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Different Perspectives on the Use of Personal Computers for Technical Analyses

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:6809217
 [1];  [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Human Affairs Research Center

Personal computers (PCs) have widespread availability and use in many technical environments. The machines may have initially been justified for use as word processors or for data base management, but many technical applications are being performed and often the computer codes used in these technical analyses have been moved from large mainframe machines. The general feeling in the user community is that the free computer time on these machines justifies moving as many applications as possible from the large computer systems. Many of these PC applications cannot be justified if the total cost of using microcomputers is considered. A Hanford-wide local area network (LAN) is being established which allows individual PCs to be used as terminals to connect to mainframe computers at high data transfer rates (9600 baud). This system allows fast, easy connection to a variety of different computers with a few keystrokes. The LAN eliminates the problem of low-speed communication with mainframe computers and makes operation on the mainframes as simple as operation on the host PC, itself.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Human Affairs Research Center
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OSTI ID:
6809217
Report Number(s):
CONF-861102-
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 53; ISSN TANSA; ISSN 0003-018X
Publisher:
American Nuclear Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English