Wading through computerese.

Abstract

Minicomputers, microcomputers, supercomputers, disks, disk drives, diskettes, bits, bytes, input, output, COBOL, FORTRAN, RPG, memory, "K", CRT, CRU, etc., etc. What does all this mean, and more importantly, what can it do for you, the medical group manager, possibly faced with your first hard decision regarding the use of computers in the day-to-day business of running your medical group? The author provides a glossary of these and many other terms for you and puts them in proper perspective so you are more easily able to wade through the morass of computerese jargon. Further, a number of considerations are presented which will give you a base from which to operate, and a series of questions are presented relative to each of the considerations. Your answers will generate enough information relative to any system to enable you to make a reasoned decision about that system. It is not the intent of this article to tell you which system is best--you must judge that for yourself as you evaluate the questions and considerations presented in the light of your unique setting.