Is There a Cost Reduction Benefit in Using Hybrid Computers?

 

Industrial engineers have to monitor technology developments and identify technologies that have application in the processes they are managing for productivity. They have to check technical feasibility and assure that the required quality of the output is achieved in their process. Then they have to check the economic benefit to the organization. It is termed IE economic analysis.

In 1977, I am given the assignment of writing a short essay on hybrid computer. The productivity aspect may not have been highlighted at that time. It was difficult to access journals and magazines also. Now access to the publications is more easy.

The reference given below provides the description of studies made to check whether there is feasibility of using hybrid computers for engineering problems and whether there is cost reduction benefit.

EVALUATION OF HYBRID COMPUTER PERFORMANCE ON A CROSS SECTION OF SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS 

R. D. Benham 

ABSTRACT 

Hybrid and small digital computers were evaluated on several types of technical problems. Comparisons with processing on a large digital computer were made for 12 scientific studies. Accuracy, time and cost (man and machine), convenience and flexibility, and computer requirements were evaluated by a cross section of scientists and engineers.

https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/4185202/

The Design of a Hybrid Computer.

Masters Thesis - 1968 - James Joseph Becker

https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/6702/

Med Prog Technol. 1977 Apr 25;4(4):185-91.

A hybrid computer system for use in cardiology

L D Nadel, M R Kramer, D C Shultheis, T A McCulloh

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/865418/

Home/Magazines/Computer/1976.07

Computer

Hybrid Digital/Analog Computer Systems

July 1976, pp. 15-24, vol. 9

DOI Bookmark: 10.1109/C-M.1976.218640

https://www.computer.org/csdl/magazine/co/1976/07/01647415/13rRUwInv74