Paper 4: An Introduction to Design Calculations on a Digital Computer

Abstract

The paper is of a purely introductory nature and is an attempt to provide a brief introduction to performing design calculations on a computer for engineers with no experience of computer techniques.

The paper comments, with a brief description, on a typical computer installation (i.e. I.C.T. 1909); this is followed by a short discussion of problem systems analysis and flow diagramming then a short introductory discussion of the FORTRAN language.

In view of the introductory nature of the paper the problems discussed are kept as simple as is compatible with the subject. It will be realized that more sophisticated approaches could be made to the problems but in order to maintain the paper at an introductory level as a guide to those engineers with no experience of using a digital computer, such solutions are deemed to be beyond the scope of the paper.