CHAPTER COMPUTER PERSONNEL COMPUTER MANUFACTURE There are two overall stages in the manufacture of computers, namely original equipment 1 manufacture, and the design and assembly of complete computer systems. Integrated circuits are designed and developed by electronic engineers, and fabricated by highly skilled workers using sophisticated equipment. Computers are used in the design, manufacture and testing of these circuits. S The complete process of designing and constructing a computer is extremely complex, and involves the work of a number of people. The stages are generally as described in the following sections. Most computer manufacturers have research department, investigating new computer architectures, new hardware devices, new software techniques and new computer appli- cations. Scientists, research engineers and technicians, as well as highly skilled software engineers are among the staff of these departments. The overall design of a new computer, or series of computers, is in the hands of com- 43 0puter architects. Modem computers are designed from both the hardware and the soft- ware point of view. Accordingly, systems programmers, who write the systems sofiware 15 for the computer, are also involved in the design process. Highly skilled production workers are responsible for the various stages of construction and assembly of units. Production lines are not used. Generally, a team of workers is assigned to take a unit through all stages of construction and exhaustive testing. One of the highest paid jobs in computing is that of computer salesman, Salesmen 20 operate in an intensely competitive environment, where their level of pay depends to some extent on their sales figures. The process of selling a large computer system can take several months. Data Processing Department Traditionally, an organization which uses a computer has a data processing department, containing all the staff who work directly with the computer. A typical reporting struc- 25 ture for a large data processing department is shown in the following figure. * ‘eam operators tender loner ‘anager =| fae a] [awe fos programme development (ea operations ae “ae” | | ere a Figure 9: A data processing department Other departments and individuals in an organization relate to the data processing department as users of the computing equipment. The description of a data processing department given here applies in particular to banks, insurance companies, airlines and many central and local government departments. In overall charge of a data processing 30 department is a data processing manager. Responsibilities of a data processing manager 44include formulation of policy, approval of project, staff recruitment and maintaining the relationship of the department with the rest of the company. The work of a data processing department has two aspects, namely the program devel- ‘opment aspect, and the operation aspect. On the program development side, systems analysts are responsible for steering each project through the data processing cycle. Programmers, more properly called applications programmers in this context, are respon- sible for writing, correcting and maintaining programs, and producing various items of documentation, explaining how programs are used. On the operation side, there is an operations manager in charge of scheduling the use of the computer, arranging for maintenance and ordering supplies. A team of operators man the computer room, often working in shift under shift leaders. The flow of data to and from the computer is sometimes supervised by data controllers, who ensure that the right data is available at the right time. Data entry staff operate data entry terminals to keep up the supply of data to the computer. In many large computer systems, file librarians are responsible for the large numbers of magnetic tapes and magnetic disks used. If the computer supports a database, then 2 database administrator is in charge of this aspect of the work. If a data communication network is used this is often under the overall charge of a network administrator. In miany organizations, computers have become such an integral part of their operations that a separate data processing department is not required. The majority of the workers in such organizations make some use of the computer. Programming and system design is often contracted out to software houses, or standard software packages are purchased. An expanding computer application in this category is word processing. In many modem offices, all correspondence, contracts and similar work is done on word processing systems. Most of the people working in these offices use a word processing workstation to some extent. Situated between computer manufacturers and computer users are software houses, or computer service bureaux. These provide a wide range of services, including consuitancy on computer project, designing software to a cusiomer’s specifications, selling software and supplying complete computer systems. Many software houses have extremely flexible working arrangements, falling broadly under the heading of software engineering. Most of their workers are skilled in a variety of areas, including systems and applications programming, systems analysis, project management and computer design. A team of workers is assigned to each project which 45 40 45 60 65is undertaken. Work is shared among the members of the team according to their inter- ests, capabilities and experience. There is no strict demarcation of jobs. When a project 68 has been completed, the team is disbanded. Workers are assigned to other projects. (Computer Science, Tricia Walker) EXERCISES A. Ani er the following questions! 