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Computer systems are receiving increasing attention in almost all fields of endeavor, from accounting to art, from manufacturing to music, and of course, in medicine. Some of us feel faintly obsolescent if we are not using a digital computer system to extend our productive abilities. This commentary is addressed to those who are wondering what to do about computers.
In this issue (p 245), Alberti and Hyde give an account of a particularly well-designed application of the small digital computer system within our specialty. Their application deserves special attention because it has achieved user acceptance. It works, and people are using it. Their report merits study in that they mention the difficulties of bridging the conceptual distance between a medical knowledge base and the computer as a data resource. Finally, they have written a tutorial for those seriously interested in applications beyond the standard office business computer system.
Computer systems