α∪to␈α∪develop␈α∪ways␈α∪of␈α∀making␈α∪disparate
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂computers␈α
interface␈α
smoothly␈α
and␈α
divide␈α
a␈α
work␈α
load.␈α
 The␈α
long␈α
range␈α
goal␈α
of␈α
making␈α
all␈α
of␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information␈α⊂in␈α⊃the␈α⊂country␈α⊃accessible␈α⊂from␈α⊂any␈α⊃one␈α⊂location␈α⊃is␈α⊂not␈α⊂being␈α⊃solved␈α⊂by␈α⊃creating␈α⊂a
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂national␈α∪information␈α∩system.␈α∪ Instead,␈α∩many␈α∪information␈α∩systems␈α∪with␈α∩limited␈α∪goals␈α∪are␈α∩being
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂developed and will need to be interlinked.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂4.␈α ␈↓βReader␈αFeedback.␈α ␈↓∂With␈αan␈αelectronic␈αnewspaper,␈αit␈αwould␈αbe␈αpossible␈αto␈αmonitor␈αreader␈αchoices
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂electronically␈α
and␈α
provide␈α
editors␈α
with␈α
this␈α∞information.␈α
 Readers␈α
also␈α
would␈α
be␈α
able␈α
to␈α∞use␈α
their
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂terminals␈α∞to␈α∞respond␈α∞to␈α∞the␈α∞newspaper␈α∞via␈α∂a␈α∞"letter␈α∞to␈α∞the␈α∞editors"␈α∞system.␈α∞ A␈α∞serious␈α∂concern␈α∞of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂communication␈α∃researchers␈α∃is␈α∃the␈α∃effect␈α∃of␈α∀this␈α∃feedback␈α∃on␈α∃the␈α∃attitudes␈α∃and␈α∃behavior␈α∀of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂journalists.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂5.␈α∪ ␈↓βReadership␈α∪Patterns.␈α∪ ␈↓∂Newspaper␈α∪readers␈α∪would␈α∪gain␈α∪more␈α∪control␈α∪over␈α∪information␈α∪they
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂received␈αwith␈α
the␈αelectronic␈α
distribution␈αsystem.␈α As␈α
mentioned␈αabove,␈α
they␈αwould␈α
be␈αable␈αto␈α
bypass
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂editorial␈αdecisions␈α
and␈αsearch␈αfor␈α
information␈αof␈α
particular␈αinterest.␈α How␈α
this␈αcapability␈αaffects␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂reader's behavior and attitudes is still another matter of interest.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂6.␈α↔ ␈↓βReader-interest␈α_Profiles.␈α↔ ␈↓∂A␈α_selective␈α↔dissemination-of-information␈α_type␈α↔system␈α_would␈α↔be
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂developed␈α∂through␈α∂which␈α∂readers␈α∂could␈α⊂describe␈α∂their␈α∂personal␈α∂interests␈α∂and␈α∂request␈α⊂the␈α∂system
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂automatically␈α∂to␈α∂find␈α∂stories␈α∂conforming␈α∂to␈α∂these␈α∂interests.␈α∂ The␈α∂goal␈α∂would␈α∂be␈α∂to␈α∂maximize␈α∂the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂efficiency and the flexibility of the system for the reader.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈α∂Stanford␈α∞University␈α∂Campus␈α∂provides␈α∞an␈α∂ideal␈α∞setting␈α∂for␈α∂conducting␈α∞such␈α∂a␈α∂project.␈α∞ The
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Artificial␈α⊂Intelligence␈α⊃Laboratory␈α⊂and␈α⊂Communication␈α⊃Department␈α⊂have␈α⊂the␈α⊃computer␈α⊂expertise
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂and research skills necessary for daily operation of the newspaper.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Most␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊂necessary␈α⊃hardware␈α⊃and␈α⊂software␈α⊃to␈α⊃support␈α⊂the␈α⊃electronic␈α⊃newspaper␈α⊃are␈α⊂already
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂available.␈α The␈αStanford␈αArtificial␈αIntelligence␈αLaboratory␈αhas␈αa␈αtime-sharing␈αsystem␈αwith␈αa␈αPDP-
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂10␈α∂computer,␈α∞while␈α∂the␈α∞Stanford␈α∂Center␈α∂for␈α∞Information␈α∂Processing␈α∞operates␈α∂an␈α∂IBM360/67;␈α∞the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂/67,␈α∪which␈α∪serves␈α∪the␈α∪main␈α∪campus,␈α∀supports␈α∪an␈α∪estimated␈α∪150␈α∪electric␈α∪typewriter␈α∀and␈α∪CRT
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂terminals␈αat␈αa␈αvariety␈αof␈αlocations.␈α A␈αmaximum␈α
of␈α126␈αof␈αthese␈αcan␈αbe␈αon-line␈αat␈αany␈α
given␈αtime.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂In␈α⊂addition,␈α⊂the␈α∂Artificial␈α⊂Intelligence␈α⊂Laboratory,␈α⊂with␈α∂70␈α⊂terminals␈α⊂and␈α⊂located␈α∂approximately
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂three␈αmiles␈αfrom␈αthe␈αmain␈αcampus,␈αcurrently␈αoperates␈αa␈αsystem␈αwhich␈αprovides␈αfor␈αautomatic␈αinput
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂of␈αthe␈αAssociated␈α
Press␈αA-wire␈αand␈α
the␈α␈↓βNew␈αYork␈α
Times␈↓∂␈αNews␈αService␈α
into␈αthe␈αPDP-10.␈α Users␈α
can


␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧3␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂have␈α⊂displayed␈α⊂stories␈α∂about␈α⊂any␈α⊂topic␈α∂in␈α⊂which␈α⊂they␈α∂are␈α⊂interested.␈α⊂ Persons␈α∂using␈α⊂one␈α⊂of␈α∂the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂terminals␈α
may␈α∞request␈α
that␈α
the␈α∞computer␈α
interrupt␈α∞their␈α
work␈α
when␈α∞bulletins␈α
or␈α∞new␈α
information
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂about a topic come over the wire.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈α⊃production␈α⊃and␈α⊃distribution␈α⊂of␈α⊃local␈α⊃news␈α⊃and␈α⊂information␈α⊃would␈α⊃be␈α⊃handled␈α⊃within␈α⊂the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂context␈αof␈αSPIRES␈αII,␈αan␈αinformation␈αretrieval␈αsystem.␈α SPIRES␈αwas␈αdeveloped␈αby␈αthe␈αInstitute␈αfor
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Communication␈α⊂Research␈α⊂under␈α⊂a␈α⊂grant␈α⊂from␈α⊂the␈α⊂National␈α⊂Science␈α⊂Foundation.␈α⊃ The␈α⊂Stanford
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Center␈α∞for␈α∞Information␈α
Processing␈α∞(SCIP)␈α∞now␈α
operates␈α∞SPIRES␈α∞II␈α
which␈α∞became␈α∞operational␈α
in
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂1972.␈α With␈α
SPIRES␈αII,␈α
a␈αuser␈αcan␈α
create,␈αupdate,␈α
maintain,␈αsearch,␈α
and␈αdisplay␈αstored␈α
information.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈α
user␈α
may␈αwork␈α
with␈α
either␈α
a␈αprivate␈α
data␈α
base␈α
of␈αjust␈α
a␈α
few␈α
records␈αor␈α
with␈α
a␈α
public␈αdata␈α
base
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂that␈αincludes␈αinformation␈αranging␈αfrom␈αa␈αrestaurant␈αguide␈αto␈αa␈αLibrary␈αof␈αCongress␈α"card"␈αcatalog
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂file (which contains over 170,000 records).


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∧␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α)PLAN OF ACTION

