Appendix A


	 ␈ αThis ␈ αpaper ␈ αwas ␈ αgiven ␈ αat ␈ αa ␈ αconference ␈ αon ␈ α"Man ␈ αand ␈ αthe ␈ αComputer" ␈ αsponsored ␈ αby ␈ αInstitut ␈ αde ␈ αla ␈ αVie ␈ αof ␈ αParis ␈ ↓and
held ␈ ∧in ␈ ∧Bordeaux ␈ ∧in ␈ ∧June ␈ ∧1970. ␈ ∧Regrettably, ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧proceedings ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧conference ␈ ∧have ␈ ∧not ␈ βappeared ␈ βalmost ␈ βthree ␈ βyears
later.

␈ ␈␈ ␈␈ ␈␈ ]THE HOME INFORMATION TERMINAL

␈ ␈␈ ␈␈ ␈␈ ␈␈ Wby John McCarthy

	 ␈ 	Visionaries ␈ 	have ␈ 	often ␈ 	proposed ␈ 	that ␈ 	homes ␈ 	be ␈ λequipped ␈ λwith ␈ λinformation ␈ λterminals ␈ λeach ␈ λconsisting ␈ λof ␈ λa
typewriter ␈ αkeyboard ␈ αand ␈ αa ␈ αscreen ␈ αcapable ␈ αof ␈ αdisplaying ␈ αone ␈ αor ␈ αmore ␈ αpages ␈ αof ␈ αprint ␈ αand ␈ αpictures. ␈ αThe ␈ αterminal ␈ αis ␈ αto ␈ αbe
connected ␈ ¬by ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬telephone ␈ ¬system ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧time-shared ␈ ∧computer ␈ ∧which ␈ ∧in ␈ ∧turn ␈ ∧has ␈ ∧access ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧files ␈ ∧containing ␈ ∧all ␈ ∧books,
magazines, ␈ ∧newspapers, ␈ ∧catalogs, ␈ ∧airline ␈ ∧schedules, ␈ ∧much ␈ ∧additional ␈ ∧public ␈ ∧information ␈ ∧not ␈ ∧now ␈ ∧kept, ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧various ␈ βfiles
personal to the user.

	 ␈ ¬Through ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬terminal ␈ ¬the ␈ ∧user ␈ ∧can ␈ ∧get ␈ ∧any ␈ ∧information ␈ ∧he ␈ ∧wants, ␈ ∧can ␈ ∧buy ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧sell, ␈ ∧could ␈ ∧communicate ␈ ∧with
persons ␈ αand ␈ αinstitutions, ␈ αand ␈ αprocess ␈ αinformation ␈ αin ␈ αother ␈ αuseful ␈ αways. ␈ αSuch ␈ αa ␈ αsystem ␈ αhas ␈ αnever ␈ αcome ␈ αabout ␈ αbecause ␈ αit
costs ␈ αtoo ␈ αmuch, ␈ αbut ␈ αwith ␈ αeach ␈ αadvance ␈ αin ␈ αtechnology, ␈ αit ␈ ↓becomes ␈ ↓more ␈ ↓feasible. ␈ ↓I ␈ ↓think ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓technology ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓computers,
time-sharing, ␈ αterminals, ␈ αand ␈ αapplication ␈ ↓programming ␈ ↓has ␈ ↓advanced ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓point ␈ ↓where ␈ ↓realistic ␈ ↓estimates ␈ ↓are ␈ ↓possible ␈ ↓of
the ␈ ↓remaining ␈ ↓advances ␈ ↓necessary ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓make ␈ ↓home ␈ ↓consoles feasible and useful. In this paper, I shall discuss the uses of the
home ␈ αterminal, ␈ αsome ␈ αpotential ␈ αbeneficial ␈ αeffects ␈ αon ␈ αsociety, ␈ αestimate ␈ αhow ␈ αfar ␈ αwe ␈ αare ␈ ↓from ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓system ␈ ↓people ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓pay ␈ ↓for,
and ␈ αadvocate ␈ αsome ␈ αpilot ␈ αprojects, ␈ αsome ␈ αstandardization ␈ αefforts, ␈ αand ␈ αsome ␈ αlaws ␈ αand ␈ αregulations ␈ αto ␈ αprevent ␈ αmonopoly ␈ ↓and
secure adequate competition.

	 ␈ αWe ␈ αcan ␈ αstart ␈ αwith ␈ αordinary ␈ ↓reading. ␈ ↓To ␈ ↓get ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓newspaper ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓book, ␈ ↓I ␈ ↓type ␈ ↓its ␈ ↓name ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓number ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓first ␈ ↓page
appears. The most obvious benefits are:

	 1. I can get any document instantly.

	 ␈ α2. ␈ αMy ␈ αhouse ␈ αisn't ␈ αfull ␈ αof ␈ αpaper ␈ αto ␈ αbe ␈ αsorted ␈ αand ␈ αput ␈ αon ␈ αshelves ␈ αand ␈ ↓dusted ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓put ␈ ↓in ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓trash. ␈ ↓Trees ␈ ↓aren't ␈ ↓cut
down, and air pollution doesn't result from burning the stuff.

Some immediately apparent disadvantages are:

	 1. The expense. I'll deal with this later.

	 ␈ ↓2. ␈ ↓I can't read in bed. The book size portable terminal will come later. A household may require several terminals
or perhaps we may have to compromise with sin and provide a hard copy terminal after all.

	 There are two other immediate negative reactions:

	 ␈ ↓1. ␈ ↓The ␈ ↓average ␈ ↓citizen ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓TV ␈ ↓fan ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓doesn't ␈ ↓read ␈ ↓anyway. ␈ ↓In ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓first place, our system doesn't need so many
subscribers ␈ βto ␈ βbe ␈ βeconomical. ␈ βSecondly, ␈ βafter ␈ αI ␈ αhave ␈ αdescribed ␈ αall ␈ αthe ␈ αbells ␈ αand ␈ αwhistles, ␈ αyou ␈ αwill ␈ αsee ␈ αthat ␈ αeven ␈ αthe ␈ αTV
fan ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓tempted, ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓you - oh socially conscious reader - may even want to coerce him into buying one or coerce the
government into giving him one for free.

