JUL 13 1071
NOTES

ACME Subcommittee Meeting
ew June 25, 1971
Conference Room SOM7
Medical Center

Present: Joshua Lederberg, Ron Jamtgaard, Plliott Levinthal, Byron
Brown, Cindy Miller

This meeting of the Subcommittee was not held for the usual purpose of
reviewing specific user requests for non funded use of ACME. Father it

was held to discuss a potential series of rate changes for ACMZ service.
During the past week Ron Jamtgacrd met with several users of ACME and
collected opinions from them on a potential rate increase. Before a

review of these opinions began, there was some discussion about the possi-
bility of transferring ACME users to the Campus Facility. Differences in
cost for the user between ACME and Campus Facility depend on several factors --
how much core the user needs, how many cycles he needs, how large his program
is and how complex, ete. In other words, depending on these things, it may
be cheaper to use ACME or it may be cheaper to use the Campus Facility. The
user is faced with more "sit" time on ACME, but he has a more convenient

file system and real time services are available; whereas on the Campus
Facility the user has available to him more cycles but no real time services
are available.

Professor lederberg pointed out that if operating costs for an interactive
PL-based language were 1/5 of ACME's cost when put under ORVYL, we could not
afford not to change over to the Campus Facility. However, we cannot deter-
mine the relative costs until completion of several studies which are under-
way at the present time. The discussion of the feasibility of transferring
ACME users to the Campus Facility ended at this time.

The Subcommittee looked over the users' opinions on the possibility of a
rate increase and made several comments on them. Although the majority of
the users interviewed seemed favorable about a future rate increase, Prof.
Lederberg felt that a rate increase could not be decided on based on these
Opinions. The several users’ comments were understandably subjective, and
it was decided that more empirical and objective data was needed (from Lee
Hundley's study and Regina Frey's study) before a final decision concerning
arate increase could be made,

The problem of whether or not to inform the users about a possible future
rate increase was then brought up. There were pros and cons about this
matter, One reason for informing all the users would be to protect those
applying for grants. If this group of users is not informed of the possible
rate increase right now, they may not provide for computer funds in their
grant request. Since it takes six to twelve months for a grant request to
be reviewed and approved, the user would have to know now about the rate
increase. However, Prof. Lederberg was of the opinion that only those

users who are free users of ACME now should be informed at this time.
Elliott Levinthal suggested that we tell the users that ACME will be inves-
tigating new ways of making ACME more attractive in the future while at the
same time making it a self-sufficient facility. In this manner we would not
be directly announcing a rate increase and would not be committing ACM™ to
any specific plan; yet we would be letting the user community know that
there would be changes occurring at ACME.

A short discussion of these changes then took place. There was a question
of whether or not to maintain ACME's 360/50 computer or to change to a
newer model. Prof. lederbery suggested the possibility of obtaining a
newer type of bulk core and keeping the 360/50 model. Kon Jamtgaard is
looking into this possibility to see what the cost difference would be,
The goal is obviously to discover hardware and software which will make
ACME more reliable and efficient and at the same time will decrease
operating costs and costs for the user.

The meeting ended with Prof. Lederberg suggesting two directions in which
ACME might best strive for and be best suited for -- the possibility of
changing to an Information System facility for the hospital and the
possibility of merging with the Hospital ADP group. Of course many
people would like ACME to remain as it always has, but these possibilities
must be considered if ACME has to face the absence of direct NTH support
in the future.

Cindy Miller
July 8, 1971