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<Paper uid="C69-4201">
  <Title>A Universal Graphic Character Writer</Title>
  <Section position="9" start_page="0" end_page="714" type="concl">
    <SectionTitle>
3. Data Compression
</SectionTitle>
    <Paragraph position="0"> Since the largest coordinate used in the two suggested  -16grids is the decimal number fifteen~ only four bits are needed to record one coordinate. Therefore, the coordinates maybe packed into a four-bit segment of a computer word. This may not be necessary for the alphabetic languages because their character sets are very small in size~ usually not more than sixty-four characters each set in binary coded decimal. However, for the non-alphabetic languages such as the Chinese with a 10,000-character set, the need for data compression is rather apparent if all of their coordinate groups are going to be stored in the core memory for the most efficient processing. It is estimated that an average complexity Chinese character can be packed into four 48-bit computer words and thus a computer with 65K memory (e.g.~ CDC 3600) will be able to accov~nodate the overwhelming i0,000 characters in 40K of memory and allow the other 25K of memory for the executive system, the program, and the input/output buffering operations.</Paragraph>
    <Paragraph position="1"> Vl. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE This system is aimed to provide a good universal writing device for all languages, alphabetic and non-alphabetic alike~ because of its graphic nature in treating characters of various languages. This is of particular advantage to the non-alphabetic languages since no practical and efficient typing or~/riting device has been created for their uses.</Paragraph>
    <Paragraph position="3"> The system uses the plotter as its output device for writing characters directly on the paper to produce a clear and permanent hard copy. The alternative CRT display has a unique advantage of on-llne monitoring or editing but is otherwise a more complex process and hardware system to produce a final hard copy, and thus inevitably too expensive for practical and efficient applications.</Paragraph>
    <Paragraph position="4"> From numerous job runs of the test program on the CDC 3600 a plotter page of standard 8-1/2 x 11 inch with 320 Chinese characters written will cost about one dollar and twelve cents. The estimate for the test program.to be run on the Univac 1108 is approximately eighteen cents per page. It would be very interesting to know the cost for on-line plotting with a PDP-8 and a plotter since they are among the least expensive computing equipments available.</Paragraph>
    <Paragraph position="5"> * The system is programmed in the Fortran language so that it can be 8tilized through small or medium size computers with the least effort Dfadaptatlon, ADyplott~;~wlth:a~tep sise of 0.01 or less is very satisfactory for output character writing. The output from this system is certainly suitable to be used as an original for further duplicating, photographing, and photoengraving. Multlplecolor writings may be accomplished through the change of plotter pens or inks of various colors with the aid of in-line plotter controls,  -18-Finally, the system is oriented toward the user's convenience in operating. All the user's controls and selections are specified in natural language vocabularies and punched on cards as the input data to the computer. No progra~ning work is involved on the part of the ultimate user to cause unnecessary complications or difficulties in utilizing this system. The user's learning process requires only a few times of actual practice to achieve efficient</Paragraph>
    <Paragraph position="7"> characters of the Chinese telegraphic code -horizontal wrlting~ Chinese characters at step size 0.025 inch, code number at step size 0.01 inch.</Paragraph>
    <Paragraph position="8">  identifying telegraphic codes arranged at 320 characters per page with ~pace and ~Ine controls.</Paragraph>
  </Section>
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