Affiliations: Computer Centre of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, Budai
L.u. 1–3, H-1024 Budapest, Hungary
Note: [1] István Alföldi was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1948. He received an M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Budapest and an M.Sc. degree in economics from the Economics University of Budapest. He joined the Computer Center of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office in 1972 and worked on various aspects of computer applications in the statistical information system. Currently, deputy director of the Computer Center, his interest includes distributed computer systems, data base management systems and methods which facilitate the use of computers by the non-professional end users.
Abstract: The state of the art of computerisation in the Hungarian Central Statistical Office shows a mixed picture, partly reflecting a normal variation in hardware and software tools, but partly being the result of lack of suitable resources. After introducing the present state of the technical environment of the Hungarian statistical system, the paper gives an overview about the main phases of data processing and software tools. The phases are defined as usual in the traditional classification. However, data entry, data validation and data editing are combined in the term of “data preparation”. This “linguistic” modification covers a great technological achievement of the past few years. The other important result was achieved in on-line query possibilities with SOLAR, a system developed in-house. The lack of resources makes necessary development, of which the strategic concerns are with integration of micros, centralization and decentralization, networking, and data management. However, the most essential point relates to be the changing role of end users, who will take over the responsibility for their data processing.
