Fifty Years Ago .... from the pages of Computer Weekly

25th July 1974 computing, compiled by TNMOC volunteer archivist, Brian Aldous.

A selection of stories from Computer Weekly from 25th July 1974. The full archive of Computer Weekly can be seen at TNMOC, where there are special rolling displays of front pages from 25 and 40 years ago.

Micro16V base system to help fight diseases: A nine-year project undertaken by Dr Ken Bagshaw, head of the Oncology Department at Charing Cross Hospital, London, has resulted in a minicomputer-based system, the ramifications of which should have a profound effect on the treatment of malignant diseases. Developed jointly with minicomputer manufacturer, Digico of Stevenage, Herts, the on-line automated radioimmunoassay analytical system, known as Darias, is based on a Micro 16V processor with 16K store. Radioimmunoassay is a special technique for the precise measurement of specific substances such as hormones, tumour antigens and drugs which are found in minute concentrations in biological fluids such as blood and urine. The technique involves adding radioactive labelled antibodies to samples of such fluids, successive dilutions of the solutions and measurement using a radioactivity sensor. Both the input and dilution unit, and the radioactivity sensor device are under the direct control of the Micro 16V. Once samples have been diluted, they are filtered onto a special flexible plastic tape, the assay tape. This is then placed in the sensor device which executes a counting function in conjunction with a paper tape produced at the sample insertion of the assay. (CW 403 25/7/1974 p2)