Would the ordinary man or woman in the street ever understand the complexities of operating a computer? It was a worry for the experts fifty years ago. Little did they realise the children would master them first and teach the adults how to use them. Stereo radio was also at the testing stage in 1964. Meanwhile, in London the new Europa Hotel was about to open on Grosvenor Square.
Picture: Posters promoting the Tokyo Olympics of 1964 were first unveiled during April 1964.
Computers for the Ordinary Man
Some of the problems of developing the use of computers and the need for co-operation between the designers and the users in solving them were discussed by Sir Edward Playfair, president of the British Commuters Society at a meeting in Edinburgh yesterday.
He was opening the joint computer conference arranged by the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the British Computer Society and the Institute of Electronic and Radio Engineers under the aegis of the UK Automation Council.
Sir Edward said that the technical process of teaching the ordinary man enough about computers without making him an expert which he need not be was not too difficult provided that he had a fair mathematical and numerical training and provided the concepts were made familiar.
“If this can be done in ten years time or so you will have users worthy of the machines and systems which I am sure the industry will produce”. He added “if not they may fall into the hands of specialists who will have no adequate means of communication with a large section of the decision makers”.Source: The Times
New System of Stereo Radio
Visitors to the International Audio Fair in London, which opened yesterday, will be able to hear for the first time the Zenith-GE system of stereophonic broadcasting, which is being demonstrated by the BBC.Source: The Times
New Europa Hotel
The new Europa will be the 23rd hotel in the Grand Metropolitan Group. The new Europa Hotel in Grosvenor Square is expected to be fully operational no later than 1st June 1964. The Europa with 300 bedrooms will be the most up to date hotel of its kind in London, with first class facilities for conferences and banqueting.
Is this now the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair. Source: The Times
