Encoding verbal information as unique numbers
W. D. Hagamen, D. J. Linden, H. S. Long, J. C. Weber · IBM Systems Journal · 1972
The technique of encoding verbal information as unique numbers arose from the authors' need for the capability to store and process large quantities of data in a 32K APL workspace. The algorithms, programmed in APL\360, support several levels or hierarchies of encoding and decoding where associated with each level is its alphabet or wordlist. The first level results in the representation of words as single numbers. Higher levels provide single numbers which can represent phrases, sentences, or paragraphs. Because the encoding process has no finite limit, the implication is that very large quantities of information, such as the amount contained in books or data files, can be represented as single numbers. Perhaps one of the greatest implications for the future is the concept of data compaction where main storage, peripheral storage, and data transmission are optimized.