	 ␈ β2. ␈ βHow ␈ βcan ␈ βyou ␈ βthink ␈ βof ␈ βone ␈ βmore ␈ βconvenience ␈ βand ␈ βcomfort ␈ αwhen ␈ αthe ␈ αworld ␈ αwill ␈ αcome ␈ αto ␈ αan ␈ αend ␈ αin ␈ αten ␈ αyears
unless ␈ ↓menaces ␈ ↓A, ␈ ↓B, ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓C ␈ ↓are ␈ ↓dealt ␈ ↓with ␈ ↓immediately. ␈ ↓In ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓first ␈ ↓place, ␈ ↓I ␈ ↓don't ␈ ↓think ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓world ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓about ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓come ␈ ↓to an
end ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓even ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓it ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓getting ␈ ↓worse, ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓we ␈ ↓Americans ␈ ↓like ␈ ↓new ␈ ↓gadgets. ␈ ↓In ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓second ␈ ↓place, ␈ ↓you ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓see ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓the new
information ␈ ↓system ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓make ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓public ␈ ↓more ␈ ↓responsive ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓careful ␈ ↓reasoning of you good guys and more immune to
the blatant propaganda of those bad guys.

	 ␈ ↓In ␈ ↓order ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓see ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓effects ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓new ␈ ↓information system, suppose that all book and newspaper information were
so distributed. What changes would occur?

	 ␈ ¬At ␈ ¬present, ␈ ¬a ␈ ¬newspaper ␈ ¬or ␈ ¬a ␈ ¬book ␈ ¬is ␈ ¬a ␈ ¬package ␈ ¬produced ␈ ¬by ␈ ¬a ␈ ¬large ␈ ∧organization. ␈ ∧In ␈ ∧our ␈ ∧new ␈ ∧system, ␈ ∧the
physical ␈ αproduction ␈ αdisappears, ␈ αallowing ␈ αa ␈ αmuch ␈ αsmaller ␈ αorganization ␈ αto ␈ αput ␈ αout ␈ αthe ␈ ↓same ␈ ↓packages ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓text ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓pictures.
Moreover, ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓user ␈ ↓does ␈ ↓not ␈ ↓face ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓one ␈ ↓shot ␈ ↓decision ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓buy ␈ ↓Life ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓Look. ␈ ↓He ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓able ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓read ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓"cover" ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓table of
contents ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓each, ␈ ↓read ␈ ↓such ␈ ↓items ␈ ↓as strike his fancy, and the system will bill him for what he reads from each source. In
fact, ␈ ↓since ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓cost ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓keeping ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓file ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓information ␈ ↓in ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓computer ␈ ↓and making it publicly available will be small, even a
high ␈ ↓school ␈ ↓student ␈ ↓could ␈ ↓compete ␈ ↓with ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓New ␈ ↓Yorker ␈ ↓if ␈ ↓he ␈ ↓could ␈ ↓write ␈ ↓well ␈ ↓enough ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓if ␈ ↓word of mouth and mention
by reviewers brought him to public attention. What, then, is a publication in the new information system?

	 ␈ βA ␈ βpublication ␈ βis ␈ βan ␈ βorganization ␈ αthat ␈ αputs ␈ αout ␈ αa ␈ αlist ␈ αof ␈ αmaterial ␈ αit ␈ αhas ␈ αedited ␈ αand ␈ αrecommends ␈ αto ␈ αits ␈ αreaders. ␈ αIt
helps ␈ ↓its ␈ ↓authors ␈ ↓produce ␈ ↓material that it thinks will suit the readers, and it has a financial arrangement with them about
splitting the proceeds.

	 ␈ βThere ␈ βcan ␈ βbe ␈ βa ␈ βwide ␈ βvariety ␈ αof ␈ αpublications ␈ αof ␈ αdifferent ␈ αstandards ␈ αof ␈ αwriting ␈ αand ␈ αediting ␈ αand ␈ αdifferent ␈ αbudgets
for ␈ ↓carrying ␈ ↓out ␈ ↓these ␈ ↓activities. ␈ ↓However, ␈ ↓they ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓all ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓equally ␈ ↓accessible ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓all ␈ ↓readers, ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓only justification for
an ␈ αexpensive ␈ αeditorial ␈ αorganization ␈ αwill ␈ αbe ␈ αthat ␈ αit ␈ αcan ␈ αproduce ␈ αa ␈ αmore ␈ αpopular ␈ αpackage. ␈ αThe ␈ αprice ␈ αof ␈ αreading ␈ αa ␈ ↓package
can be set by the publishers.

	 ␈ ¬A ␈ ¬reader ␈ ¬may ␈ ¬feel ␈ ¬that ␈ ¬he ␈ ¬needs ␈ ¬help ␈ ¬in ␈ ∧finding ␈ ∧his ␈ ∧way ␈ ∧through ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧totality ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧literature ␈ ∧available ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧him.
Various ␈ ∧people ␈ ∧will ␈ ∧be ␈ ∧eager ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧make ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧living ␈ ∧by ␈ βproviding ␈ βit. ␈ βA ␈ βbookstore ␈ βor ␈ βlibrary ␈ βis ␈ βa ␈ βprogram ␈ βthat ␈ βwhen ␈ βcalled
shows ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓"covers" ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓publications. ␈ ↓Reviewers ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓produce lists for him and make money when he reads their lists or by
kickbacks ␈ ∧from ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧publishers. ␈ ∧"Reading ␈ ∧advisers" ␈ ∧under ␈ ∧some ␈ ∧catchier ␈ ∧name ␈ ∧will ␈ ∧offer ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧generate ␈ ∧lists ␈ ∧just ␈ βfor ␈ βhim
according to a profile of his interests.

	 ␈ αAdvertising ␈ αin ␈ αthe ␈ αsense ␈ αof ␈ αsomething ␈ αthat ␈ αcan ␈ αforce ␈ αitself ␈ αon ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓attention ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓reader ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓disappear ␈ ↓because ␈ ↓it
will ␈ βbe ␈ βtoo ␈ βeasy ␈ βto ␈ βread ␈ αvia ␈ αa ␈ αprogram ␈ αthat ␈ αscreens ␈ αout ␈ αundesirable ␈ αmaterial. ␈ αHowever, ␈ αpeople ␈ αwill ␈ αstill ␈ αwant ␈ αto ␈ αknow
what ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓sale ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓still ␈ ↓want ␈ ↓to see the seller's story about why they should buy it. Probably, Life will still be able
to ␈ ↓get ␈ ↓money ␈ ↓from ␈ ↓advertisers; ␈ ↓many ␈ ↓people ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓still ␈ ↓want to know what is advertised in Life, but those who don't want
to know will be able to avoid it automatically.

