Data Processing for Scientists

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 124; no. 3226; pp. 773 - 777
• Main Author: Heumann, Karl F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 26.10.1956
• Subjects: Computer networking; Computer programming; Data processing; Indexing; Information search; Integrated systems; Keypunch cards; Machinery; Magnetic tape; Scientific data
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.124.3226.773

This brief survey of integrated and electronic data processing has touched on such matters as the origin of the concepts, their use in business, machines that are available, indexing problems, and, finally, some scientific uses that surely foreshadow further development. The purpose of this has been to present for the consideration of scientists a point of view and some techniques which have had a phenomenal growth in the business world and to suggest that these are worth consideration in scientific data-handling problems (30). To close, let me quote from William Bamert on the experience of the C. and O. Railroad once more (8, p. 121): "Frankly, we have been asked whether we weren't planning for Utopia-the implication being that everyone except starry-eyed visionaries knows that Utopia is unattainable. Our answer is that of course we are! Has anyone yet discovered a better way to begin program planning of this nature? Our feeling is that compromise comes early enough in the normal order of things."