the case of the disappearing data (Apr, 1965)
the case of the disappearing data
There’s Norman L. Battle, who needs the information on a computer tape in a hurry.
There’s Nancy Havens, who went to the tape vault and was never heard from again.
There’s Horace Cotton, who thinks he saw the tape in the hands of Don Walters, but won’t swear to it.
There’s JoAnn Taylor, who saw Don Walters whispering mysteriously to Marilyn Smith, by the water cooler.There’s Marilyn Smith. (Can you blame him?) But where’s that tape?
It’s elementary. An Acme Visible systems analyst is what’s needed here. He may not find that tape, but he’ll darn well make sure it never happens again. He’ll analyze your information retrieval problems and come up with a system that makes all data instantly accessible, instantly visible. All data . . . computer print-out, filing, billing, work orders, inventory or whatever information your business depends on. If it’s worth keeping, there’s an Acme Visible system to keep it instantly accessible. And there’s a nearby Acme Visible systems analyst listed in your phone book. Now, where’s that phone book? Acme Visible Records, Inc., West Allview Drive, Crozet, Virginia.
ACME VISIBLE





There’s the company which only employs staff with WASP surnames.
BTW, Acme Visible? Are they sure they didn’t sell the tape to Wile E. Coyote?
Obviously Nancy Havens ran off with it. She sold it to the competition for the princely sum of $50.
I’d like to have my job description as a “Visible Systems Analyst”….
I dunno – being an INvisible systems analyst has its moment, too.