[Music plays]
(Narrator) From one end of Australia to the other,
people are engaged in a multitude of activities
which have one thing in common, they are all made easier,
faster, or less costly, through the use of computers.
[Typing on keyboard]
But rapid advances in computing technology
are making decisions about the use of computers more difficult.
The provision of reliable, high quality computing services
has therefore become of crucial importance to Australia.
[Music plays]
For over 20 years CSIRO has been providing advanced
and general purpose computing services
for its own scientists, and for other government funded institutions.
[Music plays]
Now it has created an independent commercial enterprise,
offering its services to a wider range of potential clients.
Now, industry, government bodies, universities and colleges,
can take advantage of the unique combination of facilities
and services offered by CSIRONET,
CSIRO's Australia wide computing network.
[Music plays]
CSIRONET's impressive range of computing hardware
now includes the giant Cyber205.
Australia's first super computer, the 205 has significantly boosted
the country's capability in numerically intensive computing.
Other computers will continue to be used in addition to the 205,
to provide a variety of computing functions.
[Music plays]
CSIRONET clients have 24 hour access to a wide range of public databases,
some of them developed by CSIRO.
[Music plays]
In addition, clients can have exclusive access
to their own databases through CSIRONET.
[Music plays]
Worldwide links mean that CSIRONET clients
can hook into the network from overseas,
or into overseas computers from Australia.
[Music plays]
The challenge in computing is often the conversion of raw data
into meaningful information.
The marketing consultancy EPASCO uses the colour view system
to interpret a range of census data.
(Young man) Is there any particular age you're interested in?
(Older man) Yes, 55.
(Young man) OK. I'll stop it at 55.
(Narrator) The system was developed jointly by CSIRONET, EPASCO,
and Techway Proprietary Limited.
EPASCO's clients can add their own data to the system
to suit particular needs. In this case
they are deciding on the best location for automatic telling machines.
Joint development projects are part of CSIRONET's aim
of providing its considerable expertise to help its clients
reap the full benefits of up to date computing technology.
For industry, that means staying ahead of the competition.
For research organisations and government bodies,
it means more efficient and effective operation.
To handle the huge volume of data it gathers for the fishing industry,
Victoria's Marine Science Laboratories have
relied for many years on CSIRONET's powerful computers.
The laboratories have installed their own node at Queenscliff.
The scientists can also access CSIRONET
using acoustic couplers from their city offices,
or from the network's regional office in Melbourne.
The Marine Science Laboratories have their own computing hardware,
which they use in conjunction with CSIRONET facilities.
Certain tasks are more cheaply managed offline,
once the processed data has been retrieved from CSIRONET.
Clients computing needs are often best met through the integrated
use of the client's own facilities and those of CSIRONET.
CSIRONET has its own range of peripherals available to clients
including plotters,
a graphic design work station,
and high speed laser printing.
Information can also be presented on microfiche for convenient storage,
film for effective presentation, or bromide paper for publication.
The Australian Bureau of Flora and Fauna is using this last facility
to publish the results of the Australian Biological Resources Study.
The study of the flora alone will occupy over 50 volumes
by the time it's completed next Century.
The massive amount of complex information is collected,
then entered directly into CSIRONET.
Software on CSIRONET typesets it,
producing bromides ready for offset printing.
This process is quicker, cheaper, and results in fewer errors.
CSIRONET also has an image processing laboratory,
providing services such as enhancement and restoration of images,
and satellite image processing.
[Music plays]
Linking graphics with large scale finite element analysis
on the CSIRONET computers is helping the Snowy Mountains
Engineering Corporation to predict the effects of
earthquakes on structures such as dam walls and towers.
[Music plays]
The behaviour of water released from a broken dam
can also be forecast in this way.
The introduction of the Cyber205
means more economical processing of the raw data
and production of the graphics.
As a national resource CSIRONET is yet to be fully exploited.
Its extensive facilities and vast network
are backed up by a telephone advisory service.
[woman talking on phone]
A computing library which is probably the best in Australia,
user group meetings and workshops,
and on-site consultation for clients whenever needed.
CSIRONET may be able to cost effectively meet
your computing requirements;
or we could help you to integrate the use of your facilities and ours;
or perhaps you can develop special software
or systems in collaboration with us.
CSIRONET is Australia's largest computing network.
Our aim is to provide you with state of the art computing services.