	 ␈ αAnother ␈ αeffect ␈ αis ␈ αthe ␈ αpossibility ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓frequent ␈ ↓revisions ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓articles ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓books. ␈ ↓An ␈ ↓author ␈ ↓can ␈ ↓take ␈ ↓into ␈ ↓account ␈ ↓new
facts ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓other ␈ ↓people's criticisms, and the revision will take effect immediately. This raises 1984ish possibilities, so it must
be ␈ εprovided ␈ εthat ␈ εold ␈ ¬versions ␈ ¬remain ␈ ¬available. ␈ ¬Those ␈ ¬who ␈ ¬suspect ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬whole ␈ ¬system ␈ ¬will ␈ ¬keep ␈ ¬their ␈ ¬own ␈ ¬copies ␈ ¬of
favorite material in their private files, on microfilm, or even on paper.

	 ␈ πPublic ␈ πcontroversy ␈ πcan ␈ πbe ␈ εcarried ␈ εout ␈ εmore ␈ εexpeditiously ␈ εthan ␈ εat ␈ εpresent. ␈ εIf ␈ εI ␈ εread ␈ εsomething ␈ εthat ␈ εseems
controversial, ␈ ¬I ␈ ¬can ␈ ¬ask ␈ ¬the ␈ ∧system ␈ ∧if ␈ ∧anyone ␈ ∧has ␈ ∧filed ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧reply. ␈ ∧This, ␈ ∧together ␈ ∧with ␈ ∧an ␈ ∧author's ␈ ∧ability ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧revise ␈ ∧his
original ␈ αstatement, ␈ αwill ␈ αlead ␈ ↓people ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓converge ␈ ↓on ␈ ↓considered ␈ ↓positions ␈ ↓more ␈ ↓quickly ␈ ↓than ␈ ↓at ␈ ↓present ␈ ↓even ␈ ↓if ␈ ↓they ␈ ↓do ␈ ↓not
come to actual agreement.

	 ␈ πFamous ␈ πauthors ␈ πwill ␈ πnot ␈ εneed ␈ εpublishers ␈ εbecause ␈ εtheir ␈ εloyal ␈ εreaders ␈ εwill ␈ εhave ␈ εthe ␈ εsystem ␈ εfind ␈ εtheir ␈ εstuff
automatically.

	 ␈ αTo ␈ αsummarize: ␈ αthe ␈ αnew ␈ αinformation ␈ αsystem ␈ αwill ␈ αpromote ␈ αintellectual ␈ αcompetition ␈ αby ␈ ↓reducing ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓price ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓entry,
will ␈ βpermit ␈ βreaders ␈ βto ␈ αbe ␈ αselective, ␈ αand ␈ αwill ␈ αallow ␈ αauthors ␈ αto ␈ αrevise ␈ αmaterial ␈ αuntil ␈ αthey ␈ αare ␈ αsatisfied ␈ αthat ␈ αit ␈ αwithstands
criticism as well as it ever will. This should make intellectual life more interesting.

	 ␈ ¬The ␈ ¬financial ␈ ¬aspect ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬writing ␈ ¬would ␈ ∧presumably ␈ ∧be ␈ ∧as ␈ ∧follows: ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧piece ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧written ␈ ∧material ␈ ∧has ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧price ␈ ∧for
reading ␈ ↓it. ␈ ↓(This ␈ ↓price may be zero for amateur writing, political propaganda, advertising, and for scientific journals). The
reader's ␈ ↓account ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓debited ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓account ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓which ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓material ␈ ↓belongs ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓automatically ␈ ↓credited. ␈ ↓The ␈ ↓reader ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓have
the system balk at what he considers overpriced material.

	 ␈ ¬The ␈ ¬new ␈ ¬information ␈ ¬system ␈ ¬will ␈ ¬have ␈ ¬a ␈ ¬profound ␈ ∧effect ␈ ∧on ␈ ∧buying ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧selling. ␈ ∧Sellers ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧movies, ␈ ∧groceries,
automobiles, ␈ ∧plumbing ␈ ∧services ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧cures ␈ ∧for ␈ ∧baldness ␈ ∧will ␈ βfind ␈ βit ␈ βadvantageous ␈ βto ␈ βlist ␈ βtheir ␈ βwares ␈ βin ␈ βthe ␈ βinformation
system ␈ ¬together ␈ ¬with ␈ ¬current ␈ ¬prices ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧availability. ␈ ∧The ␈ ∧user ␈ ∧can ␈ ∧place ␈ ∧an ␈ ∧order ␈ ∧through ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧system ␈ ∧as ␈ ∧he ␈ ∧can ␈ ∧by
telephone, but he can do much more:

	 ␈ ↓1. ␈ ↓He can call on someone's program to scan the sellers of sports cars and propose what it considers the best deal.
This program might even negotiate with programs representing the sellers.

	 ␈ α2. ␈ αHe ␈ αcan ␈ αtell ␈ αthe ␈ αsystem ␈ αwhether ␈ αlast ␈ ↓year's ␈ ↓cure ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓baldness ␈ ↓worked ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓get ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓summary ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓opinions ␈ ↓of
those who bothered to record their opinions of the cure he contemplates trying now.

	 ␈ α3. ␈ αHe ␈ αcan ␈ αmake ␈ αan ␈ αairplane ␈ αor ␈ αhotel ␈ αreservation ␈ αby ␈ αinteracting ␈ αwith ␈ αa ␈ αprogram ␈ αthe ␈ αairline ␈ αor ␈ αhotel ␈ αreservation
company ␈ ↓has written to tell him what is available. He need not suffer the delays you now get when you call an airline or
travel agent at peak hours.

