THE COMPUTER -- III

The computer - III 

The Human brain:  

Any computer is just a product of human brain. Substantial progress in several contiguous areas of computing has made it possible for us to use computers in so many areas and in numbers. But, in order that a computer serves the requirements of a specific job, it is imperative to have the right software in place. It is an understatement in the sense that the term “soft ware” is an all-embracing key word. Truly, it refers to all the functions which together constitute an ‘action’. An action may have several steps to be carried out in a sequence. This would require that the computer can ‘prepare’ or ‘process’ the data to yield the final product. The process suggested may involve many mathematical operations. The crux of the issue is the ‘designer’ must have precisely conceived of all the steps in proper sequence and designed the software for a fool-proof operational efficacy. How does a soft ware solution provider grasp these requirements of the user is matter for us to clearly understand. A lot depends on how intimately or pointedly the issue is analyzed for software assembly preparation.  For a number of routine schedules “ready made” software are available. For special situations like manufacturing units, Hospitals dedicated to special treatments of specific ailments, Institutions following definite protocols of operation, Universities catering to a range of items of study through a large number of colleges require “dedicated Software”. This means that a specially -designed software with some scope to “accommodate” for exigencies needs being “developed”. For this, a team of ‘Software providers’ repeatedly interacts with the workers of various wings of the organization through an organized questionnaire. The effort tries to locate the interactive probabilities and identify the prospect of coordinating the input from different sources to arrive at a ‘consolidated picture’ for decision-making. It is a real task, as it involves picking up every minute detail of work, understanding the “weight” to be given to a task, keeping track of the need to telescope the information from the lower end to the top . It is an ideal example of a brilliantly coordinated ‘team work’ irrespective of the size of an organization. As it is, ‘software development’ is a conceptual exercise that tries to ‘understand’ the structure of the work in steps involving transactions of minds and money. Accordingly provision is made for data entry so that the vital information is consolidated for a “ready-to-use” style. The job involves “programming” the task through the special software. Without programming, no computer can “handle” the task. Once programmed, the system can not deviate a bit from the schedule. Therefore, the software should provide for minor deficiencies of the user and still provide the right backup without messing up the data. This is precisely the domain of ‘user-friendliness’ in computers. With my limited capacity I have attempted to suggest how computers are made for definite jobs. Since the whole exercise is a brain-based endeavour, only the best of brains are sought after resulting in intellectual dominance in this domain. There are other attendant social maladies that have come about in the society. I shall look at them at a later point. The computer boom in India started in the eighties. But, way back in the 1960s we have seen a module very similar to a computer in being ‘user-friendly’ and obeying the command.

That was the Juke Box, widely popular in all major restaurants of Cities and towns.

The Juke box:       Though dating back to 1960s, these have indeed been computers in my understanding. They were in use near 47 years ago in places of congregation of youngsters, like the restaurants and snack bars. These were real attractions and as such amplified the sale potential of those places. A juke box would hold some 20 grama phone records of popular hit songs of the season whose list is available. Each item can be played by touching a button after inserting a 25 paisa coin. Any number of persons may opt to hear songs by the activation of respective buttons. The instrument would play the songs in the sequence in which they were commanded. A 25 paisa command is valid for playing only one surface of the record. Songs held on 2 sides can be heard by 2 insertions of 25 paisa coin. It was a real ingenuity of keeping customers. They customers would legitimize their ‘stay’ by ordering a second course of coffee or snacks, while waiting to listen to songs. The instrument had such a reliability that people unhesitatingly inserted coin after coin even up to 1 rupee in a session. To make matters clear, in those days, A-class carpenters were paid Rs 1.25 to 1.50 per day of work. My point here is a Juke box was as much a computer accepting orders and executing them in sequence if payment has been made. The system had a memory of retaining at least 20 requests in correct sequence,

to continue     Prof. .K. Raman