1. What are the two overall stages in the manufacture of computers? 2. Who create and plot the integrated circuits? 3. Are computers utilized in the producing of the integrated circuits? 4, How is the complete process of designing and constructing a computer? 5. What are the assignment of a research department in a computer manufacturer? 6. Who are responsible of the overall design of a new computer? 7. Who writes systems software for computer? 8. Why are systems programmers involved in the design process? 9. Who are responsible for the various stages of construction and assembly? 10. What does the salesman’s level of pay depend on? 11. Who are responsible for the installation of new computer units? 12. What are included in the responsibilities of a data processing manager. 13. What are (he two aspects of a data processing department? 14. What are the responsibilities of programmers? 15. Who is responsible for scheduling the use of the computer, arranging for mainte- nance and ordering supplies? 16. Who make sure that the right data is available at the right time. 17. Who keep up the supply of data to the computer? 18. In many modem offices how is the work of all correspondence accomplished? 19, Who provide a wide ring of services, including consultancy on computer project? 20. How is work shared among the members of a team of workers? T “ for the true statements and * F “ for the false | T:F 1. The overall stages in the manufacture of computers are solely the design and the assembly of complete computer systems. T:F 2. The workers who manufacture integrated circuits utilize civilized machi- nery. 46T:F 3. Computers have no role in developing integrated circuits. T:F 4. The process of designing and constructing a computer is very coniplicated. T:F 5. Searching new software techniques is the responsibility of electronic engi- neers. T:F 6. It is the responsibility of computer architects to investigate new computer applications. T:F 7. Modem computers are made from the point of view of hardware and soft- ware. T:F 8. It is only one person who is in charge of construction and assembly of units. T:F 9. To sell a large computer system take quite short of time. T:F 10. Systems analysts are not responsible of maintaining programs and produc- ing many kinds of items of documentation. C. Look at the text again and find out what the bold words refer io. 1. two overall stages @ Do. 2. who write the systems software (a. 15) 3. their level of pay depends to some extent (21) 4. which uses a computer (24)... 5. The works of a data processing has two aspects (1. 34) 6. who ensure that the right data is available (. 44) 7. this is often under the overall charge (1. 49) .. 8. computers have become such an integral part of their operations (51) 9. These provide a wide range of services 10. according to their interest D. VOCABULARY Find out the synonyms (words having similar meaning) of the following words in the text! ie alla a. 2. awfully (4) 3. include a7 4. qualified aly 5. gathering (1.18) 476. thorough (1.19) 7. completely (121) 8. authorization (31) 9. essential (51) 10. demanded (1.52) Find out the antonyms (words having an opposite meaning) of the following words in the text! 11, simple 6) 12. outdated (1.10) 13. unable iy) 14, vicariously (1.25) 15. previous (1.26) 16. incorrectly (137) 17, rare (1.49) 18. minority (1.52) 19. narrow (1.60) 20. strictly (1.63) STRUCTURES (Adjective and Adverbs) Study the following sentences and pay close attention 10 the bold word! The repairman works quickly. (verb + adverb) * [need a quick answer, (adjective + noun) It prints a document quietly. (verb + noun + adverb) * Our manager is a quiet man, (adjective + noun) The train runs fast. (verb + adverb) * 1 took a fast tain. (adjective + noun) Your room is neatly decorated. (to be + adverb + past participle) * This is a very neat room. 48Fill the blank of the following pairs! Adjectives Adverbs beautiful nice enormously simultaneously well various hard diligent . probably fast . incredible scientific Choose the right words in brackets! eppr * About what is expected by (gloomy/gloomily) counterparts in Hungary? Joblessness are breeding (dangerous/dangerously) discontent. If we are allowed to trade (free/freely) we can improve our economic condition by ourselves. The president launches into a (verbal/verbally) storm on the subject of his country’s future. He explained his invention (proud/proudly) the day before yesterday. ‘The King ruled his small kingdom (absolute/absolutely) so that many of his people didn't like him, When he holidays at an (unfashionable/unfashionably) beach, he spends an hour in the car every day. Other crews have threatened to locate them in future years unless the ordinance is (radical/radically) altered. The antidepressant Prozac can cause (extreme/extremely) agitation. A physician (simple/simply) takes no time to report a (suspicious/suspiciously) problem to drug manufacturer. 49