a proud computing tradition. In 1952, it became the first educational institution to build and own its own computer.ª¥ 

That computer, ILLIAC, was four metres tall, four metres long and sixty cen timetres deep. Its processing speed was about 50 kilohertz compared with 200 meg ahertz-that¡¯s 200,000 kilohertz for today¡¯s computers.ª¥ 

At the state-of-the-art Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technolo gy, researchers from disciplines as far-ranging as psychology, computer science and biochemistry are focusing on biological intelligence and human-computer inte lligence interaction.ª¥ 

Beckman also houses the National Centre for Supercomputing Application (NCS A), which played a key role in the development of the Internet global network. I t was NCSA that developed Mosaic, the graphically driven programme that first ma de surfing on the Internet possible.ª¥ 

Mosaic, introduced in 1992, has been replaced by much more powerful Interne t browsers such as its successor Netscape or Microsoft¡¯s Internet Explorer.ª¥  

NCSA officials say they are now trying to bring more advanced computing and communication to research scientists, engineers and ultimately the public.ª¥ 

¡°What we¡¯re looking for is a national system in which the networks are 10 0 times greater than the Internet today, and the supercomputers are 100 times more powerful,¡± said NCSA Director Larry Smart.ª¥ 

A proposed joint project would develop a prototype or demonstration model f or the ¡°21st century national information infrastructure¡± in line with an init iative announced by President Bill Clinton last October.ª¥ 

If funded by the National Science Foundation, the new structure would take effect on October 1st.ª¥ 

NCSA, one of the four operational federal supercomputer centres in the coun try, is awaiting a decision from the Foundation¡¯s board late this month on a co mpetition for US $ 16 million in continued annual federal fund