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Communicating word processors in the automated office
Communicating word processors in the automated office Don Tombs discusses the development of Teletex services
Most experts agree that the introduction of communicating word processors, operating under international standards through the public telephone networks, will be the next important development in the 'office of the future'. It will also be the most meaningful advance in terms of productivity. The paper briefly traces the development of office equipment and describes how the integration of data processing and text processing has led to the concept of 'electronic mail'. It then describes the international Teletex service offered by the PTTs, and suggests that the PTTs will ultimately join with the common carriers to provide a world-wide Teletex service. The Philips Teletex system is discussed in detail, including its configuration, software and peripherals. Keywords: office automation, data processing, word processing, teletex For a number of years limited forms of office automation have been available to assist the office worker, beginning with the typewriter, telephone, adding machine and dictation equipment, through to the installation of computer terminals or stand-alone word processing stations. Stand-alone means that, in the early days, word processing devices were not built directly to communicate between stations. Computer terminals were used mainly to assist in data input to centralized computers, but office staff were beginning to find themselves using this equipment in the ordinary day-to-day environment; at times, perhaps, feeling a little remote from central operations. Philips Business Systems, Data Processing Division, Elektra House, Colchester, UK
It was in the area of word processors that real assistance to office workers was provided. These developments have generally become known as 'text processing'. We are already seeing the integration of data processing and text processing equipment, and we have started to move into the area of communicating word processors. Through this, we will see the first major developments of true 'electronic mail'. Following this phase, it will be possible to store the electronic mail information and to retrieve it at will. Many new methods of storage and retrieval are now under development. The phase discussed in this article is the intercommunication of word processors. Many word processors already installed have had the ability to communicate for many years, but only a small percentage of the installed machines have made use of such a communications facility. One of the major reasons for the relatively slow growth of office intercommunications or intracommunications has been the lack of suitable routing or switching equipment, and defined, agreed standards and procedures for their use. In addition, although a number of companies have talked about multifunction work stations, they have to date remained unavailable. The emergence of Teletex is seen as offering a solution to many of these problems.
TELETEX A definition of Teletex can be found in the recent draft CCITT recommendation. Teletex is an international
62 0140-3664/82/020062-03503.00 © 1982 Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Ltd.
service, offered
by
computer communications
administrations, or recognized private operating agencies, enabling subscribers to exchange correspondence on an automatic memory-to-memory basis via telecommunications networks. In Europe, the service will be offered by the national telecommunications administrations (PTTs). Both the German and Swedish PTTs have been very active in the development of Teletex and will also be the first to offer such a service. However, common carriers in both Canada and the USA will be offering Teletex in the near future. It is anticipated that within this decade, every PTT, both inside and outside Europe, as well as the major common carriers, will join to form a world-wide Teletex service. The Philips Teletex system is part of a range of office equipment, consisting of word processors, small business computers and distributed processing systems. Although specifically adapted for connection to Teletex networks, the Teletex system will be part of the Philips standard product range. This Teletex terminal system combines the capabilities of a word processor station with those of a Teletex terminal. Care has been taken in the design of the basic system to simplify later extensions, for example, the addition of further peripherals, using other software packages or connecting the workstations to a cluster controller as part of a multistation configuration. To allow the introduction of this terminal throughout Europe (and elsewhere in the world) network controllers will be available for connection to X.21 circuit-switched public networks or X.25 packetswitched public data networks and the public switched telephone network. Modular system structure is the basic characteristic of the terminal equipment, enabling easy field upgrading. Great emphasis has been placed on ergonomic aspects, as well as an easy operating procedure. These ergonomic features have influenced every stage of the industrial design, leading to a compact cabinet, suitable for table-top mounting on standard office desks. The display unit can be tilted, rotated and adjusted in height to meet the needs of the individual operators, while the keyboard can be positioned to meet their individual requirements.