	 ␈ ε4. ␈ εIndividual ␈ εdesign ␈ εand ␈ εconstruction ␈ εservices ␈ εcan ␈ εbe ␈ ¬offered ␈ ¬through ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬system ␈ ¬although ␈ ¬this ␈ ¬requires ␈ ¬the
development ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧computer ␈ ∧controlled ␈ ∧manufacturing ␈ ∧techniques ␈ ∧for ␈ ∧various ␈ ∧types ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧article. ␈ ∧The ␈ βidea ␈ βis ␈ βthat ␈ βautomated
design ␈ ∧programs ␈ ∧can ␈ βproduce ␈ βdesigns ␈ βfor ␈ βarticles ␈ βmeeting ␈ βindividual ␈ βspecifications. ␈ βEither ␈ βby ␈ βhimself ␈ βor ␈ βin ␈ βconsultation
with ␈ ↓an ␈ ↓expert, ␈ ↓an ␈ ↓individual ␈ ↓would ␈ ↓use ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓system ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓produce ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓design ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓display ␈ ↓how ␈ ↓it ␈ ↓would ␈ ↓look ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓possibly ␈ ↓how
it ␈ ¬would ␈ ¬perform. ␈ ∧Candidates ␈ ∧for ␈ ∧individual ␈ ∧design ␈ ∧include ␈ ∧clothing, ␈ ∧furniture, ␈ ∧boats, ␈ ∧electronic ␈ ∧equipment, ␈ ∧houses, ␈ ∧and
even ␈ αcars. ␈ αThe ␈ αsystem ␈ αwould ␈ αthen ␈ αproduce ␈ αthe ␈ αinstructions ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓controlling ␈ ↓machine ␈ ↓tools, ␈ ↓fabric ␈ ↓cutters, ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓also ␈ ↓printed
instructions ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓hand ␈ ↓parts ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓operation. ␈ ↓In ␈ ↓general, ␈ ↓it ␈ ↓should ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓possible ␈ ↓to make single objects at little more cost
than ␈ εpresent ␈ εmass ␈ εproduced ␈ ¬objects. ␈ ¬In ␈ ¬some ␈ ¬cases, ␈ ¬there ␈ ¬would ␈ ¬even ␈ ¬be ␈ ¬savings, ␈ ¬because ␈ ¬mass ␈ ¬production ␈ ¬requires
estimates ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓demand ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓are ␈ ↓often ␈ ↓wrong ␈ ↓resulting ␈ ↓in ␈ ↓inventories ␈ ↓that are expensive to sell or even have to be sold at a
loss; the cost of this is made up by a general increase in prices.

	 ␈ ∧There ␈ ∧are ␈ ∧many ␈ ∧more ␈ ∧useful ␈ ∧services ␈ ∧that ␈ ∧can ␈ ∧be ␈ βoffered ␈ βthrough ␈ βthe ␈ βnew ␈ βinformation ␈ βsystem ␈ βand ␈ βagain ␈ βthe
system ␈ ∧is ␈ ∧conducive ␈ ∧to ␈ βcompetition. ␈ βWriting ␈ βand ␈ βstoring ␈ βa ␈ βprogram ␈ βand ␈ βannouncing ␈ βits ␈ βavailability ␈ βcan ␈ βbe ␈ βa ␈ βvery ␈ βlow
capital operation, and the system can collect whatever price has been set for its use.

	 ␈ αWe ␈ ↓could ␈ ↓go ␈ ↓on ␈ ↓listing ␈ ↓services ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓would ␈ ↓come ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓offered ␈ ↓in ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓fully ␈ ↓developed ␈ ↓system, ␈ ↓but ␈ ↓now ␈ ↓we ␈ ↓shall ␈ ↓list
some services to smaller groups of users that are cheaper to provide and which will help get the system started.

	 ␈ ¬1. ␈ ¬Calculation ␈ ¬and ␈ ¬facilities ␈ ¬for ␈ ¬writing, ␈ ¬running, ␈ ¬and ␈ ¬debugging ␈ ∧computer ␈ ∧programs. ␈ ∧This ␈ ∧doesn't ␈ ∧interest ␈ ∧the
general ␈ αpublic ␈ αmuch, ␈ αbut ␈ αit ␈ αis ␈ αthe ␈ αpresent ␈ αbread ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓butter ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓time- ␈ ↓sharing ␈ ↓service ␈ ↓bureaus ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓grow ␈ ↓into ␈ ↓the
new ␈ εinformation ␈ εsystem. ␈ εAt ␈ ¬present, ␈ ¬these ␈ ¬service ␈ ¬bureaus ␈ ¬offer ␈ ¬very ␈ ¬convenient ␈ ¬way ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬doing ␈ ¬small ␈ ¬scientific ␈ ¬and
engineering ␈ βcalculations, ␈ βbut ␈ βdo ␈ βnot ␈ αoffer ␈ αreasonable ␈ αprices ␈ αfor ␈ αbig ␈ αcomputations, ␈ αand ␈ αare ␈ αonly ␈ αbeginning ␈ αto ␈ αoffer ␈ αuseful
services to business firms.

	 ␈ ε2. ␈ εEditing. ␈ εAnyone ␈ εwho ␈ εwrites ␈ ¬(writers, ␈ ¬journalists, ␈ ¬scientists, ␈ ¬advertising ␈ ¬men, ␈ ¬engineers ␈ ¬and ␈ ¬students) ␈ ¬will
benefit ␈ αfrom ␈ αusing ␈ ↓an ␈ ↓editor ␈ ↓program. ␈ ↓It ␈ ↓allows ␈ ↓easy ␈ ↓revision, ␈ ↓can ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓made ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓check ␈ ↓spelling, ␈ ↓grammar, ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓punctuation,
and will produce justified or other forms of elegant output and also indexes.

	 ␈ ∧3. ␈ ∧Filing. ␈ ∧Keeping ␈ ∧personal ␈ βfiles ␈ βin ␈ βthe ␈ βcomputer ␈ βhas ␈ βgreat ␈ βadvantages ␈ βonce ␈ βdocuments ␈ βcan ␈ βbe ␈ βentered ␈ βwithout
retyping ␈ ↓them, ␈ ↓either ␈ ↓because ␈ ↓they ␈ ↓have ␈ ↓been ␈ ↓prepared ␈ ↓in ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓computer ␈ ↓readable form or because a suitable page reader is
available. ␈ αNamely, ␈ αone ␈ αcan ␈ αretrieve ␈ αany ␈ αdocument ␈ αon ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓basis ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓its ␈ ↓characteristics ␈ ↓without ␈ ↓having ␈ ↓taken ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓trouble ␈ ↓to
file it properly in the first place.

