Abstract :
In addition to the present uses of electronic data processing machines in computation, business accounting, simulation, literature retrieval, and the like, these devices could also be used as a central repository for the storage and rapid retrieval of the information we now put on engineering drawings, specifications, process sheets, bills of material, and so forth. However, the data formats commonly used in computation and accounting do not appear to be adequate to the retrieval problem involved, while literature retrieval methods do not have the precision required in production work. A data format or ``language´´ is proposed which is loose enough to contain all possible engineering or production information, but precise enough to permit accurate retrieval. The price paid for these features is the formulation of a large dictionary of identifiers, and some inflation of storage requirements.
