Microtape: Its Features and Applications

This document, originally presented at the 1963 DECUS meeting, provides a comprehensive overview of the Microtape system. It details the hardware architecture of the Type 555 Dual Microtape Transport and the Type 550 Microtape Control. The paper covers the Manchester-type polarity sensing recording technique, the use of pre-recorded mark and timing tracks for block/word addressability, and the system's bi-directional capabilities. It also discusses the three main programmed modes of operation ('Search,' 'Read,' and 'Write'), available programmed subroutines for PDP-1 and PDP-4 systems, and potential applications for data storage and on-line systems. Finally, the appendices provide detailed instruction lists, operation charts, and technical specifications.