Practical Consideration in the Application of Data Processing Techniques to the Needs of the Psychologist.

Past problems encountered in the use of computers are discussed. They include: (1) computing and data storage costs; (2) machine speed and capacity limitations; and (3) the limited number of languages and Input/Output devices available to facilitate man/machine communication. The improvements in all of these areas are explained. The problems which remain, it was contended, lie in the area of communication. For example, the desires and demands of a programmer and a psychologist and the expectations of the computer are not in concert. Data rates for all three are discussed in order to emphasize the magnitude of the discrepancy between what men and machines can do. The paper concludes with the modest hope that soon a machine can be made to communicate only with the scope and clarity of an intelligent man. (TL)