	 ␈ ∧4. ␈ ∧Education. ␈ ∧Computer ␈ ∧aided ␈ ∧instruction ␈ ∧(CAI) ␈ ∧has ␈ ∧advanced ␈ βto ␈ βthe ␈ βpoint ␈ βthat ␈ βa ␈ βnumber ␈ βof ␈ βcourses ␈ βor ␈ βaids ␈ βto
traditional ␈ βcourses ␈ αhave ␈ αbeen ␈ αdeveloped ␈ αand ␈ αhave ␈ αbeen ␈ αshown ␈ αto ␈ αbe ␈ αuseful. ␈ αThe ␈ αmain ␈ αobstacle ␈ αto ␈ αthe ␈ αwidespread ␈ αuse ␈ αof
CAI ␈ πis ␈ πeconomic, ␈ πbut ␈ πnew ␈ πdevelopments ␈ πin ␈ εdisplay ␈ εtechnology ␈ εand ␈ εcommunications ␈ εgive ␈ εa ␈ εreasonable ␈ εprobability ␈ εof
cost-effective ␈ αsystems ␈ αwithin ␈ αthis ␈ αdecade. ␈ αThere ␈ αis ␈ αno ␈ αspecial ␈ αproblem ␈ αin ␈ αhaving ␈ αthese ␈ αsystems ␈ αavailable ␈ αin ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓home ␈ ↓as
well ␈ ¬as ␈ ¬at ␈ ∧school. ␈ ∧This ␈ ∧would ␈ ∧be ␈ ∧aided ␈ ∧by ␈ ∧standardizing ␈ ∧course ␈ ∧writing ␈ ∧languages. ␈ ∧Again, ␈ ∧we ␈ ∧should ␈ ∧try ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧stimulate
competition by encouraging the offering of courses in particular subjects independent of the schools.

	 ␈ βThe ␈ βdevelopment ␈ βof ␈ βsuch ␈ βa ␈ βsystem ␈ βis ␈ βprobably ␈ βinevitable ␈ α(unless ␈ αit ␈ αis ␈ αforbidden ␈ αby ␈ αlaw) ␈ αas ␈ αsoon ␈ αas ␈ αcosts ␈ αcome
down ␈ ¬to ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬point ␈ ¬where ␈ ¬it ␈ ¬is ␈ ¬profitable ␈ ¬for ␈ ¬time-sharing ␈ ¬service ␈ ¬bureaus ␈ ¬to ␈ ∧offer ␈ ∧services ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧individuals. ␈ ∧However,
favorable policies will bring this about sooner and will make the effects better.

	 ␈ βThe ␈ βmain ␈ βdanger ␈ βto ␈ βbe ␈ αavoided ␈ αis ␈ αthe ␈ αcreation ␈ αof ␈ αservices ␈ αof ␈ αlimited ␈ αscope ␈ αthat ␈ αthrough ␈ αsome ␈ αavoidable ␈ αfeature
cannot ␈ αbe ␈ ↓expanded ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓provide ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓services ␈ ↓mentioned ␈ ↓here ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓many ␈ ↓more. ␈ ↓Another ␈ ↓problem ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓avoid ␈ ↓monopolies; ␈ ↓the
intrinsic ␈ ↓nature ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓system ␈ ↓permits ␈ ↓any person who can write computer programs to compete with large organizations
in ␈ αinventing ␈ αand ␈ αoffering ␈ αimaginative ␈ αservices, ␈ αbut ␈ αone ␈ αcan ␈ αworry ␈ αthat ␈ αthe ␈ αsystem ␈ αmight ␈ αdevelop ␈ αcommercially ␈ αin ␈ αsome
way ␈ αthat ␈ αwould ␈ αprevent ␈ αthat. ␈ αIn ␈ αgeneral, ␈ αwe ␈ αshould ␈ αtry ␈ αto ␈ αdevelop ␈ αinformation ␈ αservices ␈ αin ␈ αsuch ␈ αa ␈ αway ␈ αas ␈ αwill ␈ ↓enhance
the individuality of its users.

	 ␈ ∧Between ␈ ∧us ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧home ␈ ∧information ␈ ∧system ␈ βlie ␈ βa ␈ βnumber ␈ βof ␈ βproblems, ␈ βsome ␈ βin ␈ βdeveloping ␈ βsuitable ␈ βlow ␈ βcost
terminals, ␈ λsome ␈ λin ␈ λprogramming ␈ λtechnology ␈ λof ␈ λtime-sharing, ␈ πsome ␈ πin ␈ πthe ␈ πeconomics ␈ πand ␈ πpolitics ␈ πof ␈ πcommunication
systems, ␈ βand ␈ βsome ␈ βin ␈ βthe ␈ βattitude ␈ βof ␈ βthe ␈ βpublic ␈ βand ␈ βgovernment ␈ βtowards ␈ βinnovation. ␈ βIn ␈ αthe ␈ αfollowing ␈ αsections ␈ αwe ␈ αshall
discuss these problems.


How we get there from here.

1. Consoles.

	 ␈ βThe ␈ βquality ␈ βand ␈ βprice ␈ βof ␈ βdisplay ␈ βconsoles ␈ βis ␈ βrapidly ␈ βimproving. ␈ βAt ␈ βpresent, ␈ βone ␈ βcan ␈ βadd ␈ βa ␈ βdisplay ␈ βconsole ␈ αwith
keyboard ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓our ␈ ↓laboratory ␈ ↓system ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓about ␈ ↓$700, but to add another port on the system so that the number of consoles
active ␈ ↓at ␈ ↓one ␈ ↓time ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓increased ␈ ↓by one costs about $2500. A reasonable display console that can be located at the end of a
telephone ␈ βline ␈ βnow ␈ αcosts ␈ αabout ␈ α$10,000. ␈ αThese ␈ αconsoles ␈ αare ␈ αadequate ␈ αfor ␈ αany ␈ αof ␈ αthe ␈ αservices ␈ αmentioned ␈ αin ␈ αthe ␈ αprevious
section, although for reading purposes, it would be desirable to be able to display more than 35 typed lines at a time.

