Information Handling without a Computer

Abstract

In the previous chapter we considered the way in which a problem may be defined, and a logical algorithm developed for its solution. Simple algorithms may be applied mentally — more complex ones may require resort to pencil and paper. A point is reached where the number of steps involved, or the complexity of the computational operations, make the solution of the algorithm very tedious by manual means. At this stage, if a computer happens to be available, there may be quite a temptation to delegate the responsibility for solving the problem to its care. Such a step may, however, prove exceedingly wasteful of time and effort — and consequently be an expensive way of achieving a problem-solution, for there are many devices other than the full-scale digital computer which can aid in the solution of information-handling problems.