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\F1\CNov. 4, 1980



Mr. John Young
SD Systems
POB 28810
Dallas Texas, 75228

Dear Mr. Young:

\JEnclosed is my manual for TLC-LISP. The language represents a strong subset
of MIT's LISP machine LISP. MIT's machine is currently being marketed in the 
$100,000-$200,000 price range; TLC-LISP offers an inexpensive way of learning 
what this larger machine represents. TLC-LISP runs on a Z-80 under CP/M.

The major constraints on the current TLC subset are its small addressing
range and its lack of  display-based programming environment. The ultimate
solution to the small address problem is a larger machine, but I have an 
intermediate solution using bank-switching on the Z-80. The effect is to make 
available about 1/3 of a PDP-10  on a Z-80 for LISP.  The second constraint,
the lack of adequate programming environment, is also being removed. I have
 "window-based" primitive objects imbedded in TLC-LISP and am building 
display-based editing and debugging packages; currently,
I am using the Scion Screensplitter hardware, but the
package will transfer to any high-speed video interface. 
This view of programming through rapid video manipulation  has been used for
about fifteen years in research establishments and has reached 
(or is about to reach) the product stage
in Smalltalk and LISP-related systems.
I am interested in  talking
with  your company about marketing this display-based version.

Futhermore, I also  wish to know if your company is interested in helping to 
support a curriculum --based on these machines-- that I am developing at 
Santa Clara University. This course, on the foundations of computing
and interactive programming, will be given this spring as a special undergraduate
course. Its ultimate target is the high school math and sciences program,
bringing some of the more recent perspectives on computing and programming
to the introductory level. Part of this effort involves a text material --course
notes and programming lab manuals-- that I am writing; but part 
involves hardware, and unless 
I can find industry support for this effort I will have to fund it myself.

I appreciate the fact that you are busy; but time is also important to me.
Please let me know as soon as possible whether you are able to act positively
on either of my suggestions.
\.
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Yours sincerely,


John R. Allen
18215 Bayview Dr.
Los Gatos Ca, 95030
(408) 353-2227

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