ABSTRACT
The distributed computing concept is an extension of networking technology in which a large number of processing tasks, rather than being forwarded electronically to a large-capacity processing resource, as is the case with most networks in operation, are processed at the end user location. Distributed systems offer advantages and disadvantages to the academic user. Considered in an academic environment, the advantages can be grouped into three areas for discussion: reaction to user needs with subheadings of capability and flexibility, resource utilization, and systems design. The hardware-software interface is simple and the end user needs only a small amount of systems knowledge to effectively use the total system. A change to provision of computer resources via distributed systems would necessitate a change in the organizational structure of computing on many campuses. A move to distributed systems may force a thorough airing of pricing algorithms and a change in institutional funding patterns for computing.
