The system works well for pulse-height analysis, but for new applications, e.g., nuclear magnetic resonance magnet control, it needs additional hardware and programs.
Two groups of experimenters, doing chiefly pulse-height analysis experiments are very satisfied with the system. Another group, with a wider range of interests, has been dissatisfied because of the time lag to implement new experiments.
One programmer is now engaged full time preparing more programs.
Lack of free computer time has become a limitation for both users and programmers.
Provision for programming at the outset was inadequate. One full-time systems programmer should have been assigned to these systems for 18 months.
Experimenters need Fortran or similar language capability. A disk, or more core memory, would make this practical.
The memory size is totally inadequate for multiple users because of the large amount of data space needed for the high-resolution spectra now obtainable with Ge(Li) detectors. An external 8k memory is being acquired for data acquisition in each system so that more of the computer memory can be used for computing.
Memory CRT's are needed to provide independent displays for each user. A separate teletype for each user would be invaluable.
A disk memory is needed for rapid overlay of programs and for sorting of multiparameter data.
A "czar" should have been appointed for day-to-day assignment of facilities, consultations with users, and routine maintenance and upkeep of the hardware and programs. The "czar" could be a good electronics technician interested both in programming and in physics.