Computers and People Formerly Computers and Automation
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--=-__7 SClFNCE & TECH_Oct February, 1974 Vol. 23, No. 2 computers and people formerly Computers and Automation "COMPUTER TAPESTRY - DETAIL" Top Level Control of Data Processing Edward L. Hennessy, Jr. Automated Recycling Stephen D. Senturia What to do BEFORE Your Computer Blows Up! E. G. Jancura and J. A. Drefs How Congress Uses the Computer Robert D. Schlappe Technology as a Social Force and Ethical Problem Charles Susskind The Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. - Part 1 Wayne Chastain INVENTORY OF THE 36 ISSUES OF - TITLES AND SUMMARIES THE NOTEBOOK ON COMMON SENSE, FIRST YEAR VOLUME 1 VOLUME 2 1. Right Answers - A Short Guide to Obtaining Them 31. Adding Years to your Life Through Common Sense A collection of 82 principles and maxims. Example: A person who desires to live long and stay well needs "The moment you have worked out an answer, start to understand some 20 principles, including how to checking it - it probably isn't right." test all the health advice he receives for its common 2. The Empty Column sense, and how to develop habits of health practices A parable about a symbol for zero, and the failure to recognize the value of a good idea. which fit him. 3. The Golden Trumpets of Yap Yap 32. The Number of Answers to a Problem 4. Strategy in Chess Problems may have many answers, one answer, or no 5. The Barrels and the Elephant answer ... and answers that are good at one time may A discussion of truth vs. believability. be bad at another. 6. The Argument of the Beard 33. "Stupidity has a Knack of Getting Its Way" The accumulation of many small differences may " ... as we should see if we were not always so much make a huge difference. wrapped up in ourselves." 7. The Elephant and the Grassy Hillside - Albert Camus The concepts of the ordinary everyday world vs. 34. Time, Sense, and Wisdom - Some Notes the pointer readings of exact science. The supply of time, the quantity of time, the kinds of 8. Ground Rules for Arguments time, and the conversion of time.... A great deal of 9. False Premises, Valid Reasoning, and True Conclusions The fallacy of asserting that the premises must first the time in a man's life is regularly, systematically, and be correct in order that correct conclusions be irretrievably wasted. This is a serious mistake. derived. 35. Time, Sense, and Wisdom - Some Proverbs and Maxims 10. The Investigation of Common Sense 56 quotations and remarks by dozens of great men. 11. Principles of General Science and Proverbs 36. Wisdom - An Operational Definition 8 principles and 42 proverbs. "A wise person takes things as they are and, knowing 12. Common Sense - Questions for Consideration the conditions, proceeds to deal with them in such a 13. Falling 1800 Feet Down a Mountain manner as to achieve the desired result." The story of a skimobiler who fell 1/3 of a mile - Somerset Maugham down Mt. Washington, N.H., and was rescued the EXCITING: Q: Is the Notebook exciting? next day; and how he used his common sense and A: Some of the issues, like "Falling 1800 Feet Down a survived. Mountain" and "Doomsday in St. Pierre, Martinique", 14. The Cult of the Expert 15. Preventing Mistakes from Failure to Understand are among the most exciting true stories we know. Even though you do not understand the cause of USEFUL: Q: Is the Notebook useful? some trouble, you may still be able to deal with A: It ought to be useful to anybody - as useful as it. The famous example of a cure for malaria. common sense. There exists no textbook on common 16. The Stage of Maturity and Judgement sense; the Notebook tries to be a good beginning to 17. Doomsday in St. Pierre, Martinique - Common Sense common sense, science, and wisdom. vs. Catastrophe PAST ISSUES: As a new subscriber, you do not miss past is How 30,000 people refusing to apply their common sues. Every subscriber's subscription starts at Vol. 1, no. sense died from a volcanic eruption. 1, and he eventually receives all issues. The past issues 18. The History of the Doasyoulikes are sent to him usually four at a time, every week or 19. Individuality in Human Beings two, until he has caught up, and thus he does not miss Their chemical natures are as widely varied as important and interesting issues that never go out of date. their external features. 20. How to be Silly GUARANTEE: (1) You may return (in 7 days) the first batch 71 recipes for being silly. Example: "Use twenty of issues we send you, for FULL REFUND, if not satis words to say something when two will do." factory. (2) Thereafter, you may cancel at any time, and 21. The Three Earthworms you will receive a refund for the unmailed portion of A parable about curiosity; and the importance of your subscription. - making observations for oneself. WE WANT ONLY HAPPY AND SATISFIED SUBSCRIBERS. 