Built-in and programmed machine controls;

              Built-in and Programmed Machine Controls
by VITO PETRUZZELLI Consultant, Chicago Office
Presented before a special meeting of Haskins & Sells Chicago Office audit staff — November 1963
ONE OF THE THOUGHTS that occurred to me after I was asked to speak on machine and programmed controls was, "How can I project my interest and enthusiasm to my audience?" Having considered this problem for a while, I thought the easiest way to tackle it would be to allow the subject matter to generate its own interest as it has for me. All of us, whether we care to admit it or not, are fascinated to some degree by the spectacular. Unfortunately, some are carried away by it. This morning we were exposed to the phenomenal capabilities of electronic data processing. It is a fact that the pace at which this technology is advancing is as remarkable as the technology itself. Our education in its elements and its use is a challenging task. The technology of electronic data processing creates an aura of the dram­atic
and sensational. Our job during this presentation will be to diminish any apprehensions you might have about the subject, solve some of the mysteries concerning how these machines actually func­tion,
and, hopefully, develop respect and interest for what these machines and the men and women who use them can accomplish. The order of our presentation will be:
• A general discussion of controls built into the hardware.
• A general discussion of controls generally provided with most
systems through automatic programming.
• A general discussion of controls specially provided in each pro­gram.
HARDWARE
The terms computer, machine, computer or machine systems are used synonymously. For those who are directly concerned with electronic data processing, this rather imprecise method of communicating does not present much of a problem; but for the uninitiated, these terms imply indistinguishably different concepts. To eliminate the possi­bility
of confusion, we will speak about the various components of a computer system.
Simply, the functions of a computer system are that it accepts, manipulates, and records data. With each of the verbs in the
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