Computers—like humans—need time and money
By WENDY ELLIOTT Summer Kansan Reporter
Harried journalists may have been overlooking the answer to their dreams, Tucked away in a corner of Summerfield, artfully disguised as Room 110 is "The Big Blue Box." This wonder machine could revolutionize the journalistic world.
Given proper information, along with a reasonable span of time and money. "The Box" could spit out a news story-complete right down to the Kansan writing style.
At this point, before professional and would-be journalists invade Summerfield, there are some things that should be explained.
First, as may have been suspected, "The Box" is none other than the GE 635 computer housed in the KU computation center.
Secondly, proper information would consist of feeding all the Kansans for the past year into the computer.
Information must be reduced to something it can understand, such as numbers. Next some diligent person must make up a program telling the computer certain things to look for in the writing. Examples would be: (1) How often adjectives are used in each paragraph, (2) How far the verbs usually are from the noun, or (3) What level words are used most. This helps to establish the standard Kansas style. Now the facts for the story are ready to be run. The computer can rearrange, make coherent sentences and produce grammatically correct copy.
There are drawbacks to this method, however. Some people might feel the element of time is important. A project of this caliber would take about a year to complete. Those scientifically curious people to whom time is no problem, may have their minds changed at the mention of a cost
soaring to nearly 1.5 million dollars.
Jly. 29
1969 KANSAN 3
Most people don't realize the effects the computation center has on this campus. Many jobs that are taken for granted would virtually come to a standstill without the computers.
A graphic example comes to mind in the fall of each year. Approximately 17,000 students are enrolled in three days for the regular school year at KU. Each student has to have records showing his qualifications for college; high school transcripts, test scores, high school activities and grade point averages. All this information has previously been sent to the college and compiled in computer tapes. When the students enroll, these are checked. The records are continued throughout college life and kept on file for about ten years.
Professors also find use for the computer. It can grade certain types of tests and make a comparative analysis. This means it can show what percentage of the class answered each question which way on a multiple choice test, for example, if 40 per cent of the class missed a particular question, the instructor would know that either he didn't cover that area very well or that he simply wasn't getting through. The computer is also used in compiling grade point averages.
All this involves time and money, and of course, the proper programs. If major projects are planned, outrageous prices may be expected. Regular programs will run anywhere from $1 to $1,000, depending whether it is a short or long job. The expense is the cost of the computer plus manpower to run it. Average time to run a program is 3-4 hours. There are reports of jobs taking only a half hour. Other computers may take several days.
Programs are accumulated much the same as a library collects books. New programs are
continually being written; those likely to be in demand are added to the "library." KU produces a large number of programs supplemented by those bought from other colleges.
Computer privileges are not open to everyone. Professors and students make up the bulk of the work. School policy, plus a
shortage of space, workers and time-prevent it from being open to the public.
in one second. Print-out proceeds at 1,000 lines a minute; an equivalent of 260 typists producing 100 words per minute for 24 continuous hours.
The Computation Center has 3 computers. The GE 635 is the largest computer of its kind and would cost nearly $3\frac{1}{2}$ million dollars.
According to an employee, "The great thing about the computer is that it can remember and it's fast." Two numbers can be added in 1.8 millionth of a second. This would compile the numbers of all the Kansas City phone books
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