CHOOSING DATA COMMUNICATIONS

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/eb057174
Date01 January 1981
Published date01 January 1981
Pages42-42
Subject MatterEconomics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations
BOOKS
CHOOSING DATA COM-
MUNICATIONS
TSB Computer Services Con-
sultancy Division has released
Communications Choice, the
final part of its trilogy of work-
ing guides for the selection of
computing equipment and
facilities. The first two guides
were Computer Choice and
Terminal Choice which,
together with the latest addi-
tion, encompass the major pur-
chasing decisions faced by data
processing managers.
Computer Choice describes a
method devised by TSB Com-
puter Services to assist the
selection of hardware and
software for its real-time, cus-
tomer service system, which is
one of the most advanced and
extensive real-time applica-
tions in banking. The guide
employs a structured
approach; starting with the
formulation of a clear state-
ment of requirements, laying
down ground rules for the con-
tent of manufacturers' propos-
als and the conduct of negotia-
tions,
through to detailed
criteria for the evaluation of
proposals.
The final section of the
three-part guide, just released,
covers this ground in respect of
data communications facilities,
including modems, switching
and monitoring equipment.
Supporting Services Available
Each of the three sections of
the series is made available
under licence. The licence fee
includes training in tyhe use of
the methodology. Supporting
services range from assistance
on a watching
brief,
through to
the design of communications
networks and applications sys-
tems.
Computer choice has been
used successfully for small sys-
tems and ancillary equipment,
as well as for multi-million-
pound installations. Clients of
the Consultancy Division using
the guides include organisa-
tions in the United Kingdom,
Republic of Ireland, Nether-
lands,
Eastern Europe, Middle
East and Australia, with inter-
ests as diverse as engineering,
finance, retailing, chemical
manufacture, public utilioty
and government.
The Computer Choice
method procedures require
some degree of adjustment to
the different requirements of
each user. However, this
approach will save the Data
Processing Manager both time
and money. Perhaps more
importantly, it can enable his
Board to take a major invest-
ment decision with complete
confidence.
LOCAL COMMUNICA-
TIONS
Latest report from the yankee
group covers local communica-
tions.
Users are now able to
question the 'traditional'
approach to meeting their
companies' business communi-
cations requirements which
have been met, to date, by dis-
crete, partial solutions for
voice and data communica-
tions.
A new capability has now
been added to the pathways to
integration presented by data
processing, office technology
and telecommunications ven-
dors.
A new generation of tele-
communications networks has
emerged from the research
environment into commercial
reality - local area networks
designed specifically for the
in-company/in-building com-
munications of data, text,
image and/or voice.
Local area networking pro-
vides:
* local, high-speed (up to 50
Mbps) communications links
between computers and
computer resources - the
extended computer bus
* local, 'medium-speed' (up to
10 Mbps) communications
links between data proces-
sing and office automation
equipment
* the integration of existing
dispersed or distributed
computer systems into a
cohesive network structure
particularly in the multi-
vendor environment
* an integrating factor for cur-
rent and evolving office
communications.
Local area networks (LANs)
are commercially available
today from a variety of sup-
pliers in Europe:
* Datapoint's ARC -
Attached Resource Compu-
ter- from Ventek and Matra
in Europe
* Hyperchannel from Network
Systems Inc. in the USA -
Tesdata in Europe
* Hasler's SILK (System for
Integrated Local Communi-
cations)
* Ferranti's Videodata
* Zilog's Z-NET
Nascent LAN's can be found in
Prime Computer's Primenet,
Wang's WISE and even the
IBM 8100 'loop'.
In North America, organisa-
tions have entered the local
network arena, including:
* Xerox's Ethernet-with DEC
and Intel
* Ungermann-Bass's NET-
ZONE
Within the next 24 months,
there will be some new players
in Europe and North America,
including AT&T, GTE, IBM,
Intecomm, Logica VTS,
Northern Telecom, Philips,
Plessey, Rolm, SBS and 3M as
strong contenders.
These vendors who are
beginning to apply a local net-
working capability to the busi-
ness communications envi-
ronment will carve a solid niche
in the information delivery sys-
tem marketplace.
Report on Local Communica-
tions
This Report presents a continu-
ing and incisive analysis of local
communications. Synthesising
Yankee Group research in.
Europe and North America, it
delineates the vendors - their
products and directions; and
the technological and organisa-
tional environemnt in which
local communications net-
works must be developed and
implemented.
Analysis detailed in the
Basic Report and the subse-
quent three Updates will
include:
* Meeting the communications
requirements
How can the organisation's
requirement for business
communications be met by cur-
rent and emerging systems
while balancing the comprom-
ises of capability, technology,
integration and cost?
* Characteristics and architec-
tures of LANs
LANs are entering the mar-
ketplace via a number of routes
ranging from 'off-the-shelf
LANs to 'integrated office
communications systems'.
Their architectures star, ring,
loop and multi-access bus; the
media - baseband or broad-
band coaxial cable, twisted
pair, fibre optics or radio - are
used as the basis of a taxonomy
for LANs. The trade-offs in
reliability, contention,
architecture, ease-of use and
* specific local network solu-
tions
The Report details those local
area networks which are
emerging into the marketplace
comparing the various
approaches and determining
their role in the vendors and
the users' strategies. Amongst
those examined are ARC,
Ethernet, Hyperchannel,
Logica VTS Ring, NET/ONE,
SILK and Videodata - as well
as developments from the
major ddp, office technology
and telecommunications ven-
dors.
The Report details the
market impact of LAN solu-
tions on various office automa-
tion and ddp products and
looks at the development of the
Integrated Office Controller
from the Digital PBX.
42 INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT + DATA SYSTEMS

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