Characteristics of Teletex Information will be transferred over international routes at 2 400 bit/s. Within the national PTT, lower speeds may well be offered. This rate of 2 400 bit/s will make the service about 30 times faster than the standard telex. Owing to the fact that communication takes place between terminals on a memory-to-memory basis, any local work in progress at either terminal is completely undisturbed during the transfer of information. Call establishment, information transfer and call clearing are automatically performed by the terminal without operator intervention.
vol 5 no 2 april 1982
o
120 I00 --
USA/ RG
-~ 80 -"~ 60
J
/France
z 20 1981 Figure 1.
1983
1985
1987
Teletex ternlinals installed base growth
1980-1987
A range of characters is available, solving many of the national character set problems. The basic element of information exchange is a page. Several pages contained within a document, or several documents, may be transferred during a given call. The network used for the transfer may be circuit switched, or the public telephone network may be used. The service in a particular country should at least offer the features referred to as the basic requirements for the CCITT recommendation. A number of standardized options may also be added on a terminalto-terminal basis. One of these options is a mixed mode of operation, whereby character-coded information and facsimile information could be mixed during transfer. Interworking with telex will be offered from the start. This is one of the most important features of the service, making it possible to access all existing telex subscribers in the world directly.
Public switchedtelephone network Telex line
Teletex number
Switch
~
/
I controller Cluster I
Multiple nightlines Multiple con nections
I controller Cluster ]
I controller Cluster I
,.~--Terminals
Figure 2. Switch directs Teletex to/from terminal through cluster controller to~from switch
63
Considerable thought has been given to the screen display itself. The screen is divided into four areas • • • •
status line message area text area command area
The text area is displayed in reverse video, dark characters on a white background, just like a normal memo or document. The other areas are normal video. To facilitate widespread use of this equipment by office workers, ranging from clerks to managers, a fundamental requirement was that its operation should be both easy and consistent. This is true for: • the commands to initiate transmission of documents over the telex network, • the retrieval and processing of received text pages, • executing the most frequently used functions in local operation mode. The aim in designing the Philips terminal was that it should be usable after only a few hours of instruction. This is possible by means of a'self training' approach in the operator/machine interface and by extensive use of help functions.
M a i n hardware elements The main hardware elements for the integrated version of the Philips Teletex workstation are: • high-resolution CRT with keyboard, • 16 bit microprocessor with 128 kbyte of random access memory, • two floppy disc drives, with 300 kbyte of storage per disc, • a table-top printer, • a network controller. Units are connected via serial interfaces, and, if required, additional units may be connected over distances up to 15 m. The basic printer is equipped with two 9 X 9 dot matrices for high-speed printing and an 18 X 25 matrix for higher quality. All characters may be printed in different densities, with a print speed from 40-300
64
characters per second. The printer may be fitted with automatic single-sheet feeding or continuous stationery. The software packages available include: • • • •
the basic word processing functions, an extended set of word processing functions, local Teletex functions, automatic text assembly used in the generation of letters, • record processing functions (sorting, merging, selective searching), • arithmetic functions.
Digital switching and satellites British Telecom are considering the introduction of Teletex, perhaps before the end of 1982. The real breakthrough in 'electronic mail' with all its facilities will, however, be constrained by the ultimate availability of digital switching. Digital exchanges and digital switching centres would allow the mixing of facsimile with Teletex messages, and voice messages intermingled with text, perhaps highlighting keypoints or introducing the subject matter. It may well be of course, thata number of these events occur before a UK digital network is fully available, but the individual functions, or these merged functions, will be constrained by the allowable PTT transmission speeds. One other event that may change these circumstances is the coming era of satellite switching and satellite to earth communications. Already, some major European companies are applying for permission to carry out ground transmissions within Europe. These high bandwidth channels could bring about a much speedier move towards the ultimate fully electronic office. They also create the following questions. • How quickly can the PTTs agree on standards, and then provide the service? • Will private satellite transmission be allowed to develop? Only if business, unions and the ordinary office worker have the ability and desire to use these new facilities!
