A standardized data highway for on-line computer applications

In nuclear experiments the quantity and complexity of the data have led to the widespread adoption of automatic processing equipment. This equipment may be divided generally into two categories. The first consists of data gathering and converting devices intimately involved with the experiment, e.g., radiation detectors, scalers and analogue-to-digital converters. The second category consists of devices for storing and processing the data, and for controlling the experiment. Increasing use is now being made of small general purpose computers to perform these latter functions, in place of the special purpose devices previously employed.