Laserfiche WebLink
-z- <br />system's hardware. While discussing the issue of functions it was <br />generally concluded that it• would be best to leave all advanced <br />functions to the County computer which is capable of such activities <br />and to acquire a system which would supplement the County computer, <br />as well as provide capabilities not presently available. The major <br />functions identified as being desirable were: <br />- Asynchronous interface capability with the Ramsey County <br />computer for direct data entry. <br />- File Access on the Ramsey County computer. <br />- Full word processing capability. <br />- Columnar Balance Sheet capability. <br />- Records Management. <br />- Statistical Computation of data. <br />- General math functions. <br />- CPM software allowing for use of the various software <br />presently available on the market. <br />It was also determined that we were interested in systems that are <br />"user friendly", i.e., provide for easy operation through design of <br />hardware and software. It also became obvious during our discussions <br />that the system that would best fit within our identified functions <br />was a hybrid capable of all word processing activities without being <br />underpowered and unable to do simple in-house data processing and <br />yet not so overpowered in the data processing area that word process;. <br />functions would become too complex and too complicated. This, the <br />description of our desired system as a word processor/microprocessor; <br />one capable of both functions in a "user friendly" mode. <br />The system's configuration was addressed by evaluating the physical <br />and organizational layout of each of our cities. In the case of all <br />three cities we have a variety of departments in different physical <br />locations in one or separate buildings performing many functions <br />common to the entire operation, as well as many which are individualized. <br />Present technology provides for shared logic systems where a printer <br />and the Central Processing Unit (CPU) are shared by a number of <br />operators having individual keyboards and screens or stand alone <br />systems which can share a printer. <br />The usefulness of a shared logic system was rejected by the cities <br />for the following reasons: <br />1. A shared logic system would require an operator be assigned to <br />maintaining the CPU and printer. One of the purposes of buying <br />a system was to alleviate the need for additional clerical staff <br />and/or freezing up existing staff for other duties, not to add <br />an operator to our staffs. <br />J <br />