	 ␈ αIn ␈ ↓my ␈ ↓opinion, ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓cost ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓an ␈ ↓adequate ␈ ↓display ␈ ↓terminal ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓can ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓located ␈ ↓at ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓end ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓telephone ␈ ↓line ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓be
in ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧$500 ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧$1000 ␈ ∧range ␈ ∧by ␈ ∧1975 ␈ ∧even ␈ ∧without ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧market ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧size ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧potential ␈ ∧home ␈ βterminal ␈ βmarket. ␈ βThe
business, ␈ αengineering ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓science, ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓government ␈ ↓markets ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓large ␈ ↓enough ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓price ␈ ↓sensitive ␈ ↓enough ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓bring ␈ ↓this
about.

	 ␈ ↓Another ␈ ↓contender ␈ ↓as ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓terminal ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓plasma ␈ ↓panel, ␈ ↓but ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓above estimates are based on CRT terminals with a
mini-computer and an integrated circuit memory.


2. Communications.

	 ␈ ↓In ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓United ␈ ↓States, ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓facilities ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓digital ␈ ↓communications ␈ ↓are ␈ ↓growing ␈ ↓rapidly ␈ ↓but ␈ ↓in ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓rather ␈ ↓disorderly way
because ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬multiplicity ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬requirements ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬different ␈ ¬applications. ␈ ¬Some ␈ ∧applications ␈ ∧such ␈ ∧as ␈ ∧credit ␈ ∧verification
require ␈ ↓very ␈ ↓low ␈ ↓cost ␈ ↓short ␈ ↓communications ␈ ↓with ␈ ↓turn ␈ ↓around ␈ ↓times ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓seconds. ␈ ↓Others ␈ ↓require ␈ ↓very ␈ ↓low ␈ ↓cost ␈ ↓per bit but
can ␈ ∧stand ␈ ∧delays ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧minutes ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧hence ␈ ∧are ␈ ∧candidates ␈ ∧for ␈ ∧low ␈ ∧performance ␈ βstore ␈ βand ␈ βforward ␈ βsystems. ␈ βThe ␈ βterminal
systems ␈ αrequire ␈ αlong ␈ αholding ␈ αtimes, ␈ αshort ␈ αresponse ␈ αtimes, ␈ αand ␈ αmuch ␈ αhigher ␈ αtransmission ␈ αrates ␈ αfrom ␈ αthe ␈ αcomputer ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓the
user than in the other direction.

	 ␈ ↓For ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓purposes ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓home ␈ ↓terminal, ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓speeds of transmission over present unconditioned voice grade circuits
are ␈ αa ␈ αbit ␈ αtoo ␈ αlow ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓such ␈ ↓applications ␈ ↓as ␈ ↓reading. ␈ ↓1200 ␈ ↓bits ␈ ↓per ␈ ↓second ␈ ↓would ␈ ↓take ␈ ↓20 ␈ ↓seconds ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓transmit ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓typed ␈ ↓page
and ␈ αabout ␈ ↓four ␈ ↓times ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓page ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓dictionary. ␈ ↓Eight ␈ ↓times ␈ ↓this ␈ ↓rate ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓obtained ␈ ↓over ␈ ↓conditioned ␈ ↓voice ␈ ↓grade ␈ ↓lines,
and ␈ αthis ␈ αmight ␈ αbe ␈ αbarely ␈ αadequate. ␈ ↓Perhaps ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓better ␈ ↓bet ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓transmission ␈ ↓facility ␈ ↓planned ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓Picturephone ␈ ↓service
now ␈ αbeing ␈ αintroduced ␈ αexperimentally, ␈ αbut ␈ αthe ␈ αcost ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓this ␈ ↓service ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓long ␈ ↓holding ␈ ↓times ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓not ␈ ↓yet ␈ ↓determined. ␈ ↓The ␈ ↓most
economical ␈ ↓system ␈ ↓might ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓specially ␈ ↓designed ␈ ↓store ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓forward ␈ ↓system ␈ ↓configured ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓give ␈ ↓fast ␈ ↓turn ␈ ↓around ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓short
messages.

	 ␈ ↓Whether ␈ ↓such a service will be made available depends on political as well as technical factors. For example, if on
the ␈ εbasis ␈ εof ␈ εpresent ␈ εplans, ␈ εthe ␈ εdigital ␈ εcommunication ␈ εmarket ␈ εis ␈ εdivided ␈ εby ␈ εregulatory ␈ εaction ␈ εamong ␈ εAT&T ␈ εand ␈ εits
potential ␈ ∧competitors, ␈ ∧it ␈ ∧might ␈ ∧turn ␈ ∧out ␈ ∧that ␈ βno-one ␈ βis ␈ βobliged ␈ βor ␈ βeven ␈ βallowed ␈ βto ␈ βoffer ␈ βthe ␈ βservice ␈ βrequired ␈ βfor ␈ βhome
terminals at a reasonable cost.


3. Computer technology.

	 ␈ ¬At ␈ ¬present, ␈ ¬computer ␈ ¬technology ␈ ¬can ␈ ¬offer ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬services ␈ ¬required ␈ ¬for ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧home ␈ ∧terminal ␈ ∧at ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧reasonable ␈ ∧cost,
provided ␈ ∧computer ␈ ∧configurations ␈ ∧are ␈ βoptimized ␈ βfor ␈ βthe ␈ βpurpose, ␈ βprovided ␈ βreasonable ␈ βload ␈ βfactors ␈ βcan ␈ βbe ␈ βobtained, ␈ βand
provided ␈ αthere ␈ αare ␈ αreasonable ␈ αeconomies ␈ αof ␈ αscale. ␈ αUnfortunately, ␈ αIBM ␈ αcomputers ␈ αare ␈ αorganized ␈ αin ␈ αsuch ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓way ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓time
sharing ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓very ␈ ↓expensive because of their interrupt structure, their expensive terminal multiplexors, and their dedication
to ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬archaic ␈ ¬half ␈ ¬duplex ␈ ¬method ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬communication. ␈ ¬The ␈ ¬other ␈ ¬major ␈ ¬computer ␈ ∧manufacturers ␈ ∧such ␈ ∧as ␈ ∧CDC, ␈ ∧General
Electric, ␈ βand ␈ βUnivac ␈ βare ␈ βnot ␈ βin ␈ βmuch ␈ βbetter ␈ βshape ␈ βsince ␈ βthey ␈ βoffer ␈ βfor ␈ αtime ␈ αsharing, ␈ αmachines ␈ αthat ␈ αwere ␈ αoptimized ␈ αfor
other ␈ βpurposes. ␈ βSmaller ␈ βcompanies ␈ βlike ␈ βDEC ␈ βare ␈ βin ␈ βa ␈ βsomewhat ␈ βbetter ␈ βposition. ␈ βHowever, ␈ βnone ␈ βof ␈ βthese ␈ βdifficulties ␈ βare
permanent, ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧better ␈ ∧organized ␈ ∧computers ␈ ∧may ␈ ∧be ␈ ∧expected ␈ ∧once ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧factors ␈ βin ␈ βcomputer ␈ βdesign ␈ βthat ␈ βmake ␈ βfor ␈ βgood
cost-performance in time sharing become clearer to the manufacturers.

