(SANITIZED) PHYSICS DEPARTMENT PROPOSAL TO (SANITIZED) FOR EVALUATION OF RECORDING TECHNIQUES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03300A001600040003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: June 15, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-0330OA001600040003-6
STAT
Physics Department
Proposal
STAT
EVALUATION OF RECORDING TECHNIQUES
June 15, 1955
Proposal No. E-160
Copy No. 1 of 3 Copies
0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-0330OA001600040003-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-03300A001600040003-6
Proposal
for
EVALUATION OF RECORDING TECHNIQUES
I. The Problem: In the very brief analysis of the general problem of
recording nnfrmation, with emphasis on miniature recorders which may be
operated apart from electrical mains or other normal power supplies, it
has become evident that the choice of principles which might be followed
to make substantial improvements in performance is presently very difficult.
The reason for this difficulty in choice is that there are at least 100,000
possible techniques for marking a record medium in accordance with information
received from a microphone, a pressure transducer, a Geiger counter, or the
like. Information available from manufacturers or from the literature on
the subject is completely disorganized as to terminology, methods of per-
formance measurements, or methods of specifying the behavior of system
elements.
II. Outline of Proposed Work: Ihas recently STAT
terminate a very brief analysis of the overall possibilities of data record-
ing. This study is quite incomplete because of the large amount of potential
information which it recognized to exist. The main accomplishment of the
study has been to provide a logical framework by which individual components
of recording systems could be analyzed and compared.
In view of this it is proposed that undertake STAT
a more complete analysis of recording techniques with the objective of
providing an up to date and yet flexible picture of presently available
resources as well as promising principles for future development. There is
not a single aspect of present-day commercial recorders which is not capable
of improvement by at least one order of magnitude by application of new
principles.
Specifically it is proposed to complete the assembly of commercial catalogs
describing recording equipment; to supplement this information by inquiries
to manufacturers not releasing technical details in their catalogs; to assemble
a representative collection of specifications from the various Defense Depart-
ment agencies procuring recording equipment; to continue a search of both
published and classified literature, particularly that describing the
principles on which recorders can be devised.
A final result of this work would consist of five copies (or other quantity,
as desired by the sponsor) of a loose-leaf, data notebook based on the outline
of the referenced preliminary report. As stated in that report, it should be
possible to provide at least 1,000 data sheets on existing or hypothetical
systems. Many recording techniques have been devised for individual
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-03300A001600040003-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-0330OA001600040003-6
experiments in the various fields of science, and this information has never
been collected into a central publication.
As a minor part of the proposed program additional effort would be devoted
to operations research on the general problem of recorder design. It is
believed that many unsound principles have been followed to various states
of completion in the past merely because they appeared to be novel methods,
and that the bases for analysis stated in the preliminary report can be
applied to prediction of the success of the future design program.
III. Estimated Time and Cost: A time of 15 months is believed optimum for
completion of the proposed s udy. One full-time research engineer with
approximately 5 years of experience would be assigned to the ro ram, under
the supervision of the Chairman of the Physics Department the
author of the preliminary analysis. In addition, a number o senior staff
members of the department would be consulted at intervals on such problems
as specification of important definitions or similar questions.
The estimate below is based on a 40-hour week, and figures in parentheses
show percentage of full time.
Project Engineer (100%)
Project Supervision (5%)
Project Consultants
B. Direct Expenses
Travel
Telephone and Telegraph
Total Expenses
C. Technical Services
Reproduction and Drafting
D. General and Administrative Expenses
Per Cent of Item A
E. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST
STAT
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-0330OA001600040003-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-0330OA001600040003-6
IV. Contract Conditions: It is proposed that the usual contract conditions
between the sponsor and be applied to this STAT
project.
Chairman., Physics Department
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP78-0330OA001600040003-6