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂ An␈α∞experimental␈α∞electronic␈α
newspaper␈α∞would␈α∞be␈α∞established␈α
on␈α∞the␈α∞Stanford␈α∞University␈α
campus.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Its␈αoperation␈αwould␈αprovide␈αthe␈αreader␈αwith␈αnews␈αabout␈αimportant␈αnational␈αand␈αiternational␈α
events
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂and␈α⊃information␈α⊂about␈α⊃developments␈α⊃in␈α⊂the␈α⊃Stanford␈α⊂area.␈α⊃ It␈α⊃would␈α⊂contain␈α⊃some␈α⊃local␈α⊂news,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂science␈α
information␈α
(news␈αabout␈α
important␈α
national␈α
and␈αlocal␈α
developments␈α
in␈α
science)␈αand␈α
updated
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information about scheduled events, movies, restaurants, concerts, etc.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈α∞base␈α∞for␈α∞the␈α∞paper␈α∞would␈α∞be␈α∞the␈α∞Associated␈α∞Press␈α∞and␈α∞the␈α∞␈↓βNew␈α∞York␈α∞Times␈α∞␈↓∂␈α∞News␈α∞Service
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂which␈α∂would␈α∞be␈α∂stored␈α∞on␈α∂a␈α∞PDP-10␈α∂computer␈α∞at␈α∂the␈α∞Artificial␈α∂Intelligence␈α∂Laboratory.␈α∞ Efforts
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂would␈α∩be␈α∩made␈α∩to␈α∪expand␈α∩the␈α∩file␈α∩by␈α∩adding␈α∪other␈α∩wire␈α∩services.␈α∩ Some␈α∩of␈α∪the␈α∩information
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂including␈αlocal␈αnews␈αand␈αscience␈αinformation,␈αwould␈αbe␈αstored␈αon␈αthe␈αIBM␈α360/67.␈α Readers␈αwould
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂be␈α∞able␈α∞to␈α∞call␈α∂up␈α∞information␈α∞stored␈α∞on␈α∂either␈α∞computer␈α∞at␈α∞any␈α∂of␈α∞the␈α∞terminals␈α∞located␈α∂on␈α∞the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂campus.␈α They␈αcould␈αeither␈αrequest␈αa␈α"front␈αpage"␈αcontaining␈αa␈αsummary␈αof␈αthe␈αday's␈αmajor␈αevents
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂or␈α∞an␈α∞index␈α∞in␈α
headline␈α∞form␈α∞that␈α∞summarized␈α∞important␈α
information␈α∞not␈α∞included␈α∞on␈α∞the␈α
front
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂page.␈α Establishment␈αand␈αoperation␈αof␈αthe␈αinterface␈αbetween␈αthe␈αtwo␈αcomputers␈αwould␈αproduce␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂research␈α∪about␈α∀machine␈α∪interface␈α∪that␈α∀must␈α∪be␈α∪solved␈α∀if␈α∪persons␈α∪are␈α∀to␈α∪be␈α∪able␈α∀to␈α∪retrieve
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information from disparate systems.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂A␈αgraduate␈αstudent␈α
with␈αprofessional␈αjournalism␈α
training␈αwould␈αserve␈α
as␈αeditor␈αof␈α
the␈αnewspaper.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Each␈αday,␈αthe␈αeditor␈αwould␈αprepare␈αa␈αfront␈αpage␈αthat␈αincluded␈αwhat␈αhe␈αperceived␈αto␈αbe␈αthe␈αmajor
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂local,␈αnational␈αand␈αinternational␈αevents.␈α He␈αalso␈αwould␈αwrite␈αa␈αnews␈αsummary␈αin␈αheadline␈αform␈αof
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂events␈α∂not␈α∂included␈α∂on␈α∂the␈α∂front␈α∂page.␈α∂ Depending␈α∂on␈α∂the␈α∂amount␈α∂of␈α∂time␈α∂available,␈α∂the␈α∞editor
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂might also prepare a sports page, a financial page, etc.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈αeditor␈αwould␈αbe␈αassisted␈αby␈αa␈αclerk␈αwho␈αwould␈αdouble␈αas␈αa␈αreporter.␈α The␈αclerk␈αwould␈αupdate
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information␈αabout␈αlocal␈αevents,␈αsuch␈αas␈αmovie␈αand␈αconcert␈αschedules,␈αand␈αwould␈α
occasionally␈αwrite
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂stories␈α∩about␈α⊃important␈α∩local␈α⊃news␈α∩events.␈α⊃ The␈α∩clerk␈α⊃would␈α∩also␈α⊃gather␈α∩and␈α∩assemble␈α⊃science
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information␈αof␈αinterest␈αto␈αthe␈αStanford␈αcommunity.␈α This␈αwould␈αinclude␈αimportant␈αnational␈αscience
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂developments␈α
reported␈α
by␈αthe␈α
wire␈α
services;␈α
campus␈αdevelopments␈α
such␈α
as␈α
details␈αabout␈α
conferences,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂grants, important research resulls, available papers, etc.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Two␈α
full-time␈αcomputer␈α
programmers␈αand␈α
one␈αworking␈α
part-time␈αcomputer␈α
programmer␈αwould␈α
deal
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂with␈α∃the␈α∃computer␈α∃problems.␈α∃ They␈α∃would␈α∃develop␈α∃data␈α∃indexing␈α∃and␈α∃handling␈α∀techniques
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂necessary␈α
to␈αhandle␈α
the␈αvoluminous␈α
amounts␈αof␈α
information␈αthat␈α
would␈αhave␈α
to␈αbe␈α
stored␈α
for␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂newspaper,␈αand␈αwould␈αcontinue␈αto␈αrefine␈αthese␈αtechniques␈αso␈αthat␈αoperation␈αof␈αthe␈αsystem,␈αfor␈αboth


␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧4␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂communicators␈α∂and␈α∞receivers,␈α∂was␈α∞as␈α∂simple␈α∞as␈α∂possible.␈α∞ Additionally,␈α∂they␈α∞would␈α∂deal␈α∂with␈α∞the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂interface between the two computers used in the project.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂A␈αgraduate␈αstudent␈αwould␈αserve␈αas␈αresearch␈αassistant␈αto␈αhelp␈αthe␈αinvestigators␈αcollect␈αand␈αevaluate
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂data obtained during the project.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Graduate␈α∞and␈α
undergraduate␈α∞students␈α∞enrolled␈α
in␈α∞Communication␈α
175,␈α∞Public␈α∞Affairs␈α
Reporting,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂which␈α∀is␈α∀taught␈α∀each␈α∀spring␈α∀quarter␈α∃by␈α∀Professor␈α∀Dan␈α∀Drew,␈α∀would␈α∀participate␈α∃in␈α∀actively
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂producing␈α
the␈α
electronic␈α
newspaper.␈α
 Some␈α
of␈α
the␈α
stories␈α
they␈α
covered␈α
during␈α
their␈α
class␈α
exercises
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂would be placed in computer storage to provide readers with news about important local events.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Because␈αof␈αthe␈αavailability␈αof␈αterminals␈αon␈αthe␈αcampus,␈αthe␈αelectronic␈αnewspaper␈αcan␈αbe␈αdeveloped
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂and␈αreader␈α
acceptance␈αtested␈α
in␈αa␈α
preliminary␈αway␈αwithout␈α
buying␈αmore␈α
terminals.␈α A␈α
larger␈αscale
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂test␈α
will␈α∞require␈α
more␈α
terminals,␈α∞but␈α
perhaps␈α
this␈α∞can␈α
be␈α
done␈α∞with␈α
multi-purpose␈α∞terminals␈α
used
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂for␈α∂other␈α∂computing␈α∂and␈α∂communication␈α∂purposes.␈α∂ It␈α∂will,␈α∂however,␈α∂be␈α∂necessary␈α∂to␈α∂purchase␈α∞a
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂multiplexer␈α
in␈αorder␈α
to␈αincrease␈α
the␈αcapabilities␈α
of␈αthe␈α
PDP-10,␈αand␈α
develop␈αan␈α
interface␈αbetween
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂the PDP-10 and the IBM 360/67.