	 ␈ ∧The ␈ ∧present ␈ βmagnetic ␈ βdisk ␈ βstorage ␈ βunits ␈ βare ␈ βa ␈ βbit ␈ βmarginal ␈ βin ␈ βcost ␈ βeffectiveness ␈ βfor ␈ βuse ␈ βwith ␈ βhome ␈ βterminals.
Thus ␈ βstorage ␈ βon ␈ βthe ␈ βnew ␈ βIBM ␈ β3330 ␈ βdisk ␈ βwould ␈ βcost ␈ βa ␈ αuser ␈ αabout ␈ α$.03 ␈ αper ␈ αmonth ␈ αto ␈ αstore ␈ αa ␈ αtypewritten ␈ αpage ␈ αmaking
storage ␈ αof ␈ αextensive ␈ αpersonal ␈ αfiles ␈ αexpensive ␈ αand ␈ αprivate ␈ αcopies ␈ αof ␈ ↓books ␈ ↓at ␈ ↓$5 ␈ ↓to$10 ␈ ↓per ␈ ↓month ␈ ↓prohibitively ␈ ↓expensive.
This ␈ αwould ␈ αnot ␈ αbe ␈ αtoo ␈ αexpensive ␈ αfor ␈ ↓national ␈ ↓libraries, ␈ ↓but ␈ ↓it ␈ ↓would ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓economically ␈ ↓very ␈ ↓difficult ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓get ␈ ↓enough ␈ ↓readers
to support the storage of books on magnetic disk files in the near future.

	 ␈ εFortunately, ␈ εmuch ␈ εlarger ␈ εfiles ␈ εare ␈ εbecoming ␈ εavailable. ␈ εThe ␈ εlaser ␈ ¬file ␈ ¬made ␈ ¬by ␈ ¬Precision ␈ ¬Instruments ␈ ¬Inc. ␈ ¬is
claimed ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓store ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓trillion ␈ ↓bits and costs $1,000,000. This comes to about $4 per book which is reasonable even for single
copies. Mass production of such files will reduce the cost even further.


4. Computer programming.

	 ␈ εThe ␈ εbasic ␈ εtechnology ␈ εof ␈ εwriting ␈ εtime ␈ εsharing ␈ εtechnology ␈ εis ␈ εreasonably ␈ εwell ␈ ¬developed ␈ ¬in ␈ ¬that ␈ ¬cost ␈ ¬effective
systems ␈ ↓have ␈ ↓been ␈ ↓written, ␈ ↓but there is still a lot of chasing of willow-the-wisps and quite bad time-sharing systems are
often ␈ βproduced ␈ βby ␈ βotherwise ␈ βcompetent ␈ βfirms. ␈ βBefore ␈ βthe ␈ βprogramming ␈ βrequired ␈ βto ␈ βoffer ␈ βthe ␈ βservices ␈ βmentioned ␈ αin ␈ αthe
first part of this paper can be accomplished some further advances need to be made including at least the following:

	 ␈ ¬1. ␈ ∧The ␈ ∧interactive ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧file ␈ ∧reference ␈ ∧aspects ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧programming ␈ ∧languages ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧time ␈ ∧sharing ␈ ∧systems ␈ ∧need ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧be
standardized ␈ βso ␈ βthat ␈ βan ␈ βinteractive ␈ βsystem ␈ βwritten ␈ βin ␈ βone ␈ βsystem ␈ αcan ␈ αbe ␈ αused ␈ αin ␈ αanother ␈ αthat ␈ αuses ␈ αdifferent ␈ αhardware
and ␈ αa ␈ αdifferent ␈ αtime ␈ αsharing ␈ αsystem. ␈ αWithout ␈ αthis ␈ αit ␈ αwill ␈ αbe ␈ αvery ␈ αexpensive ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓new ␈ ↓user ␈ ↓services ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓get ␈ ↓large ␈ ↓markets
unless some particular time sharing system gets a monopoly.

	 ␈ ¬2. ␈ ¬A ␈ ¬system ␈ ¬needs ␈ ¬to ␈ ¬be ␈ ¬developed ␈ ¬for ␈ ¬representing ␈ ¬text ␈ ¬in ␈ ¬a ␈ ∧computer ␈ ∧that ␈ ∧will ␈ ∧include ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧full ␈ ∧variety ␈ ∧of
alphabets, ␈ ↓type ␈ ↓fonts ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓character ␈ ↓sizes ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓also ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓adaptable ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓diagrams, ␈ ↓drawings ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓photographs. The consoles also
have ␈ αto ␈ αbe ␈ αadapted ␈ αto ␈ αthis ␈ αvariety ␈ αof ␈ ↓styles. ␈ ↓This ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓an ␈ ↓ultimate ␈ ↓requirement; ␈ ↓much ␈ ↓can ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓done ␈ ↓with ␈ ↓texts ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓are ␈ ↓just
regarded as sequences of latin letters.

