OUC History Book

Page 36

a balancing act

Advancements in Technology from the Meter to the Desktop

Hand-held mini-computers used by meter readers were placed in a console where data was downloaded to PCs and then into the mainframe for billing.

t er s e M g in d a e w R T hen and No

der Meter Rea red its first o n o h C U ing team In 1985, O meter read e th r, a e y t nd r. Tha n electric a of the Yea of 2.6 millio l ta to a d o a te b oks manually re all into rou m e th g in g rs, log ing system water mete meter read ic n o tr c le ne ployees by hand. A nabling em e , 7 8 9 1 mented in puters) to was imple (microcom s e ic v e d t. dheld on the spo to use han eck usage h -c le b u o d ss was able record and ys to proce a d e k ta the used to sferred to Data that ur and tran o h n a in ed a result, to be load xt day. As e n e th g for billin read more mainframe be able to ld u o w r e t r read 9.9 percen each mete hieving a 9 c a — th n o sharply meters a m dings and a re t rs fi n uracy o rate of acc -reads. reducing re

PCs Bring Information to the Desktop Change swept through every aspect of OUC

record research efficiency in Customer

during the late ‘80s as it initiated measures to

Accounting and sped up the estimating

keep up with advancements in technology and

process for engineering staff.

the economy while staying ahead of growth.

The impact of PCs became even more

From 1985 to 1988, the number of personal

profound when, in January 1988, a new

computers (PCs) at OUC grew from eight to

4381 IBM mainframe computer was installed and

135. Local area networks (LANs) were installed

connected to the LANs. Data communications

to link groups of PC users, giving them easier

capabilities emanating from the mainframe

access to more information and letting them

were also expanded to outlying facilities via

share expensive equipment.

OUC’s existing microwave/fiber optics

By expanding employees’ capabilities, networked PCs impacted every facet of OUC.

communications networks. These developments vastly accelerated

Purchasing and Materials Management was

the progress toward an integrated office

able to convert from a manual system to a

information system. As a result of the rapid

completely automated one. Computer Aided

deployment of computers, the Micro-

Design programs sharply reduced time

Computer Support Department was formed

needed to prepare drawings of complex

to help manage the new computer network

underground and water installations.

and the flow of information.

Microcomputer capabilities increased

For OUC, 1987 kicked off an information era with the deployment of personal computers on

a balancing act

desktops. Two years later, the Micro-Computer Support Department was formed to help employees

manage their information technology needs. Page 32


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