Retooling data processing systems

Article Abstract:

Computer technology can be applied to the tasks required by public housing authorities to make their day-to-day operations run much more smoothly, but the nature of the technology has changed considerably in recent years. In the past the primary purchase was computer hardware, which was large and difficult to maintain as well as expensive, and users would buy their software after the hardware. Now the emphasis is on the software, which dictates the hardware to be bought, with the two basic types of software being systems software and applications software, the former communicating with the machine and the latter with the user. The issues to consider when selecting hardware and software are discussed, and a glossary of computer terminology is provided, defining such terms as ROM, RAM, microcomputer, minicomputer, storage devices, monitors and keyboards.

Innovations, Software

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Retooling data systems: overview

Article Abstract:

Electronic data processing systems are more susceptible to change than many other systems likely to be in operation at a public housing authority, with changes relating to the machinery used and to the users of that machinery. The factors that combine to make software difficult to implement include the problems involved in defining the different and often conflicting needs of users, communicating these needs to programmers (if the software cannot be acquired off the shelf), and control of the software, which is made easier by the precision of the equipment. Hardware is much easier to change, with retooling implying only that the existing system does not provide adequate information, provides inaccurate information, or provides untimely information. Ways of implementing the necessary changes to data processing systems are described.

Information management

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Selecting hardware

Article Abstract:

The current state of the computer industry dictates that users acquire a computer system that features a central processing unit (CPU) with multitasking and multiuser capabilities, the former allowing operators to run more than one process at the same workstation, and the latter allowing several operators to share the same computer while working at individual workstations. Users should take into consideration the system's ability to add more random access memory (RAM), more visual display terminals (VDTs), more printers and more hard disk storage when selecting a system. Other considerations include the ability of the system to be upgraded, the language used, the availability of software for the system, maintenance and the time required to run the system.

Computers, Digital computers, Housing management

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