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∧␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α#RESEARCH AREAS
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∧␈↓βCOMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂This␈αproject␈αinvolves␈αresearch␈αin␈αthree␈αareas␈αof␈αcomputer␈αscience␈α-␈αthe␈αman-machine␈αinterface,␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂creation,␈α⊂maintenance␈α⊂and␈α∂retrieval␈α⊂of␈α⊂data␈α∂bases,␈α⊂and␈α⊂the␈α∂interaction␈α⊂of␈α⊂programs␈α⊂in␈α∂different
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂computers.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂1.␈α⊂␈↓βThe␈α⊂man-machine␈α⊂interface.␈α⊂ ␈↓∂␈α⊂The␈α∂␈↓βelectronic␈α⊂newspaper␈↓∂␈α⊂provides␈α⊂an␈α⊂excellent␈α⊂opportunity␈α∂for
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂research␈α∂in␈α∂man-machine␈α∂interaction,␈α∂because␈α∂the␈α∂users␈α∂will␈α∂differ␈α∂widely␈α∂in␈α∂their␈α∂motivation␈α∂to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂overcome␈α∩difficulties␈α∩and␈α∩because␈α∪many␈α∩features␈α∩can␈α∩be␈α∪provided␈α∩that␈α∩differ␈α∩widely␈α∪in␈α∩their
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂intrinsic␈αdifficulty␈αof␈αuse.␈α Our␈αgoal␈αis␈αthat␈αthe␈α␈↓βnewspaper␈↓∂␈αwill␈αprove␈αcongenial␈αto␈α
users␈αinstructed
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂only␈αby␈αa␈αplacard␈αon␈αthe␈αterminal␈αand␈αthe␈αprompt␈αfeatures␈αof␈αthe␈αprogram.␈α Moreover,␈αa␈αuser␈αwho
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂is␈α
experienced␈α
with␈α
some␈α∞of␈α
the␈α
features␈α
should␈α
not␈α∞be␈α
frustrated␈α
by␈α
excessive␈α
dialog␈α∞in␈α
familiar
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂areas␈α∞but␈α∞should␈α
be␈α∞able␈α∞to␈α
get␈α∞help␈α∞with␈α∞less␈α
familiar␈α∞features.␈α∞ It␈α
should␈α∞also␈α∞be␈α∞convenient␈α
to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂return to using the program after months of absence.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈α
Stanford␈αArtificial␈α
Intelligence␈α
Laboratory␈αhas␈α
accumulated␈α
much␈αexperience␈α
in␈αdesigning␈α
and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂using␈α⊃programs␈α⊃that␈α⊃interact␈α∩with␈α⊃users␈α⊃at␈α⊃terminals.␈α∩ Programs␈α⊃from␈α⊃which␈α⊃we␈α∩have␈α⊃learned
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂include:␈α
the␈α
time-sharing␈α
system␈αitself,␈α
text␈α
editors,␈α
message␈αsending␈α
and␈α
receiving␈α
systems,␈αon-line
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂desk␈α∂calculator␈α∂simulators,␈α⊂interpreters␈α∂like␈α∂LISP,␈α∂several␈α⊂variants␈α∂of␈α∂our␈α∂news␈α⊂service␈α∂program,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂spelling␈α
checkers,␈α
file␈α
directory␈α
editors,␈α
a␈α∞program␈α
for␈α
charging␈α
purchases␈α
in␈α
our␈α∞commissary␈α
and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂making␈α
the␈α
vending␈α
machine␈αgive␈α
out␈α
food,␈α
and␈α
many␈αothers.␈α
 The␈α
users␈α
of␈α
these␈αprograms␈α
include
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂experienced␈αprogrammers,␈αbeginning␈αprogrammers,␈αsecretaries␈αexperienced␈αin␈αoperating␈αour␈αeditors
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂etc.,␈α∞and␈α
temporary␈α∞secretaries␈α∞who␈α
have␈α∞to␈α∞operate␈α
them␈α∞with␈α∞only␈α
15␈α∞minutes␈α∞instruction.␈α
 One
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂may␈αuse␈α
a␈αprogram␈α
constantly␈αor␈α
only␈αa␈α
few␈αtimes␈α
a␈αyear.␈α
 Many␈αpeople␈α
do␈αby␈α
hand␈αjobs␈αfor␈α
which
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂there␈α∞is␈α
a␈α∞readily␈α
available␈α∞program␈α
simply␈α∞because␈α
they␈α∞find␈α
it␈α∞inconvenient␈α
to␈α∞learn␈α∞or␈α
relearn
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂how to use the relevant program (or even an unfamiliar feature of a program they use constantly).