computer communications
Most experts agree that the introduction of communicating word processors, operating under international standards through the public telephone networks, will be the next important development in the 'office of the future'. It will also be the most meaningful advance in terms of productivity. The paper briefly traces the development of office equipment and describes how the integration of data processing and text processing has led to the concept of 'electronic mail'. It then describes the international Teletex service offered by the PTTs, and suggests that the PTTs will ultimately join with the common carriers to provide a world-wide Teletex service. The Philips Teletex system is discussed in detail, including its configuration, software and peripherals. Keywords: office automation, data processing, word processing, teletex For a number of years limited forms of office automation have been available to assist the office worker, beginning with the typewriter, telephone, adding machine and dictation equipment, through to the installation of computer terminals or stand-alone word processing stations. Stand-alone means that, in the early days, word processing devices were not built directly to communicate between stations. Computer terminals were used mainly to assist in data input to centralized computers, but office staff were beginning to find themselves using this equipment in the ordinary day-to-day environment; at times, perhaps, feeling a little remote from central operations. Philips Business Systems, Data Processing Division, Elektra House, Colchester, UK
It was in the area of word processors that real assistance to office workers was provided. These developments have generally become known as 'text processing'. We are already seeing the integration of data processing and text processing equipment, and we have started to move into the area of communicating word processors. Through this, we will see the first major developments of true 'electronic mail'. Following this phase, it will be possible to store the electronic mail information and to retrieve it at will. Many new methods of storage and retrieval are now under development. The phase discussed in this article is the intercommunication of word processors. Many word processors already installed have had the ability to communicate for many years, but only a small percentage of the installed machines have made use of such a communications facility. One of the major reasons for the relatively slow growth of office intercommunications or intracommunications has been the lack of suitable routing or switching equipment, and defined, agreed standards and procedures for their use. In addition, although a number of companies have talked about multifunction work stations, they have to date remained unavailable. The emergence of Teletex is seen as offering a solution to many of these problems.
TELETEX A definition of Teletex can be found in the recent draft CCITT recommendation. Teletex is an international
62 0140-3664/82/020062-03503.00 © 1982 Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Ltd.
service, offered
by
computer communications
administrations, or recognized private operating agencies, enabling subscribers to exchange correspondence on an automatic memory-to-memory basis via telecommunications networks. In Europe, the service will be offered by the national telecommunications administrations (PTTs). Both the German and Swedish PTTs have been very active in the development of Teletex and will also be the first to offer such a service. However, common carriers in both Canada and the USA will be offering Teletex in the near future. It is anticipated that within this decade, every PTT, both inside and outside Europe, as well as the major common carriers, will join to form a world-wide Teletex service. The Philips Teletex system is part of a range of office equipment, consisting of word processors, small business computers and distributed processing systems. Although specifically adapted for connection to Teletex networks, the Teletex system will be part of the Philips standard product range. This Teletex terminal system combines the capabilities of a word processor station with those of a Teletex terminal. Care has been taken in the design of the basic system to simplify later extensions, for example, the addition of further peripherals, using other software packages or connecting the workstations to a cluster controller as part of a multistation configuration. To allow the introduction of this terminal throughout Europe (and elsewhere in the world) network controllers will be available for connection to X.21 circuit-switched public networks or X.25 packetswitched public data networks and the public switched telephone network. Modular system structure is the basic characteristic of the terminal equipment, enabling easy field upgrading. Great emphasis has been placed on ergonomic aspects, as well as an easy operating procedure. These ergonomic features have influenced every stage of the industrial design, leading to a compact cabinet, suitable for table-top mounting on standard office desks. The display unit can be tilted, rotated and adjusted in height to meet the needs of the individual operators, while the keyboard can be positioned to meet their individual requirements.
