Bulletin Vol. 7 No. 4 Dec 1970

With the enormous application of computers in Science, Social Science, Business and Industry, it is becoming increasingly necessary for the undergraduate and post-graduate students to possess some basic knowledge on the features of a computer, its feasible applications and limitations in relation to their fields of study. There is also a large and growing demand in Hong Kong for trained computer personnel. T o keep pace with the progress stipulated in the Universities Quadrennium (1970-74) Plan, the two Universities have set up a Joint Universities Computer Centre for developing computer science studies and related subjects. It was also decided to install an I CL 1904-A Computer System, a genuine multi-programming , time-sharing machine as a joint facility, including one I CL 7020 remote access terminal for each University, and several teletypewriters. I t is anticipated that the computer system will be installed in January 1971 and will be fully in operation by March 1971. Undergraduate Teaching Programmes The University Senate Academic Planning Committee approved two credit-earning electiv e courses on Computer Concept and Programming, one for Science students, and the other for Social Science, Commerce, and Arts students, to be offered from the beginning of the second term of the 1969-70 academic year. 87 Science students enrolled from the departments of Physics and Electronics, Biology, Mathematics, and Chemistry, and 60 completed the course. Over 150 Social Science, Commerce and Arts students from the departments of Chinese Literature, History, Philosophy, Economics, Accounting and Finance, Business Management, Journalism, Sociology, Social Work and Geography expressed interest in attending the course, but only 89 students were finally admitted owing to the size of the lecture room. Staff Courses Two 1-week intensive programming courses for faculty members and administrative staff were conducted by the Centre during the year to introduce programming techniques to those who were not already familiar with them, and those who desired to acquire some knowledge of computer application to business, industry and administration. Many staff members from various disciplines of study attended with enthusiasm. In order to introduce the new I CL 1904-A Computer System to staff members and students of the University and to stimulate their interest in computer application, three intensive computer courses listed below will be offered by the Centre in due course, namely: ( 1) Computer Techniques, ( 2 ) F O R T R AN Programming, and ( 3) COBOL Programming. Extra-Mural Courses In the 1969-70 academic year, the Centre offered two 1 -term courses on "Fundamentals of Electronic Data Processing" , two 1-term courses on " I BM 1130 Report Programme Generator Programming Language", and one summer course on " I BM 1130 F O R T R A N Programming" sponsored by the Department of Extra-Mural Studies of the University. Other courses were also conducted in the summer of 1970 on "Certificate in Basic Systems Analysis" which is jointly sponsored by the Extra- Mural Studies Departments of the two Universities, the Centre, and the Computer Centre of the University of Hong Kong. The National Computing Centre and the British Computer Society have agreed to examine the students taking the Systems Analysis course. The successful candidates will be awarded the N.C.C. Certificate in Systems Analysis which is internationally recognised. Programming and Data Processing Services The Centre has made a concerted effort to stir up interest in computer programming and techniques by conducting various programming courses for students as well as staff members in the University. The Centre has also extended its service to the University administration sections an d to such faculty members by writing or assisting in writing practical and research programmes for them. Research Project on Chinese-English Machine Translation Language translation b y computer has been a fascinating subject in the field of computer science and linguistics since the introduction of computer. In the field of machine translation there are three approaches used by most scientists: ( 1) "Brute- Force" approach, ( 2) "Perfectionist" approach, and ( 3) "Fulcrum" approach. — 3 —