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂These␈α
problems␈α
will␈α
never␈α
go␈α
away␈α
completely,␈αbut␈α
the␈α
problems␈α
they␈α
occasion␈α
can␈α
be␈αminimized
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂by␈αa␈αproper␈αstyle␈αof␈αman-machine␈αinteraction.␈α We␈αhave␈αmade␈αa␈αnumber␈αof␈αdiscoveries␈α
about␈αthis


␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧5␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂some␈α⊂of␈α⊂which␈α⊂are␈α∂perhaps␈α⊂counter-intuitive␈α⊂and␈α⊂don't␈α⊂yet␈α∂get␈α⊂wide␈α⊂assent␈α⊂among␈α⊂designers␈α∂of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂interactive␈α∞programs.␈α∞ ␈↓∧First␈↓∂,␈α
in␈α∞so␈α∞far␈α
as␈α∞possible,␈α∞interaction␈α
should␈α∞be␈α∞on␈α
one␈α∞level␈α∞rather␈α
than
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂hierarchical;␈α
i.e.,␈α
in␈α
a␈α
program␈α
with␈α
modes␈α
and␈α
submodes,␈α
the␈α
user␈α
often␈α
forgets␈α
what␈α
mode␈α
he␈α
is␈α
in,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂what␈α
mode␈αthe␈α
various␈αfacilities␈α
require,␈αand␈α
even␈αwhen␈α
he␈αremembers,␈α
he␈αoften␈α
finds␈α
himself␈αin
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂the␈α
wrong␈α
mode.␈α This␈α
is␈α
a␈αspecial␈α
case␈α
of␈α
the␈αgeneral␈α
principle␈α
that␈αthe␈α
user␈α
will␈α
have␈αdifficulty
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂whenever␈α⊂the␈α⊂designer␈α⊃of␈α⊂the␈α⊂program␈α⊂introduces␈α⊃a␈α⊂new␈α⊂concept␈α⊂rather␈α⊃than␈α⊂a␈α⊂notation␈α⊃for␈α⊂a
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂concept that the user already has in his mind.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓∧Second␈↓∂,␈α∂there␈α∂should␈α∂always␈α⊂be␈α∂readily␈α∂available␈α∂help␈α∂from␈α⊂the␈α∂program␈α∂itself␈α∂in␈α∂case␈α⊂the␈α∂user
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂forgets␈α
some␈α
facet␈α
of␈α
its␈α
use.␈α
 It␈α
is␈α
convenient␈α
for␈αthe␈α
user␈α
always␈α
to␈α
be␈α
able␈α
to␈α
get␈α
help␈α
by␈αtyping␈α
"?"
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂instead␈α∞of␈α∞whatever␈α∞command␈α∞the␈α∞program␈α∞might␈α∞expect␈α∞next.␈α∞ In␈α∞general,␈α∞we␈α∞are␈α∞talking␈α∞about
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂adapting␈αthe␈αprogram␈αto␈αease␈αof␈αuse␈αfor␈αthe␈αaverage␈αperson,␈αnot␈αfor␈αexperienced␈αprogrammers.␈α Of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂course,␈α∩even␈α∩experienced␈α∪programmers␈α∩benefit␈α∩from␈α∩improved␈α∪clarity␈α∩of␈α∩program␈α∪use.␈α∩ When
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂displays␈α∞are␈α∞available,␈α∞a␈α
part␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞screen␈α∞can␈α
be␈α∞used␈α∞to␈α∞tell␈α
what␈α∞options␈α∞are␈α∞available␈α∞to␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂user.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂2.␈α∞␈↓βFile␈α∞handling␈α∞and␈α∞retrieval␈α∞techniques.␈α∞ ␈↓∂In␈α∞the␈α∞course␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞last␈α∞decade␈α∂many␈α∞computer-based
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂data␈αbases␈αhave␈αbeen␈αcreated␈αby␈αorganizations␈αall␈αover␈αthe␈αcountry,␈αand␈αmany␈αmore␈αwill␈αbe␈αcreated
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂in␈αthe␈αnext␈αten␈αyears.␈α Each␈αof␈αthem␈αhas␈αbeen␈αdesigned␈αby␈αitself␈αand␈αhas␈αbeen␈αdesigned␈αto␈αinteract
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂with␈αa␈αspecific␈αkind␈αof␈αterminal␈αwith␈αa␈αspecific␈αstyle␈αof␈αdialog.␈α A␈αuser␈αof␈αinformation␈αmay␈αwant␈αto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂refer␈α
to␈α
many␈αdifferent␈α
data␈α
bases,␈α
and␈αthis␈α
will␈α
not␈αbe␈α
feasible␈α
if␈α
he␈αneeds␈α
a␈α
different␈αterminal␈α
and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂a␈α∞different␈α
style␈α∞of␈α
dialog␈α∞for␈α
each␈α∞one.␈α
It␈α∞would␈α
be␈α∞convenient␈α
for␈α∞the␈α
user␈α∞if␈α
a␈α∞single␈α
standard
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂style␈α∞of␈α∞information␈α∞storage␈α∞and␈α∞interaction␈α∂would␈α∞be␈α∞developed␈α∞and␈α∞used␈α∞nationally,␈α∞but␈α∂this␈α∞is
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂quite␈α
unlikely␈α
to␈α
happen␈α
-␈αfor␈α
bad␈α
reasons␈α
like␈α
unwillingness␈α
to␈αlook␈α
at␈α
other␈α
people's␈α
work,␈αand␈α
for
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂good␈α∪reasons␈α∪like␈α∪the␈α∪availability␈α∪of␈α∀different␈α∪hardware␈α∪and␈α∪software␈α∪to␈α∪different␈α∀people␈α∪at
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂different times.  We wish to explore the following potential way out of the difficulty:

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Instead␈α∪of␈α∪trying␈α∀(probably␈α∪vainly)␈α∪to␈α∀get␈α∪people␈α∪to␈α∪standardize␈α∀their␈α∪data␈α∪bases,␈α∀␈↓↓we␈α∪shall
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓develop␈α∞a␈α∞standard␈α∞way␈α∞of␈α∞describing␈α∞data␈α
bases␈↓∂␈α∞-␈α∞what␈α∞information␈α∞is␈α∞stored␈α∞therein␈α
and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂how␈αit␈αis␈αrepresented.␈α Instead␈αof␈αa␈αstandard␈αinteraction␈αstyle,␈α␈↓↓we␈αshall␈αdevelop␈αa␈αstandard␈αway
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓of␈αdescribing␈αinteraction␈αstyles.␈α ␈↓∂Our␈αusers␈αwill␈αmake␈αtheir␈αinquiries␈αin␈αour␈αstyle␈αto␈αwhich
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂they␈α∞have␈α∞become␈α∞accustomed,␈α∞and␈α∞a␈α∞program␈α
will␈α∞use␈α∞the␈α∞data␈α∞base␈α∞description␈α∞and␈α
interaction
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂description␈αto␈αinterface␈αour␈αuser␈αand␈αthe␈αforeign␈αdata␈αbase.␈α A␈αpossible␈αinitial␈αexample␈αis␈αthe␈α␈↓βNew
␈↓ ↓H␈↓βYork␈α
Times␈↓∂␈α
Data␈α
Bank.␈α
 Another␈α
possibility␈α
is␈α
to␈α
interface␈α
with␈α
ticket␈α
reservation␈α
systems␈α
so␈αthat␈α
an
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓βElectronic␈α
Times␈↓∂␈αreader␈α
who␈α
has␈αseen␈α
an␈αevent␈α
mentioned␈α
in␈αthe␈α
"paper"␈αcan␈α
make␈α
a␈αreservation.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈α
work␈α
of␈α
the␈α
Electronic␈α
Systems␈α
Lab␈αat␈α
MIT␈α
in␈α
developing␈α
a␈α
common␈α
interface␈α
to␈αmultiple␈α
data
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂base␈α∂systems␈α⊂will␈α∂be␈α⊂taken␈α∂into␈α⊂account.␈α∂ We␈α⊂are␈α∂also␈α⊂aware␈α∂of␈α⊂the␈α∂considerations␈α⊂advanced␈α∂in
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓βDesign␈α∪of␈α∪Man-Computer␈α∪Dialogues␈↓∂␈α∪by␈α∪James␈α∪Martin␈α∪(Prentice-Hall␈α∪1973),␈α∪but␈α∪the␈α∩electronic
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂newspaper␈α∞situation␈α∞will␈α∞permit␈α∞more␈α∂continuous␈α∞optimization␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞interactive␈α∞system␈α∂than␈α∞did
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂any of the programs described in that book.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂We␈α∂also␈α∂want␈α∞to␈α∂see␈α∂how␈α∞far␈α∂we␈α∂can␈α∞go␈α∂in␈α∂allowing␈α∞more␈α∂sophisticated␈α∂criteria␈α∂for␈α∞information
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂selection␈αthan␈αcategories␈αdetermined␈αby␈αhuman␈αeditors␈αor␈αthe␈αpresence␈αof␈αwords␈αand␈αphrases␈αin␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂text.␈α For␈αexample,␈αwe␈αwould␈αlike␈αto␈αthe␈αsystem␈αto␈αclassify␈αnuclear␈αreactors␈αwith␈αenergy␈αand␈αnuclear
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂weapons with disarmament, but as the reader no doubt sees, even this has its problems.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂3.␈α⊃␈↓βInter-computer␈α⊃interfaces.␈α⊃ ␈↓∂It␈α⊃will␈α⊂become␈α⊃more␈α⊃and␈α⊃more␈α⊃common␈α⊂in␈α⊃the␈α⊃future␈α⊃to␈α⊃want␈α⊂to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂interconnect␈α
computer␈α
systems␈α
so␈α
that␈α
users␈α
of␈α∞one␈α
system␈α
(or␈α
perhaps␈α
the␈α
system␈α
itself)␈α∞can␈α
have
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂access␈α
to␈α
the␈αresources␈α
(such␈α
as␈αinformation,␈α
services,␈α
and␈α
computation␈αpower)␈α
of␈α
other␈αsystems.␈α
 For
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓βThe␈α∞Stanford␈α∞Electronic␈α∞Times,␈↓∂␈α∞a␈α∞computer␈α∞link␈α∞between␈α∞the␈α∞360/67␈α∞located␈α∞on␈α∞the␈α∞main␈α∞campus


␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧6␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂and␈αthe␈αPDP-10␈αlocated␈αat␈αthe␈αArtificial␈αIntelligence␈αLaboratory␈αwould␈αbe␈αestablished.␈α The␈αPDP-
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂10 interface would be developed by the AI Lab.  The /67 interface would be developed by SCIP.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂These␈α∂are␈α∞technical␈α∂problems␈α∞that␈α∂have␈α∂been␈α∞solved␈α∂before.␈α∞ The␈α∂interesting␈α∞problem␈α∂is␈α∂how␈α∞to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂arrange␈αmatters␈αso␈αthat␈αthe␈α
user␈αof␈αone␈αcomputer␈αcan␈αuse␈α
facilities␈αof␈αthe␈αother␈αwithout␈α
having␈αto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂learn the details of its system.


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓βBEHAVIORAL-JOURNALISTIC RESEARCH


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Besides␈α
the␈α
computer␈αscience␈α
research␈α
descibed␈αabove,␈α
this␈α
proposal␈αwould␈α
permit␈α
research␈α
in␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂following behavioral-journalistic areas.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂1.␈α
␈↓βReader␈α
Feedback.␈α
 ␈↓∂An␈α
electronic␈α
monitoring␈α∞system␈α
would␈α
be␈α
developed␈α
which␈α
would␈α∞tally␈α
and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂record␈α∞information␈α
about␈α∞reader␈α
preferences.␈α∞ This␈α
would␈α∞include␈α
data␈α∞about␈α
the␈α∞types␈α∞of␈α
stories
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂readers␈α∂were␈α∞choosing,␈α∂the␈α∞amount␈α∂of␈α∞time␈α∂users␈α∞were␈α∂spending␈α∞with␈α∂the␈α∞system,␈α∂the␈α∂number␈α∞of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂times␈α∃they␈α∃bypassed␈α∀the␈α∃editor's␈α∃decisions,␈α∀and␈α∃the␈α∃number␈α∀of␈α∃persons␈α∃using␈α∃the␈α∀electronic
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂newspaper.␈α
 Readers␈α
also␈α
would␈α
be␈α
able␈α
to␈α
use␈αtheir␈α
terminals␈α
to␈α
insert␈α
"letters␈α
to␈α
the␈α
editor"␈αinto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂the␈α
system.␈α
 Because␈α
a␈α
"letter␈α
to␈α
the␈α
editor"␈α
could␈α
be␈α
written␈α
and␈α
sent␈α
in␈α
a␈α
fraction␈α
of␈α
the␈α
time␈α
it
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂takes␈α∩to␈α∩write␈α∩and␈α∩mail␈α∩a␈α∩letter␈α∩to␈α∩the␈α∩editor␈α∩to␈α∩a␈α∩conventional␈α∩newspaper,␈α∩and␈α∪because␈α∩the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂"publication"␈α
of␈α
all␈α
"letters"␈α
is␈α
guaranteed,␈α∞we␈α
would␈α
expect␈α
much␈α
more␈α
vigorous␈α
response␈α∞than␈α
a
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂conventional␈α∪newspaper␈α∪gets.␈α∪ These␈α∪data␈α∩and␈α∪the␈α∪letters␈α∪would␈α∪provide␈α∪valuable␈α∩descriptive
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information about reader response to the electronic newspaper.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂The␈αdata␈αalso␈αwould␈αbe␈αgiven␈αto␈αthe␈αeditor,␈αand␈αhis␈αbehavior␈αwould␈αbe␈αobserved␈αto␈αdetermine␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂effects␈α
of␈α
such␈α
feedback␈α
on␈α
journalistic␈α
decision␈α
making.␈α
 Interviews␈α
and␈α
semantic␈α
differential␈α
scales
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂would␈αbe␈α
used␈αto␈αmeasure␈α
any␈αchanges␈α
in␈αthe␈αeditor's␈α
perceptions␈αof␈α
his␈αaudience,␈αas␈α
a␈αresult␈αof␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂feedback.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂2.␈α⊂␈↓βReader␈α∂Interest␈α⊂Profile.␈α⊂ ␈↓∂A␈α∂selective␈α⊂dissemination-of-information␈α∂system␈α⊂would␈α⊂be␈α∂developed.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂On␈α∞the␈α∂basis␈α∞of␈α∞information␈α∂the␈α∞reader␈α∂provided␈α∞at␈α∞the␈α∂terminal␈α∞about␈α∞his␈α∂or␈α∞her␈α∂interests,␈α∞the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂system␈α∀would␈α∃search␈α∀out␈α∃stories␈α∀relevant␈α∀to␈α∃these␈α∀interests.␈α∃ Electronic␈α∀monitoring␈α∃would␈α∀be
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂developed␈α∂to␈α∂provide␈α∂data␈α∂about␈α∂the␈α∂extent␈α∂to␈α∂which␈α∂such␈α∂a␈α∂system␈α∂was␈α∂used␈α∂and␈α∂the␈α∂types␈α∞of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂information␈αreaders␈αrequested.␈α Interviews␈αand␈αdirect␈αobservation␈αwould␈αdetermine␈αreader␈αresponse
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂to␈α
the␈α
system␈αand␈α
would␈α
further␈αdetermine␈α
what␈α
kinds␈αof␈α
problems,␈α
if␈αany,␈α
were␈α
encountered␈αby␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂readers.















␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧7␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α∨PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS' DIVISION OF LABOR


␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Professor␈α∂John␈α∂McCarthy␈α∂will␈α∂be␈α∂in␈α∂charge␈α∂of␈α∂the␈α∂computer␈α∂science␈α∂research␈α∂component␈α∂of␈α∂the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂project,␈α
the␈α∞PDP-10␈α
software,␈α
and␈α∞the␈α
interconnection␈α∞between␈α
the␈α
PDP-10␈α∞and␈α
the␈α∞IBM␈α
360/67.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂He␈α⊂will␈α⊂also␈α⊂take␈α⊂part␈α⊂in␈α⊂using␈α⊂the␈α⊂␈↓βStanford␈α⊂Electronic␈α⊂Times␈↓∂␈α⊂to␈α⊂evaluate␈α⊂the␈α⊂social,␈α⊂economic,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂cultural and political effects of electronic newspapers.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Professor␈α
Edwin␈αParker␈α
will␈α
act␈αas␈α
administrative␈α
coordinator␈αof␈α
the␈α
entire␈αproject.␈α
 He␈α
also␈αwill␈α
be
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂in charge of the 360/67 software and will act as consultant for the behavioral research component.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂Professor␈αDan␈αDrew␈αwill␈α
supervise␈αthe␈αjournalism␈αcomponent␈α
and␈αthe␈αbehavioral␈αresearch␈α
outlined
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂in the proposal.







































␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧8␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α!WORK SCHEDULE

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓July - August, 1975

␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓∂* Establish link between PDP-10 and 360/67.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂* SPIRES file defined for experimental electronic newspaper.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂* Visit East Coast newspapers to study computerized production
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂  systems currently in use.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓September - November 1975

␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓∂* Prototype Experimental newspaper begins operation with participation
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂  of Communication 175 students.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂* Collection of data about software problems.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓December 1975 - February 1976

␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓∂* Reprogramming and reworking software on the basis of September through
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂  November experience.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓March - November 1976

␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓∂* Resume operation of experimental electronic newspaper with
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂  Communication 175 students participating again during the Fall quarter.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂* Collection of data in behavioral areas.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂* Collection of data about software problems.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓December 1976 - February 1977

␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓∂* Reprogramming and reworking software on the basis of experience with the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂  experimental electronic newspaper.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓March - May 1977

␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓∂* Resume electronic newspaper operation.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂* Continue data collection.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓∂␈↓May - June 1977

␈↓ ↓H␈↓* Analysis of data in behavioral areas.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓* Final report written.











␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α*␈↓∧9␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α&EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRONIC NEWSPAPER

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α/Estimated Cost Breakdown


␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                                        7/1/75 - 6/30/76         7/1/76 - 6/30/77

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓I.  Direct Salaries

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Professor J. McCarthy                           -- no remuneration --
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  Principal Investigator
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  10% time (2.4 mm)

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Professor E. Parker                          $   2,830               $   3,028
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  Principal Investigator
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  10% time (2.4 mm)

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Professor D. Drew                                4,417                   4,726
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  Principal Investigator
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  1/3 time (summers) (2.0 mm)

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Computer Programmers
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  2 full-time @ $13,000 per year (48.0 mm)      26,000                  27,820
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  1 part-time @ $13,000 per year (12.0 mm)       6,500                   6,955

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Secretary
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  1 quarter-time @ $10,000 per year (6.0 mm)     2,500                   2,675

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Research Assistants
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  2 half-time @ $325 per month x 9 (18.0 mm)     5,850                   6,260
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  1 half-time @ $325 per month x 12 (12.0 mm)    3,900                   4,173
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                                                ------                  ------
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                        TOTAL SALARIES          51,997                  55,637


␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓II.  Staff Benefits

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓18% through Aug. 31, 1975 (6 mo)
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓19% through Aug. 31, 1976 (12 mo)                9,619                  10,849
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓20% through Aug. 31, 1977 (6 mo)


␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓III.  Expendable Material

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓(Includes Xerox, postage, telephone)
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓12 months @ $150 per month                       1,800                   1,980


␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓IV.  Report Production                            - 0 -                  1,500



␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α#␈↓∧10␈↓ _
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                                        7/1/75 - 6/30/76         7/1/76 - 6/30/77

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓V.  Travel

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓3 RT East Coast @ 500 each                       1,500                    - 0 -


␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓VI.  Services
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Computer services
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  12 months @ $1,000 per month                  12,000                   12,000

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Newswire services
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓  12 months @ $100 per month                     1,200                    1,200

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                                                ------                   ------
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓        TOTAL DIRECT COSTS (I through VI)       78,116                   83,166


␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓VII.  University Overhead

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓47% of Total Direct Costs                       36,714                   39,088


␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓VIII.  Capital Equipment

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Terminal Multiplexer                            20,000                    - 0 -
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Computer Interconnection                         4,000                    - 0 -
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                                                ------                  -------
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                                                ------                  -------

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓                        TOTAL PROJECT COST    $138,831                  $122,254



␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓Notes:

␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓        Salary escalation @ 7% per annum
␈↓ ↓H␈↓↓        S & E  escalation @ 10% per annum














␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α?␈α#␈↓∧11␈↓ _