Characteristics of Teletex Information will be transferred over international routes at 2 400 bit/s. Within the national PTT, lower speeds may well be offered. This rate of 2 400 bit/s will make the service about 30 times faster than the standard telex. Owing to the fact that communication takes place between terminals on a memory-to-memory basis, any local work in progress at either terminal is completely undisturbed during the transfer of information. Call establishment, information transfer and call clearing are automatically performed by the terminal without operator intervention.
vol 5 no 2 april 1982
o
120 I00 --
USA/ RG
-~ 80 -"~ 60
J
/France
z 20 1981 Figure 1.
1983
1985
1987
Teletex ternlinals installed base growth
1980-1987
A range of characters is available, solving many of the national character set problems. The basic element of information exchange is a page. Several pages contained within a document, or several documents, may be transferred during a given call. The network used for the transfer may be circuit switched, or the public telephone network may be used. The service in a particular country should at least offer the features referred to as the basic requirements for the CCITT recommendation. A number of standardized options may also be added on a terminalto-terminal basis. One of these options is a mixed mode of operation, whereby character-coded information and facsimile information could be mixed during transfer. Interworking with telex will be offered from the start. This is one of the most important features of the service, making it possible to access all existing telex subscribers in the world directly.
Public switchedtelephone network Telex line
Teletex number
Switch
~
/
I controller Cluster I
Multiple nightlines Multiple con nections
I controller Cluster ]
I controller Cluster I
,.~--Terminals
Figure 2. Switch directs Teletex to/from terminal through cluster controller to~from switch
63
Considerable thought has been given to the screen display itself. The screen is divided into four areas • • • •
status line message area text area command area
The text area is displayed in reverse video, dark characters on a white background, just like a normal memo or document. The other areas are normal video. To facilitate widespread use of this equipment by office workers, ranging from clerks to managers, a fundamental requirement was that its operation should be both easy and consistent. This is true for: • the commands to initiate transmission of documents over the telex network, • the retrieval and processing of received text pages, • executing the most frequently used functions in local operation mode. The aim in designing the Philips terminal was that it should be usable after only a few hours of instruction. This is possible by means of a'self training' approach in the operator/machine interface and by extensive use of help functions.
M a i n hardware elements The main hardware elements for the integrated version of the Philips Teletex workstation are: • high-resolution CRT with keyboard, • 16 bit microprocessor with 128 kbyte of random access memory, • two floppy disc drives, with 300 kbyte of storage per disc, • a table-top printer, • a network controller. Units are connected via serial interfaces, and, if required, additional units may be connected over distances up to 15 m. The basic printer is equipped with two 9 X 9 dot matrices for high-speed printing and an 18 X 25 matrix for higher quality. All characters may be printed in different densities, with a print speed from 40-300
64
characters per second. The printer may be fitted with automatic single-sheet feeding or continuous stationery. The software packages available include: • • • •
the basic word processing functions, an extended set of word processing functions, local Teletex functions, automatic text assembly used in the generation of letters, • record processing functions (sorting, merging, selective searching), • arithmetic functions.
Digital switching and satellites British Telecom are considering the introduction of Teletex, perhaps before the end of 1982. The real breakthrough in 'electronic mail' with all its facilities will, however, be constrained by the ultimate availability of digital switching. Digital exchanges and digital switching centres would allow the mixing of facsimile with Teletex messages, and voice messages intermingled with text, perhaps highlighting keypoints or introducing the subject matter. It may well be of course, thata number of these events occur before a UK digital network is fully available, but the individual functions, or these merged functions, will be constrained by the allowable PTT transmission speeds. One other event that may change these circumstances is the coming era of satellite switching and satellite to earth communications. Already, some major European companies are applying for permission to carry out ground transmissions within Europe. These high bandwidth channels could bring about a much speedier move towards the ultimate fully electronic office. They also create the following questions. • How quickly can the PTTs agree on standards, and then provide the service? • Will private satellite transmission be allowed to develop? Only if business, unions and the ordinary office worker have the ability and desire to use these new facilities!
computer communications