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Microcomputer and Local Government Donald F University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Publications Archives, 1963-2000 Center for Public Affairs Research 1986 MicroComputer and Local Government Donald F. Norris University of Nebraska at Omaha Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cparpubarchives Part of the Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, and the Public Affairs Commons Recommended Citation Norris, Donald F., "MicroComputer and Local Government" (1986). Publications Archives, 1963-2000. 280. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cparpubarchives/280 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Public Affairs Research at DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications Archives, 1963-2000 by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. J:q Contents Page PREFACE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................ 5 Microcomputers and Local Governments •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 6 Purposes of This Book ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 CHAPTER II-- DATA PROCESSING AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ••••••••••••• ll Uses of Information •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• l3 Evolution of Computer Technology ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• l6 Functions of a Computer •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• l7 CHAPTER III-- MICROCOMPUTER HARDWARE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Zl The Computer System •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 21 Memory and Processing Power••••••••••••••••••••••••o•••••••••••••••22 Peripheral Devices•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••28 Configuring a System ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 35 CHAPTER IV-- MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••37 Operating Systems •••••••• o •••• o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 37 Application Software. o •••••• o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 39 Local Government Applications ••••• o••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••56 Software Evaluation •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 60 Languages and Programming.o••o•o••••••••••••••••o••••••••••••••••••66 Processing Modes ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 69 CHAPTER V -- COMMUNICATION ••••••• o•••••••••o••••••••o••••••••••••••••72 Micro-to-Mainframe Communication ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 72 Micro-to-Micro Communication ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 76 Electronic Messaging and Remote Databases •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 82 CHAPTER VI-- PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES ••••••• , ••••••••••••••••••••• o ••• 87 Procurement Steps •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 7 Microcomputer Sales and Support ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• l09 Where to Get Help ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o .114 CHAPTER VII-- ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 117 Hardware ExpandabilitY••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••117 Hardware Compatibility •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••118 Software Adaptability and Transportability •••••••••••••••••••••••120 Documentation ...................................................... 121 Training ........................ o .................................... 122 Computerphobia and User Frustration•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••l24 Physical Complaints ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 125 Functional Limitations ............................................. l26 Technological Change ............................................... 130 Policies on Micros ••••••••••••• o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 131 CHAPTER VIII-- MICROCOMPUTER IMPACTS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• l33 Who Uses Micros? ••••••••••••••••••••••••• , •••••••••••••••••••••••• 135 Extent of Use ...................................................... 137 Impacts •••••• , ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ,.,,., •••• ,., •• , ••• 138 Conclusion ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• , •• , .......... 149 Footnotes ............................................................. 15 4 Appendix ••••• ,,.,, .............................. , ••••••••••••• ,., •••• 160 1 PREFACE By the time this book is printed some of its contents will be out-of- date. Obsolescence quickly overcomes anything written about Cechnical aspects of microcomputing, such as memory and storage capacities, processing speed, operating system capabilities, communication, and peripherals. About the best an author can do is to report accurately on the technology that is available at the time a manuscript is completed and to acknowledge that change is the great constant in the world of microcomputers. Micros that enter the marketplace next year, or even next week, undoubtedly will be smaller, more powerful, and less expensive relative to their processing power. The nontechnical, or management aspects of this book, however, possess a greater timelessness. This is not to say that management concepts and practices remain unchanged over time, rather, they change more slowly. In particular, the concept that microcomputers should be used to provide information for management purposes is as valid today as when it was first written. Based on what I have observed in my research, the procurement guidelines provided in this book are also valid and are likely to remain so for some time to come. What is new about this edition compared with the handbook written in 1984?* The chapter on hardware has been updated, as of spring 1986. The chapter on software has been expanded considerably to incorporate changes that have occurred in the ·industry during the past two years, to provide brief explanations of the types of software available, to show how off-the-shelf software and packaged programming can be useful to local governments, and to *nonald F. Norris, Microcomputers and Local Government: A Handbook (Omaha, NE: Center for Applied Urban Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1984). 2 provide some guidance on what to look for in a good software package. The chapter on issues has been revised somewhat and expanded to address the issues of computerphobia, user frustration, and physical complaints associated with computer use. Two new chapters have been added. Chapter V addresses data communication--among micros, micros to larger systems, micros to external databases, local area networks, and hardware and software requirements for ]TIL I communication. Chapter ..ll.l-I addresses the effects of microcomputers on work, people, and governmental organizations and is based on recent field research conducted by the author and others. The final change is that documents that were included in the Appendix of the original handbook have been modified, updated, and included in the chapters of this text (for example, specifications for microcomputers), or they have been deleted because of limited shelf-life (for example, the table of microcomputer hardware) or because publication is being undertaken separately (for example, the list of microcomputer software). Unlike the original handbook, this volume is not designed specifically for use in training workshops, although it could be so employed. Rather, it is a stand-alone book for governmental employees, especially managers who have limited knowledge about microcomputers but who are responsible for acquiring, implementing, and using microcomputers or who just want to make sense out of the organization's information management activities and technologies. The information presented on the following pages should help readers navigate safely the sometimes choppy waters of computing and information management. Donald F. Norris Omaha, Nebraska May 1986 2 provide some guidance on what to look for in a good software package. The chapter on issues has been revised somewhat and expanded to address the issues of computerphobia, user frustration, and physical complaints associated with computer use. Two new chapters have been added. Chapter V addresses data communication--among micros, micros to larger systems, micros to external databases, local area networks,.wr and hardware and software requirements for I communication. Chapter '..Jll.l addresses the effects of microcomputers on work, people, and governmental organizations and is based on recent field research conducted by the author and others. The final change is that documents that were included in the Appendix of the original handbook have been modified, updated, and included in the chapters of this text (for example, specifications for microcomputers), or they have been deleted because of limited shelf-life (for example, the table of microcomputer hardware) or because publication is being undertaken separately (for example, the list of microcomputer software). Unlike the original handbook, this volume is not designed specifically for use in training workshops, although it could be so employed. Rather, it is a stand-alone book for governmental employees, especially managers who have limited knowledge about microcomputers but who are responsible for acquiring, implementing, and using microcomputers or who just want to make sense out of the organization's information management activities and technologies. The information presented on the following pages should help readers navigate safely the sometimes choppy waters of computing and information management. Donald F. Norris Omaha, Nebraska May 1986 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Revision of the handbook I developed in 1984, into the present
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