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The initial data obtained from the Air Force established the file on each member.
In the beginning, these and subsequent routine examinations and electrocardiograms
were filed, but in 1960, in order to facilitate orderly assembly, and later analysis
of electrocardiographic data, a coding system similar to the Minnesota Code was used
to identify 56 items from each electrocardiogram.
Clinical data as well as dates of contact of the members were kept on a complex card
file with different colours used to indicate whether the file was complete, or waiting
further information.
Data coding systems were developed to take advantage of computer processing. In the
early 1960s, the data was entered through punch cards, and utilizing the IBM 360
computer at The Great-West Life Assurance Company. By the 1970s, a main frame Amdahl
computer at the University of Manitoba was used, and data could be transferred from
the Medical School, stored on magnetic tape at the University, and on command
could be reassembled, analyzed and transmitted back to the Medical School.
All data is now stored on personal computers facilitating storage, analysis, and reporting.
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