SUMMARY OF SAC 438L TECHNICAL CONFERENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01139A000200060023-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2004
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: September 23, 1960
• Content Type: MF

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CODIB-D-65
23 September 1960
UNITED STATES INTELIGENCE BOARD
CWHITTEE ON DOCU ER ATION
MBMORANDW FOR: Committee on Documentation
SUBJECT: Summary of SAC 438L Technical Conference
REFERENCE: CODIB-M-20, 3 February 1960, para. 4 (Status Report
on Air Force Project 438L)
1. Attached for the Committee's information is a copy of a summary
of the 438L Technical Conference held at SAC Headquarters, Offutt AFB,
7-8 September 1960 to Which ]referred at the last meeting
(CODIB-M-25, para. :))-
2. You Will note in the second to the last paragraph the statement
of need for "the imposing of discipline on the community to achieve a
major improvement in the formatting of inputs".
PAUL A. BOREL
Chairman
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SUMMY OF 438L TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
held at Eq SAC, Offutt AFB, Nebr
7, 8 September 1950
The attached agenda was followed closely with presentations
by the personnel indicated below.
General Smith, Director of Intelligence of SAC, opened the
conference with a strong comment that SAC is completely behind
the experiment and wants to get an operational capability as
rapidly as possible. This requirement is more urgent now that
General Power has been assigned the additional duty of Director,
Joint Strategic Target Planning Agency.
As background, the Test Director presented a short summary
of the original concept of the system and its implementation,
the seope'of the SAC subsystem, and the presently defined objec-
tives and limitations of the experiment.
Lt Colonel Vandiver, an analyst from the SAC warning center,
presenteda detailed summary of the work being accomplished in
the center and the kinds of inputs which they utilize.
Following,the mid-morning break, Mr. Groce scussed
the system concept, the kinds of work being done general flow
diagrams for the various types of inputs. Mr. Lamontagne summarized
briefly the mathematical work being done to arrange a program to
utilize the Fisher discriminate function in statistical analysis of
data.
- .,During Mr. Hickey's presentation on the reports and files
being developed the applicability of certain Navy files was dis-
cussed. The Navy representative is preparing a list of reports
which would probably be more applicable.
In the discussion of detailed methods for inserting data
into the files the inability to mix collateral with other kinds
of input data was brought out. This caused a lively exchange of
ideas and comments on directives under which the experiment is
operating. The need for a discipline within the intelligence com-
munity to insure the formatting of tabular reports in such a way
that they are immediately acceptable to the machine was emphasized.
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The results of the experiment are expected to provide considerable
impetus to accomplishing this end by defining specific ways in
which the reports can be changed to achieve more rapid input.
After the afternoon break, It Colonel Vandiver and Mr. Groce
covered the binds of outputs desired from the experiment and the
present and projected (by 31 Dec 60) capabilities of the system to
provide these answers.
By arrangement with the Warning Center the conferees were
given.a rerun of the daily intelligence briefing.
Mr. Groce then continued the presentation by discussing the
areas which the contractor felt should be added to the present
experiment as expanded or follow-on efforts. These included dis-
play, equipment improvements, human factors, interface and indexing.
During this period an extended discussion took place regarding
methods of indexing or coding documents for file and retrieval.
The use of Uniterms or descriptors and/or a hierarchical code and
the possibility of developing a standard code which can be applied
to all types of documents--Operational as well as intelligence?
were discussed.
Lt Colonel Siemon concluded the formal portion of the brief-
ings by presenting what SAC wants for an operational subsystem--
display, additional storage, interface, off-line equipment, etc.
Following a tour of the computer area and lunch, the group
split into two parts. One portion discussed Mr. Lamontagne-es
mathematical model work and the other portion had a session on
indexing of documents. No decisions or guidance was forthcoming
from either group.
In summary., Colonel Morneau emphasized the necessity for
building files which can be manipulated, the need for expansion
and continued work on the total system with coordination and
cooperation of all agencies and "L" systems. Of long term im-
portance is the imposing of discipline on the community to
achieve a major improvement in the formatting of :inputs.
A revised list of attendees is attached.
/s/
HWJM
OHN M
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USAF
nel
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1.
Agenda
,
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438L Test Director
2.
Revised List of Attendees
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Department of Defense
Mr. L. R. Dailey, DDR&sE
JCS
LCDR J. W. Enyart
NSA
State De meat
Mr. J. W. Neubert
CIA
Mr. T. CO Hawser
Lt.Col L. W.. Cowan, AFDSD
NOX
Col C. F. Nelson, ACSI-A
Mrs H. E.. Koch,`ACSI-A
Mr. A. G. Favret, ACSI-A
Nay
Capt D. C. Higgins., ONI
Capt W. E. Kuntz, 0NR
Capt E. C., Smith
LCDR R..W. Bates, ONI
LCDR A. K. Bennett, OPNAV
Dr. M. H. Reilner, ONI
Dr. R. M. Davis, I1fM8
B/Gen R. N. Smith, D/I
Col D. H. Ainsworth, 544th RTG
Col J. B. Greene, DIE
Col L. L. Shaw, DIN
Col V. B. Taylor, DIE
LtCol F. D. Mahi, DIT
LtCol H. M. Reynolds, DIN
LtCol G. K. Shively, 54Ith M
LtCol A. F. Siemon, DINZ
LtCol R. S. Vandiver, DIEW
Mai L. Alderman, DINZ
Maj D. Anderson Jr., DIM
Maj K. R. Johnson, 544th RTG
Maj W. R. Walkup,: DIXSP
Maj C.' K. Wilcox,, 544th RTG
Lt R. E. Obremski, 544th RTG
AFCIN USAFSS
Mr. J. H. Toler
Mr. S. S. Rockwell
LtCol A. D. Gaston
Mr. W. E. Eiselstein
Capt J. 0. Bush
Lt.. Col W. H. Brauer
Capt R. H. Spencer
AFCCDD
Col W. H. Congdon
Col C. H. Morneau
Mr. D. L. Radcliffe
Col J. M. Herndon
Capt R. Newsome Jr.
Lt. B. Watkins
Mr. J. B. McLean
NORAD
Lt. Col A. G. Lindsay
Maj J. C. Manley
Maj J. L. Feser
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