psf
@psf@oldbytes.space  ·  activity timestamp 5 days ago
#permacomputing heads might be interested by the manually operated punch-card database from "The Buffalo Creek Disaster" (Stern)
...We were using a pseudo-computer system to pinpoint documents on any subject matter by any witness, and we also had computer cards prepared nightly on the testimony of that day’s witness. This so nonplused Mr. Staker that he finally had to comment. “I've noticed you are using a computer.” I nodded. We really did not have a computer. We only had a typed card system with seveny-six holes. Each hole was coded—hole 1 might be Mr. Camicia, hole 10 might be a month, hole 20 might be a particular subject. When we pushed a long prong through one set of holes, we could separate the cards relating to a particular witness or subject. Nevertheless, I did not disabuse Mr. Staker of his belief that we were using an actual computer...
...We were using a pseudo-computer system to pinpoint documents on any subject matter by any witness, and we also had computer cards prepared nightly on the testimony of that day’s witness. This so nonplused Mr. Staker that he finally had to comment. “I've noticed you are using a computer.” I nodded. We really did not have a computer. We only had a typed card system with seveny-six holes. Each hole was coded—hole 1 might be Mr. Camicia, hole 10 might be a month, hole 20 might be a particular subject. When we pushed a long prong through one set of holes, we could separate the cards relating to a particular witness or subject. Nevertheless, I did not disabuse Mr. Staker of his belief that we were using an actual computer...
...We were using a pseudo-computer system to pinpoint documents on any subject matter by any witness, and we also had computer cards prepared nightly on the testimony of that day’s witness. This so nonplused Mr. Staker that he finally had to comment. “I've noticed you are using a computer.” I nodded. We really did not have a computer. We only had a typed card system with seveny-six holes. Each hole was coded—hole 1 might be Mr. Camicia, hole 10 might be a month, hole 20 might be a particular subject. When we pushed a long prong through one set of holes, we could separate the cards relating to a particular witness or subject. Nevertheless, I did not disabuse Mr. Staker of his belief that we were using an actual computer...