The 4th Dimension In Data Processing

By Casey Luczak

In recent years, data processing has become more than a luxury exclusively for large municipalities.

Today, in addition to having work performed by outside service bureaus, the minicomputer has arrived on the scene and immediately surfaced as a bright opportunity area to offer progressive municipalities a means of internal automated control.

Minicomputers are neither new nor novel! They are established, proven and flexible computing devices that offer practical cost-effective data processing for an almost unlimited array of applications.

For some municipalities, service bureaus will always be the sensible, practical way to utilize automation cost effectively. For others, service bureaus are an interim step, and as growth warrants, in-house equipment becomes inevitable. For still others, in-house equipment is the only immediate practical solution.

Whatever the method, the fact remains that minicomputers have been grossly under-utilized, inefficiently programmed, and sloppily operated. Yet, they seem to succeed in spite of the ineptness of their developers and operators.

Recently, I attended the Chicago Business Exposition and the Chicago version of the Computer Caravan.

Of the several hundred booths on display, it was quite apparent that the majority of exhibitors were showing a various assortment of minicomputers that did everything but eat and sleep.

It takes no genius to conclude that it is impossible for all these suppliers to survive in a marketplace in which the supply will far exceed the demand.

At this point in time, no crystal ball can reveal who will and who won't make it. Since most of the suppliers all have "other lines" it doesn't really matter, since the only ones who will suffer will be the end users.

The problems of making a wrong computer hardware decision, can best be answered by those who, some time ago, selected RCA and Singer equipments.

Also, as I walked about both auditoriums quizzing the exhibitors, another thing became quite obvious. The biggest problem with all the available hardware is software. Ninety-five percent of those exhibiting hardware offered some basic software for a buyer but all the programming was done by subcontractors.

What this means to a municipality is that the "package software" is general in nature and will need to be modified to meet specific needs.

If service bureaus have pitfalls and minicomputers have software problems, what is the real solution to meeting the data processing needs of a municipality.

Enter the FOURTH DIMENSION IN MUNICIPAL DATA PROCESSING!!

Both specialized service bureaus and minicomputers are necessary spokes on the "automation wheel." Service bureaus who specialize in municipal data processing work are constantly enhancing, upgrading and providing ongoing service with proven, practical software.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 31 January/February, 1978

Beginning in a batch environment (first dimension), work is handled via pick-up and delivery on a scheduled basis. From here, a municipality can add a terminal (second dimension) of its own choosing. This allows the municipality to retain all source documents on premise and use existing personnel to enter data. This is a relatively simple procedure and generally a typing background is all that is required to operate the equipment. This data would be transmitted over a local telephone line to the computer center where it would be collected and processed. Then all reports would be delivered on a scheduled basis.

In time, a printer could be added to the terminal(s) (third dimension), and now data would be collected, processed, and transmitted back to the municipality by the data center in a complete telecommunications environment.

The fourth dimension would be for the municipality to add memory, core and any pertinent peripherals to constitute a complete in-house minicomputer system.

In this final environment, the service bureau would sell its proven software to the municipality at a far lesser cost than it could ever be developed.

Thus, the municipality "walks before it runs" in data processing, determines its needs, and ends-up, not only with sophisticated hardware, but proven software than has been utilized, modified and personalized as required.

For those municipalities who prefer to "run" immediately with in-house equipment, service bureaus who specialize in municipal accounting work can offer proven software, and a continuing maintenance capability, from day one!

The fourth dimension appears to be the ultimate in automated municipal accounting work!

(Editor's note: Casey Luczak is on the staff of Anderson Information and Management Systems.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 33 January/February, 1978