UNITED NATIONS General Assembly Thirty-eighth session FIFTH COfiU'i'TEE Agenda i tern 10 9 Distr. GENERAL A/C.S/38/79 2 December 1983 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH PROPOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 1984-1985 Revised estimates under section 281, General Services, Geneva, 29B, Conference Services Division, Geneva and 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance of premises Technological innovations in the production of the publications and documentation of the United Nations Report of the Secretary:General 1. The overall plan for the introduction of word-processing equipment in the documentation chain envisaged an initial introduction at Headquarters in 1978, followed then by Geneva in 197 9. y For reasons that have been reported, the introduction at Headquarters was delayed. y The conversion of the Spanish Typing Unit to word proc~ssing was completed in 1981 and the English and French Units in 1982. 2. The cost-benefit advantages of word processing were anticipated under the following headings: (a) _Increased productivity in the typing operation, (b) savings on paper supplies in the reproduction process, and (c) Further applications based on electronically stored data. Although the full benefits of conversion at Headquarters have yet to be achieved, it can be stated that the conversion is demonstrably cost-effective, as well as being a technical success. The current situation is summarized below: A 83-33542 1205c (E) / ... A/C.5/38/79 English Page 2 (a) Productivity savings: As indicated in paragraph 29.28 and table 29.26 in the Proposed Programme Budget for the Biennium 1984-1985, ~ the staffing table of the English, French and Spanish units has been reduced through attrition by twelve posts and the number of additional temporary staff required during the General Assembly has also been reduced by twelve. The resultant savings in salaries, common staff costs and temporary assistance have been sufficient to cover full cost 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the budget and implementation of word-processing technology within the United Nations organization, focusing on the benefits of cost-effectiveness and increased productivity in the documentation chain. The context suggests that this is an administrative and technical aspect of the organization's operations, rather than a specific program or initiative related to a particular field or sector.

**Category**
Transport and communication, Science and technology