TV data service nearer: An up-to-the-minute news and information service, based on the Oracle data transmission system using modified domestic television receivers, is planned by the Independent Broadcasting Authority. And the Home Secretary has now approved the introduction of both Oracle and the BBC’s Ceefax system for a two-year experimental period. (...)

Cash terminals plan by Lloyds: Once again Lloyds Bank has taken the lead in introducing new automated customer facilities to the UK. It is planning to install Cashpoint cash-dispensing terminals into stores and offices, and to have on-line automatic teller terminals outside bank branches. Both devices are manufactured by IBM. Lloyds has now completed its first phase of IBM 2984 Cashpoint terminal installations, and has almost 500 installed inside 300 branches in England and Wales, and in December it embarks on the first installation of Cashpoints at non-bank locations.

Supermarket PoS system for UK: The supermarket terminal system developed by NCR, the 255, is now available in the UK. The interactive system is controlled by the NCR 726 16-bit minicomputer, and according to NCR, a system with eight 255s and a 20K 726 will cost about £20,000. The system is already being ordered on a large scale in the US. In addition to the price lookup and other on-line features offered by the 726, such as cheque authorisation, the computer can produce a variety of reports instantly (….)

More users line up for ICL’s New Range:

Low-cost two-chip microprocessor: A two-chip microprocessor which, the manufacturers claim, promises to be the most cost effective such system available, is to be launched next year by Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. Called the F8, and using Fairchild’s isoplanar technology, its minimum configuration comprises a central processor chip and a read-only memory chip, both of which include I/O ports and clock generators to reduce the need for external components (…)

Radar simulator based on PDP11: A radar simulator system, the SY2084, based on Digital Equipment PDP-11 minicomputers has been announced by Solartron-Schlumberger, of Famborough, Hants. Depending or customer requirements, the Solartron equipment is built around any unit of the PDP-11 range, with total system costs ranging from about £50,000 to over £1 million. Current applications for an SY2084 are in air traffic control and marine navigation simulation but, the company claims, potential applications are passenger check-in and baggage handling work.

PDP-8/E aid to Soil Analysis: Soil samples are being analysed automatically for lime requirement, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium at Johnstown Castle Research Centre, Wexford, Ireland, by specially designed equipment under the control of a 4K Digital Equipment PDP-8/E. Liquid extracts of the soils are mixed with reagent and pumped from a sample transporter to linked test-tubes on a sample changer (….)

Air traffic control data handling improved: An attractive alternative to the use of large-scale central computers for data handling and display systems in air traffic control, air defence and other communication and control systems, has been introduced by Marconi Radar Systems, a GEC subsidiary. Called Locus 16, the system makes extensive use of distributed processing in a way which makes even a conventional minicomputer seem inflexible (…)