Besonderheiten der Anwendung elektronischer Rechenanlagen in der Sachversicherung

Summary

With regard to statistical investigations, certain special features relating both to programming as well as to results are discussed. The paper is based on the experience derived from the use, since February 1956, of the magnetic drum dataprocessing machine IBM 650 by the Allianz Versicherungs-AG in Munich. Within these 16 months 17 million cards were processed in the compilation of 18 different statistics.

The storage capacity of medium sized electronic computers, such as are at present being produced serially and used in Europe, is too small for statistical purposes, as hundreds of categories exist each of which needs a number of storage places for the results. The required capacity varies between 3,000 and 25,000 storage places, each of, say, ten digits. The actual work is, therefore, greatly facilitated by previous sorting and grouping, as well as by special programming. The output appears on a comparatively small number of result-cards when the processing of a group is completed.

Certain special features with respect to: storage-areas; the preparation of cards; input of dates; flow-charts and subroutines; tables; and output, are mentioned and indications of the degree of reliability of the results are given.

A special system of programming improves the reliability. This system was evolved by a process of trial and error and comprehends all steps from the first conference with the “customer” up to the feeding of the problem into the computer.