In recent years business communications systems have failed, despite improved technology, to keep pace with the increasing demands imposed by the growth of business organizations, their accelerated rate of activities, their increased divisionalization, etc. It is here proposed that the problem be solved by a system in which the encoding, searching, and retrieval of information is accomplished automatically by electronic machines. A machinable form of every document to be entered is subjected to an automatic encoding program and the encoded version stored in a central searchable memory. Record-keeping features included in the system permit updating of the characteristics of all inquiring "action points, " and thereby insure an automatic flow of pertinent information to these points. To prevent system inertia, a scheme is incorporated for relaxing system response to a given stimulus over an appropriate period of time.
By: H. P. Luhn
Published in: RC53 in 1957
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