S.I. knowledge store urged

Press, 10 September 1985, Page 26

S.I. knowledge store urged

An international computer “repository of knowledge” should be established, and based in the South Island, according to Mr Gordon Hogg, general manager of Databank Systems, Ltd.

Mr Hogg made the comments in a speech delivered at a nuclear-free zone conference in Wellington last month.

“Let us provide a back-up fall-out shelter for all the knowledge of mankind,” Mr Hogg urged.

The chances were that noone would be so ruthless as to wantonly destroy all civilization’s accumulated wisdom, he said. If this knowledge was held in one place, with reasonable certainty of survival, it would probably be avoided as an intentional target — particularly if the wisdom was clearly multinational and without bias.

“This appeals to me as a far better armoury for New Zealand, if not mankind, than conventional or nuclear weaponry,” said Mr Hogg. Such a repository, if established in New Zealand, would be best located in the South Island, for reasons of topographical protection, proximity of renewable en-

ergy resources and geological stability. New Zealanders would be joined in the support base by experts from all overseas countries: “Colleagues of nations.”

The environment of concern, which the repository might provide, could be a powerful catalyst for new levels of understanding through multinational intellects pursuing one common objective — the survival of mankind, Mr Hogg said. He suggested the repository project could develop from the Pacific Information Network System (P.1.N.5.) concept, which had

received wide support, notably from the Pacific Basin Economic Council (P.8.E.C.) and Japan. The P.I.N.S. concept would use computer technology to provide standardised and linked databases of information, with back-up facilities located in New Zealand.

Developing a repository of knowledge would involve a huge task of accumulation, beginning with material in existing on-line databases. These databases were widely used, and would become more so as they became easier .to use and were enhanced by artificial intelligence techniques. Like all good computerised systems they had local back-up to guard against reasonable risks, but they were seldom protected from possible annihilation. “No-one normally thinks in that perspective,” said Mr Hogg. “But what a tragedy it would be if, in the event of minimal survival, there was nothing to learn from, and the human species had to start all over again,” he observed. To ensure a record of human achievement survived, the geographical

selection and safety of a repository site would be paramount. Given that the most likely nuclear holocaust was likely to happeen mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, certain areas in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly New Zealaand, had a good chance of limited survival.

Computer and communications technologies, and data base design were already sufficiently advanced for a repository project to begin. “So let’s start now, and phase in new equipment and new ideas as they evolve.”

As the repository concept would require large international investment in technology, New Zealand would have to demonstrate competence in database management and telecommunications.

“I believe we can do this,” Mr Hogg said.

“The Post Office is internationally regarded in the field of advanced telecommunications, while Databank Systems and the Wanganui Law Enforcement Computer Centre have also earned enviable international reputations in the management of large secure databases.”

Mr Hogg considered New Zealand had an excellent education system which could be geared to support the concept. “Many of our graduates who seek overseas challenge could be encouraged to stay if they were to assist in the guardianship processes implicit in the repository,” he said.

Political trust would also be required. “Probably because of its size, New Zealand is generally trusted internationally,” Mr Hogg said. “We are regarded as people of stability and integrity. In much the same way as the Swiss have been accepted as a repository of wealth, we could be accepted as responsible guardians of knowledge.”

To achieve such a goal it would be necessary to minimise or eliminate any elements of international controversy as a nation, and to achieve an impeccable level of internal stability. Before the concept could be promoted internationally, acceptance from the New Zealand Government would be necessary. Current policies with regard to varying international reltationships would have to be re-ex-amined.

Hewlett-Packard has released an enhanced version of its lap computer which includes a full 25-line by 80character LCD screen. The Hewlett-Packard

Portable Plus computer (above) does not need a disc drive. Popular MS-DOS programs such as Lotus 1-2-3 and Word are available for the machine as plug-in readonly memory cartridges.

The $6435 Portable Plus comes with 192 K bytes of random access memory, which is expandable to 896 K bytes. It weighs less than skg and has a full-size keyboard.

When not attached to the optional disc drive, the Portable Plus uses a bat-tery-powered area of random access memory to emulate a disc drive so that the user’s data can be safely

stored while the computer is not in use. The main batteries of the Portable Plus will run the computer for up two weeks between charges.