The ecology of change in a major computer conversion

One letter can transform a machine instruction, and in turn, the machine's action. Just as surely, the change of a letter, for example from a “g” to a “c” in “change,” would provide an entirely different meaning to the title of this paper. Such an exchange in letters would convert a deliberate action to a fortuitous action.

In fact, when I received the program for our meeting and noted that I was to appear among so many highly skilled computer specialists, I was sure that chance was the appropriate noun. Surely, my presence must be a fortuitous action on someone's part, and I'm very pleased that it occurred.

However, chance and luck have no place in a major conversion. Such conversion will be completed in a few months at Educational Testing Service. While many of you undoubtedly know about ETS, as we call the Educational Testing Service, I should like to present a brief overview of the organization.