18
STAR*TECH Journal APRIL 1982
DOING AWAY WITH
THAT TIRED FEELING
BY ERNEST W. FAIR, CLACKAMUS, OR
"I must be getting old for sure," a friend
told me the other day. "Just about two out of
every three days I never seem to get going ... I
have that tired feeling all of the time."
He was right ... he was getting older . .. as
who is not? But age alone is seldom the real
reason for that tired feeling. Many successful
coin machine operators have done something
about this theft of their efficiency. Here are the
situations they overcome to solve the problem.
FLUKE'S
NEW TESTER FOR
TROUBLESHOOTING
MICROPROCESSOR-BASED
GAMES
The John Fluke Manufacturing Co. , Inc. of
Everett, Washington, exhibited its new model
90 I 0A Micro System Troubleshooter at the
Amusement Operators' Expo held in Chicago
on March 26-28, 1982.
The 9010A Troubleshooter is a portable
service tool designed s'pecifically to isolate
faults in microprocessor-based products. At
the show the 9010A was shown servicing a
new " Galaga" video game from Midway
Manufacturing.
The principle of this product is simple. An
interfaced pod is put into the microprocessor
socket of a known good unit. Then, using a
unique "autoleam" algorithm, the 9010A
identifies the location of bus-related devices
such as Ram , Rom , or Read/Write 1/ 0. This
"memory map" eliminates the need for docu-
mented memory maps and program listings.
Now the Troubleshooter is ready to test
defective microprocessor-based games. All the
basic troubleshooting functions are built in.
Automated tests for Ram, Rom , and I/0 can be
run with the push of just one button. For high-
level troubleshooting, an exclusive " smart"
probe lets the test technician locate faults to the
node level.
The 90 I 0A's testing capabilities help
eliminate many of the problems which micro-
processor technology has caused for independent
distributors and operators who are performing
their own service. No longer is a separate test
set required for each game . Complicated test
instrumentation such as logic analyzers no
longer have to be used. The problem of incom-
plete program listings and poor schematics is
reduced significantly and service technicians
without extensive knowledge of digital theory
and system operation can use the product with
confidence.
The 9010A Micro System Troubleshooter
is priced at $4,490 U.S. This price includes
one 8-bit interface pod . Pods today support the
following microprocessors: 8080, 8085, Z80,
6502, 6500, and the 16-bit 9900.
For additional information, please contact
Frank Partin at area code (206) 356-5292.
I. Cramped or restrictive positions. Few
of us need to work under situations guaranteed
to drain energy and encourage fatigue. Most
common cause is the poor working furniture
layout. Look for the ones which feel free and
easy. Often we accept layouts inherited from
others or furnished with anything that happens
to be handy.
2. Equipment not designed for one's
physical features. The average businessman
spends a large part of each working day using
equipment pertinent to his work efforts. Perhaps
a unit is too small or too short. Any one of a
number of similar factors may be at fault.
3. Clothes and shoes. These are often the
villains that bring about this tired feeling.
Following fashions for younger individuals,
hiding the spread that comes with increased
years, and other procedures makes it rough on
many an individual. Too tight-fitting shoes
create misery that builds fatigue in every part of
the body. So also does the belt which tries to
cut one in half.
4. Unpleasant breathing air. We give a lot
of attention to air conditioning and heating
where we work, but there is another factor of
equal importance. That is the presence of
comfort and relaxation which comes from
breathing as pure and clean air as possible.
5. Personal emotions can create working
fatigue. Emotional problems can lead to that
tired feeling on the job. When we carry these
over into work then problems result. It pays
dividends when we learn how to leave these
emotional problems outside the job.
6. Too great ambition. This has given
many an individual untold hours of fatigue
during working life. The load is not only in
constant spending of extra hours during the
day, but in carrying a load of pressure all the
time. Ambition is necessary in business if one
wishes attainment from one's efforts, but in too
large measure it can be hazardous. That comes
about through creation of this ever present load
of fatigue one must carry. It is particularly
damaging for the person who has passed the
35-year mark.
7. Too few rest periods. A lot of people
pride themselves on never taking time out.
They scoff at coffee breaks. Employees need
these rest periods, they admit. So does the
boss. It should be not only physical, but mental
as well. Such periods can be taken with employees
or with outsiders. When they are taken with
people outside the immediate staff, then working
problems are seldom carried over into the rest
periods.
8. Failure to pace oneself. Each ofus has
a physical and nervous system geared to work
best at a certain pace. When we finish a
business day feeling like we could go on for
several hours more, we have moved through a
well paced day. Plan and program working
days and those tired feeling occasions will
become more scarce.
9. The wrong start affects everything. No
individual would think of throwing his car into
an 80-mile-per-hour engine speed immediately
after pressing on the starter button. Yet many
start out each working day with a terrific rush.
Things will go on smoother all through the day
when one uses a warm up for oneself, i.e.,
taking things easy for the first 15 minutes.
10. Failure to schedule the tough jobs in
the best spots. Figure out your best periods
during the day; experience will make them
readily apparent. These are the periods wherein
one should schedule the tough work assignments.
11 . Creating a haphazard staff. Fit the
people on the staff to a given personality.
People who clash only add to fatigue potential.
This does not mean that one needs "apple
polishers" around. But one can be assured of
smoother work days when surrounded by the
type of people who work and think the same
way.
12. Trying to do everything. Invariably
the individual who contantly complains of that
tired feeling is the one who believes every chore
has to be handled personally or that no one else
around has the ability to solve the simplest
problem.
I 3. Neglecting to watch personal main-
tenance. This is just as important as any other
type of maintenance. Guard personal health;
see the doctor when everything is not just right.
Avoid taking chances. Preventive maintenance
has long been proven a solid business asset.
14. Improper eating habits. If one's car
motor must have a high octane gas to run
properly, one would not pour kerosene into the
tank. Many people make a similar mistake with
their personal eating habits. The wrong foods,
too little or too much of even the right food and
drink .. . all can give a first class tired feeling
regularly.
15. Lack of control over outside activities.
As each year is added to one's age the amount
of rest and sleep one needs will grow accordingly.
When the person of 50 tries to live at the pace
followed when 30, he or she is certain to have
that tired feeling all through the business day.
Continuing an attempt to perform daily
working tasks under the handicap of that tired
feeling is as needless as if one carried a ball and
chain around one's foot all day long. Over-
coming the handicap is easy with steps such as
the foregoing.