	 3. The biggest task, however, is the application programming itself.


5. Commercial organization.

	 ␈ αFrom ␈ αa ␈ αsocial ␈ αpoint ␈ αof ␈ αview, ␈ αone ␈ αof ␈ αthe ␈ αattractive ␈ αfeatures ␈ αof ␈ αthe ␈ ↓provision ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓time-sharing ␈ ↓services ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓it ␈ ↓is
not ␈ αa ␈ αnatural ␈ αmonopoly. ␈ αCommunication ␈ αis ␈ αcheap ␈ αenough ␈ αfor ␈ αteletype ␈ αbased ␈ αtime-sharing ␈ αso ␈ αthat ␈ ↓with ␈ ↓local ␈ ↓multiplexors,
time-sharing ␈ ¬bureaus ␈ ¬can ␈ ¬compete ␈ ¬all ␈ ¬over ␈ ¬the ␈ ¬United ␈ ¬States. ␈ ¬In ␈ ¬principal, ␈ ¬it ␈ ¬should ␈ ∧be ␈ ∧possible ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧have ␈ ∧world ␈ ∧wide
competition. ␈ ↓The ␈ ↓major ␈ ↓force ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓might tend to reduce competition is the exclusive possession of proprietary programs or
files. ␈ ∧Therefore, ␈ ∧it ␈ ∧is ␈ ∧desirable ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧separate ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧ownership ␈ ∧of ␈ βprograms ␈ βperforming ␈ βservices ␈ βfrom ␈ βthe ␈ βownership ␈ βof ␈ βthe
service ␈ ∧bureaus ␈ ∧themselves ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧to ␈ βencourage ␈ βenough ␈ βcompatibility ␈ βbetween ␈ βdifferent ␈ βtime-sharing ␈ βsystems ␈ βso ␈ βthat ␈ βthe
owner ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬a ␈ ¬service ␈ ¬program ␈ ¬could ␈ ¬provide ␈ ¬it ␈ ¬on ␈ ¬a ␈ ¬number ␈ ¬of ␈ ¬machines. ␈ ¬It ␈ ¬is ␈ ∧also ␈ ∧important ␈ ∧that ␈ ∧important ␈ ∧files ␈ ∧be
accessible ␈ αand ␈ αmodifiable ␈ αwith ␈ ↓suitable ␈ ↓protections ␈ ↓by ␈ ↓actions ␈ ↓initiated ␈ ↓on ␈ ↓other ␈ ↓machines ␈ ↓than ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓one ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓maintains ␈ ↓the
file.


6. Needs for research and development.

	 ␈ αThe ␈ αhardware ␈ αrequired ␈ αfor ␈ αhome ␈ αconsoles ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓too ␈ ↓expensive ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓extensive ␈ ↓systems ␈ ↓for ␈ ↓probably ␈ ↓another ␈ ↓five
years. In the meantime, research and development should be undertaken in the following areas:

	 1. Standardization of the interfaces of time-sharing systems and their languages.

	 ␈ ¬2. ␈ ¬Experimentation ␈ ¬with ␈ ¬services. ␈ ∧At ␈ ∧present, ␈ ∧it ␈ ∧is ␈ ∧very ␈ ∧difficult ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧get ␈ ∧support ␈ ∧for ␈ ∧development ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧generally
useful ␈ βservices ␈ βunless ␈ βeither ␈ βit ␈ βcan ␈ βbe ␈ βclaimed ␈ βthat ␈ βdisaster ␈ βwill ␈ βresult ␈ αfrom ␈ αfailure ␈ αto ␈ αsupport ␈ αthe ␈ αactivity ␈ αor ␈ αthat ␈ αthe
supporting ␈ ↓organization ␈ ↓will ␈ ↓itself ␈ ↓make ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓profit. ␈ ↓This ␈ ↓political ␈ ↓fact ␈ ↓is one of the reasons for the concentration on military
technology in the recent past.

	 ␈ α3. ␈ αResearch ␈ αaimed ␈ αat ␈ αdevising ␈ αways ␈ αof ␈ αco-ordinating ␈ αthe ␈ αgreat ␈ αvariety ␈ αof ␈ ↓time-sharing ␈ ↓services ␈ ↓into ␈ ↓a ␈ ↓mutually
communicating ␈ ↓network. ␈ ↓Neither ␈ ↓sufficient ␈ ↓understanding ␈ ↓nor ␈ ↓sufficient ␈ ↓political ␈ ↓or ␈ ↓commercial ␈ ↓force ␈ ↓is ␈ ↓available ␈ ↓to cause
the ␈ ∧development ␈ ∧of ␈ ∧time-sharing ␈ ∧services ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧proceed ␈ ∧according ␈ ∧to ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧unified ␈ ∧plan. ␈ ∧Nevertheless, ␈ ∧computers ␈ ∧are ␈ βflexible
enough ␈ αso ␈ αthat ␈ αoriginally ␈ αincompatible ␈ αsystems ␈ αcan ␈ αbe ␈ αmade ␈ αto ␈ αcommunicate ␈ αand ␈ αuse ␈ αeach ␈ αother's ␈ αservices. ␈ ↓Experiments
with ␈ πthe ␈ πARPA ␈ πnetwork ␈ πthat ␈ πprovides ␈ πcommunication ␈ πbetween ␈ εU.S. ␈ εGovernment ␈ εsponsored ␈ εresearch ␈ εcomputers ␈ εwill
provide useful information.


7. Comments on the conference.

	 ␈ ¬In ␈ ¬general, ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧conference ␈ ∧showed ␈ ∧a ␈ ∧poor ␈ ∧situation ␈ ∧in ␈ ∧the ␈ ∧scientific ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧technological ␈ ∧community ␈ ∧and ␈ ∧also ␈ ∧the
public ␈ ↓affairs ␈ ↓community ␈ ↓regarding ␈ ↓technology ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓the ␈ ↓human ␈ ↓future. There were a few technically competent but rather
narrow ␈ αsurveys ␈ αof ␈ αthe ␈ αstate ␈ αand ␈ αprospects ␈ αof ␈ αparticular ␈ αtool ␈ ↓areas ␈ ↓of ␈ ↓technology. ␈ ↓There ␈ ↓was ␈ ↓much ␈ ↓random ␈ ↓doom-saying
and ␈ αdenunciation ␈ αof ␈ αcurrently ␈ αfashionable ␈ αwhipping ␈ αboys. ␈ αThere ␈ αwas ␈ αa ␈ αfair ␈ αamount ␈ αof ␈ αopinion ␈ αthat ␈ αcertain ␈ αthings ␈ αshould
not ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓done. ␈ ↓There was an almost total lack of imaginative discussion of the opportunities technology offers us to improve
human ␈ αlife. ␈ αThis ␈ ↓lack ␈ ↓was ␈ ↓especially ␈ ↓notable ␈ ↓in ␈ ↓those ␈ ↓individuals ␈ ↓and ␈ ↓organizations ␈ ↓that ␈ ↓are ␈ ↓supposed ␈ ↓to ␈ ↓be ␈ ↓professionally
concerned with the matter.

	 This essay represents a small effort to redress the balance.