A generalized scientific information system

Information which is used for computation by any investigator in a quantitative branch of science may be broadly classified as numerical and nonnumeric. In a handbook, numeric information is typically given in the form of tables or graphs. Nonnumeric information corresponds to the physical laws that hold in that branch of science. The physical laws are given in the form of functions or expressions. The user selects, from the handbook, information appropriate to the problem and manipulates the information using suitable tools (e.g. numeric, algebraic, heuristic). The Scientific Information System (SIS) is a terminal oriented system that allows users facilities to retrieve information in the form of data or formulae and manipulate it. In this way, SIS gives the facility of using a handbook and also permits the user to solve problems using numeric and symbolic manipulation techniques. (orig.)