Datalantic
Encyclopedia
Datalantic was an electronic typesetting
company originally located in Atlanta, Georgia. The company relocated to Stuart, Florida some time after 1983. The company was sold in 1992 at which time it effectively ceased to exist. (Note that the company's name left out the first t in Atlantic.)
The company played a role in two important facets of American history. In 1981 Datalantic was contracted by Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund (VVMF), to collate, re-case and ultimately typeset the original set of 58,159 names that appear on the United States National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Such a typesetting project was no small feat given the technology that existed in 1981. Datalantic had a Computer Automation
mini-computer with what, at the time, was considered a very large 80 megabyte
hard disk. The mini-computer was connected to an Alphatype CRS
typesetting device. The data was supplied by the Department of Defense
on a 9 track tape. Datalantic wrote custom software to facilitate the process. The software was written using the BASIC
programming language. The process included reconstructing data to the specifications, adding typesetting commands making all the names cap size and sorting by date of casualty within a line and alphabetizing at the same time. The names were printed and sent the Gold Star Mothers for proofing. Finally, the panels were typeset and sent to Tennessee for sand blasting.
The company was also responsible for the development of a Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) database relating to the breakup of AT&T
.
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
company originally located in Atlanta, Georgia. The company relocated to Stuart, Florida some time after 1983. The company was sold in 1992 at which time it effectively ceased to exist. (Note that the company's name left out the first t in Atlantic.)
The company played a role in two important facets of American history. In 1981 Datalantic was contracted by Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund (VVMF), to collate, re-case and ultimately typeset the original set of 58,159 names that appear on the United States National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Such a typesetting project was no small feat given the technology that existed in 1981. Datalantic had a Computer Automation
Computer Automation
Computer Automation Inc. was a computer manufacturer founded by David H Methvin in 1968, based originally in Irvine, California, USA.In 1981 they moved to Boulder, Colorado, and in 1985 moved back to Irvine, California...
mini-computer with what, at the time, was considered a very large 80 megabyte
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
hard disk. The mini-computer was connected to an Alphatype CRS
CRS
-Science and technology:* Cambridge Reference Sequence, used in mitochondrial DNA testing* Canada Remote Systems, a now-defunct bulletin board system based in Toronto* Carrier Routing System, a large-scale core router...
typesetting device. The data was supplied by the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
on a 9 track tape. Datalantic wrote custom software to facilitate the process. The software was written using the BASIC
BASIC
BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....
programming language. The process included reconstructing data to the specifications, adding typesetting commands making all the names cap size and sorting by date of casualty within a line and alphabetizing at the same time. The names were printed and sent the Gold Star Mothers for proofing. Finally, the panels were typeset and sent to Tennessee for sand blasting.
The company was also responsible for the development of a Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) database relating to the breakup of AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
.