by Kung Chang
[image] GOOD REASONS WHY COMPUTERS CAN ... A computer can do more work than a man. One reason that's little known Is that it never has to stop To answer the telephone. A computer can do more work than a man. One more way to explain Is that it doesn't stop it's work To argue and complain. A computer can do more work than a man. Because it never takes Those dawdling, lengthy lapses That we call coffee breaks. A computer can do more work than a man. And it's easy to see why. It doesn't sit with its chin on its hand And watch the girls prance by. A computer can do more work than a man. One reason it's such a whiz: It doesn't buttonhole passersby To tell them how busy it is. A computer doesn't take nervous pills All day at the water fountains, And wastes no time with molehills Making them into mountains. A computer can do more work than a man. Because, I have a hunch It doesn't spend three hours With a customer at lunch. A computer can do more work than a man. And one good reason I've seen is It doesn't spend the afternoon Half-conscious from martinis. A computer can do more work than a man. And partly it's a matter Of not spending all day angling For the next job up the ladder. A computer can do more work than a man. Here's a final explanation: It wastes no time on fears of being Replaced by Automation. Author unknown *** NEW ELECTRONIC DESK CALCULATOR FROM CHINA KUNG CHANG THE Great Wall 203, an advanced type of electronic desk calculator, was trial-produced early this year by a plant under the Institute of Mathematics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is 2.5 times as fast as similar calculators produced abroad, has twice the storage capacity and an expanded machine language. It is also slightly smaller and easier to operate than such models. The Great Wall 203 is of a type more advanced than ordinary electronic desk calculators. It has more functions, greater storage capacity, higher operating speed and under program control can automatically solve complex problems. Programs can be written, debugged and modified conveniently at the keyboard. Equipped with a printer and a magnetic tape unit, it is a complete, independent small computer system that performs some of the functions of a general-purpose electronic digital computer. Its easier handling and maintenance make it suitable for wide popular use. Most of the people who designed and built the calculator are young mathematicians. Though they were unfamiliar with electronics and computing and their plant was poorly equipped, they drew encouragement from Chairman Mao's teaching. "The Chinese people have high aspirations, they have ability, and they will certainly catch up with and surpass advanced world levels in the not too distant future." After studying a lot of material and critically assimilating the good points of foreign and domestic calculators, they boldly created a design in line with the characteristic of Chinese components. Making full use of collective wisdom, the whole plant made suggestions in the course of trial production. They designed and built this new advanced electronic desk calculator which uses integrated circuits in one year and five months. Now the Great Wall 203 is undergoing comprehensive testing to perfect it for production and distribution. *** [image]Testing the Great Wall 203. Reprinted from a recent issue of CHINA RECONSTRUCTS, Peking. *** 14
