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Electronic And Computer Technology: Since high-speed, electronic and computer technology digital computers first became available, in the mid-1950s, they have most often been used to help achieve automation of manufacturing processes, as in the chemical and the machine-tool industries, and for routine data processing, as in such businesses as banking and insurance. During 1967, however, computer technology made its first major strides toward resolving major social problems in some areas of health, education, and crime.
The second approach utilizes what has been termed an electronic and computer technology flying spot-scanner to follow automatically the outline of the letter. This is an electronic and computer technology device that traces the outside of the letter. By comparing the sequence in which the device changes directions with similar sequences stored in a computer for all letters and symbols, the computer can determine what letter is being read. A voice tape that "speaks" this letter to the Blind reader is then actuated. Thus, a line of print is read letter-by-letter by converting the printed symbol to a spoken symbol.
Demands for even more sophisticated computer systems for use in business as well as in space and missile programs, however, soon surpassed the technology made available by the transistor. Not only was the computer becoming prohibitively large and costly but overall reliability was decreasing with the increase in the number of its elements. The millions of components making up the computer had to be handled individually and connected by soldering or welding. More specifically, heating and bending, possible corrosion of the joining material, and expansion differences at a joint when heated reduced reliability by increasing the chance for damage. |
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