IT appears that computers can now give us a drubbing at chess and make millions of calculations in point something-or-other of a micro-second.

I don't believe a word of it! This is obviously propaganda issued by computer salesmen. Those who attempt to convince me otherwise often abandon normal conversations and stoop to using computer jargon.

Random access memory, two state systems, analogue input, dot matrix printer and high level language - these things are strewn about like confetti but explain nothing.

At least, not to me.

I am still struggling with decimal currency and kilos and could possibly more easily understand a conversation in Malago-Javanese.

Some bright joker has suggested that computers of the future will be capable of reproducing themselves.

Perhaps one-parent computers will qualify for an allowance.

My capacity to be surprised or shocked was exhausted long ago.

RAYMOND NICHOLSON, Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.