Computer confusion
Article Abstract:
Computers have produced many success stories, but companies that want to automate ought to consider some of the difficulties that have been encountered as well. Consultants say that problems occur when corporate buyers do not think through all the issues. Many buyers, for example, buy systems on the basis of price, but price turns out to be only about 15 percent of total costs. Training, which often gets little attention, sometimes is the biggest cost. Companies often try to cut corners, buying equipment that lacks essential features, but it is often more practical to buy standard equipment or software that has standard features, even if the initial cost might be more. Standardization within a company and how to handle upgrading are other issues to consider when purchasing computer products.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1990
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'Multimedia' doubters taught a thing or two
Article Abstract:
Robert Winter demonstrates his multimedia software package at the Agenda '90 conference and helps relieve doubts the software industry has about the viability of multimedia applications. Winter's program, published by Voyager Co, is written with Hypercard and runs on an Apple Macintosh and a CD-ROM drive hooked up to an audio speaker system. The software provides a study of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and features a biography of the composer, an outline of major themes that plays the associated music when a mouse clicks on an item, program notes that can provide a customized running commentary and a pop-up glossary of unfamiliar terms.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1989
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Good news: you can live forever; bad news: no sex; it's the far edge of robotics as one scientist asks: What's a body to do?
Article Abstract:
Hans Moravec is a robot researcher who believes that humans will someday be able to transfer their consciousness onto robots. Moravec says that he has no loyalty in DNA and does not trust that the human species will survive. The researcher receives $175,000 a year from the US Navy to conduct research on underwater robots and spends time contemplating time travel and sky hooks, which are orbiting arms that would allow ground crews to transport items to space. One of Moravec's most well-known ideas involves copying the brain's contents into a computer to preserve a human consciousness after the human's body is gone.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1990
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