00399753

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Microprocessors, combined with communications advances, have created expectations of computer systems that might revolutionize transit. High-tech enthusiasts point to the increasingly complex roles microcomputers are playing in transit in several other countries as indication of their future role in American transit. This technology would provide individual users with extensive capabilities in a truly distributed processing environment. Realists point to the inability of hardware and software producers to establish and abide by standards needed for such sophistricated systems. In existing mainframe-oriented transit data centers, microcomputer technology is raising problems of data security and integrity. Microcomputers and accompanying decentralization of data handling necessitates rethinking of the concepts of a transit management information system. That powerful but inexpensive microcomputer technology is progressing slowly in transit is due to a lack of emphasis on it by government. Much of the hardware and software is not transit specific. There is real difficulty in determining which technology will have a positive influence and which can negatively affect transit's effort to improve service and lower costs. In the discussion, participants reviewed the current state of microcomputer technology, rating it according to its usefulness to transit and stage of development. Among needs are standardization, better training, and automated data collection. There is need for specialized microcomputers tooled specifically for transit data processing, for application of other advanced technology to data collection and transmission, and need for standardization. Possibly transit-oriented hardware and software costs might be lowered by taking advantage of export markets as well as expanding domestic applications.

00399749

p. 26-35

1985-7

Tables (1)

Data collection; Information processing; Microcomputers; Microprocessors; Software; Standardization; Training

Administration and Management; Education and Training; Public Transportation

TRIS, TRB, USDOT

Oct 31 1985 12:00AM

• PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT: AND DIRECTIONS, AIRLIE HOUSE, VIRGINIA, 4-6, 1984. OPENING COMMENTS
• PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT: ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS, AIRLIE HOUSE, NOVEMBER 4-6, 1984. SUPORT FOR MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT
• PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT: ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS, AIRLIE HOUSE, VIRGINIA, NOVEMBER 4-6, 1984. IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
• PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT: ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS, AIRLIE HOUSE, VIRGINIA, NOVEMBER 4-6, 1984. LARGE TRANSIT SYSTEMS: BENEFTIS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MICROCOMPUTERS
• PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT: ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS, AIRLIE HOUSE, VIRGINIA, NOVEMBER 4-6, 1984. SMALL TRANSIT SYSTEMS: BENEFITS ADD IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
• PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT: ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS, AIRLIE HOUSE, VIRGINIA, NOVEMBER 4-6, 1984. SPECIAL PRESENTATION: MICROCOMPUTER TOOLS AND POWERFUL IDEAS
• PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSIT: ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS, AIRLIE HOUSE, VIRGINIA, NOVEMBER 4-6. 1984. SOFTWARE ISSUES