22. The Cochrans vs. Catastrophe The history of Samuel Cochran, Jr., who ate some ~ ---------- (may be copied on any piece of paper) ------------- vichyssoise soup. To: Berkeley Enterprises, Inc. 23. Preventing Mistakes from Forgetting 815 Washington St., Newtonville, MA 02160 24. What is Common Sense? - An Operational Definition ) YES, I would like to try the "Notebook on Common A proposed definition of common sense not using Sense, Elementary and Advanced". Please enter my synonyms but using behavior that is observable. subscription at $12 a year, 24 issues, newsletter style, 25. The Subject of What is Generally True and Important - and extras. Please send me issues 1 to 6 as FREE Common Sense, Elementary and Advanced PREMIUMS for subscribing. 26. Natural History, Patterns, and Common Sense I enclose ______ Some important techniques for observing. 27. Rationalizing and Common Sense ) Please bill my organization. 28. Opposition to New Ideas Name _________ Title __________ Some of the common but foolish reasons for Organization ___________________ opposing new ideas. 29. A Classification and Review of the Issues of Vol. Address ______________________ 30. Index to Volume 1 Signature _________ Purch. Order No. ____ 2 COMPUTERS and PEOPLE for February, 1974 The Notebook on COMMON SENSE, ELEMENTARY AND ADVANCED is devoted to development, exposition, and illustration of what may be the most important of all fields of knowledge: WHAT IS GENERALLY TRUE AND IMPORTANT + + + + + SOME PARTS OF + OPERATIONS + + + RESEARCH Topic: Topic: PURPOSES: THE SYSTEMATIC SYSTEMATIC EXAMINATION to help you avoid pitfalls PREVENTION OF MISTAKES OF GENERAL CONCEPTS to prevent mistakes before they happen Already Published Already Published to display new paths around old obstacles Preventing Mistakes from: The Concept of: to point out new solutions to old problems Failure to Understand Expert to stimulate your resourcefulness Forgetting to increase your accomplishments Rationalizing Unforeseen Hazards to improve your capacities Feedback Placidity to help you solve problems Model to give you more tools to think with To Come Black Box Evolution Preventing Mistakes from: Niche Bias Camouflage To Come 8REASONS TO BE INTERESTED IN THE FIELD OF Interpretation Strategy COMMON SENSE, WISDOM, AND GENERAL SCIENCE Distraction Understanding Gullibility Teachable Moment COMPUTERS are important - Failure to Observe Indeterminacy But the computer field is over 25 years old. Here is a new Failure to Inspect System field where you can get in on the ground floor to make Prejudice Operational Definition your mark. MATHEMATICS is important - But this field is more important than mathematics, because common sense, wisdom, and general science have more applications. .. ••••••••.•••••• (may be copied on any piece of paper) ••••••• ------ • - • -- - - •• ---- LOGIC is important - o To: Berkeley Enterprises, Inc. But this field is more important than logic, because common; 815 Washington St., Newtonville, MA 02160 sense plus wisdom plus science in general is much broader 0 ( ) Yes, please enter my subscription to The Notebook on Common than logic. Sense, Elementary and Advanced at $12 a year (24 issues), plus WISDOM is important - extras. I understand that you always begin at the beginning This field can be reasonably called "the engineering of and so I shall not miss any issues. wisdom". COMMON SENSE is important - 0 ( ) Please send me as free premiums for subscribing: This field includes the systematic study and development of: 1. Right Answers - A Short Guide to Obtaining Them 4. Strategy in Chess common sense. 2. The Empty Column 5. The Barrels and the Elephant SCI ENCE is important - o 3. The Golden Trumpets of Yap Yap 6. The Argument of the Beard ( ) I enclose $ ) Please bill my organization This field includes what is common to all the sciences, what : is generally true and important in the sciences. RETURNABLE IN 7 DAYS FOR FULL REFUND IF NOT SATISFACTORY MISTAKES are costly and to be AVOIDED - HOW CAN YOU LOSE? This field includes the systematic study of the prevention of ; Name ___________________________ Title---------------- mistakes. Organization ______________________________________ MONEY is important - The systematic prevention of mistakes in your organization 0 Address (including zip) ______________________________ might save 10 to 20% of its expenses per year. Signature_____________ _ Purchase Order No. ---- COMPUTERS and PEOPLE for February. 1974 3 Vol. 23, No. 2 February, 1974 computers and people formerly Computers and Automation Editor Edmund C. Berkeley Assistant Barbara L. Chaffee Editors Linda Ladd Lovett Neil D. Macdonald Computers and Top Management 14 Top Level Control of Data Processing: Some Guidelines [A] Art Director Grace C. Hertlein by Edward L. Hennessy, Jr., Vice President, United Aircraft Software Stewart B. Nelson Corp., E. Hartford, Conn. Editor How a computing operation of 1700 people and an invest ment of $50 million is being guided and directed, using an Advertising Edmund C. Berkeley Director array of management concepts and controls.