Computers have come a long way since the first room-sized monster came to life many years back. The proliferation of computers has made them a part of our lives today. No matter where you look, CPUs and video display screens seem to be everywhere. Chances are, a good portion of us start our days by firing up the home computer and logging on to our e-mail accounts to see if there is something that may need our immediate attention.My job, for example, is filled with computers -- I might be checking my work e-mail, or reviewing a press release from any one of the hundreds of companies that are connected with the magazine. At some point in the day, I unavoidably find myself logged on the internet -- fact-checking on a Web site or two, or searching for a hard-to-find part.
When I actually have a moment to sit down and write an article (that's what they pay me for) it's back to the keyboard for a little finger exercise. Inevitably, as I'm banging away on the keys, someone will hand me a CD and tell me there's an image on it I just gotta see. So, I make a detour from the article to take a look at a really cool chopper that was built by one of our readers. Next thing I know, I'm on the phone seeing if we can set up a photo shoot for that bike. My life is filled with computers through no choice of my own.
OK, I know, you're just a regular guy who put together a killer chopper. You probably ride it to work a couple days a week, and go out for a nice, long cruise on the weekend. You aren't part of the motorcycle industry other than you built and ride a great-looking bike. "So what's all this computer stuff got to do with me?" you ask. "Nothing," you tell yourself. Wrong. It has everything to do with you. Not to mention, you are part of the industry, the most important part. You're the guy who lays out his hard-earned cash to purchase all of the great parts put out by the manufacturers. Without you, my friend, there would be no industry as we know it today. We'd be back to the early days when every piece was made by hand in the garage of the guy who was building the bike.
Regarding how computers relate to you and your chopper, this relationship has gone hand-in-hand with the growth of the industry. In a way, computers have been one of the many contributing factors that have allowed our sport to flourish.From market research to designing a new product, through delivery and warranty service, every one of these different areas rely heavily on computers.
Most companies (for our purpose let's just say this company is building custom choppers) that bring a new product to market will collect data, input it into a computer, and analyze it with any one of a number of different software programs to determine if the product is feasible. Once the green light has been given, renderings are made, and the engineers and designers get a crack at how the product will look and function. Most of this will be done with the aid of CAD (Computer Aided Drafting), 3-D modeling, and engineering programs. Then it's on to the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines that reside in a majority of today's manufacturing facilities. These machines get instructions from computers that help manufacture the various parts and assemblies that make up the chopper.
Having a completed product in hand is by no means the end of the line. There is still testing to be performed, such as dyno testing, emission analysis, and in some cases, noise level testing -- more computers.When it comes time to deliver the chopper to you, a lot of other people become involved making the keyboard sing or the mouse click. There's spreadsheets from the accounting department, tracking software used by the shipping companies, and inventory control programs used by the chopper dealer.Take these procedures, multiply them by the many companies building motorcycles and motorcycle parts, and that's an awful lot of
computing. From the frame manufacturers to the engine and transmission makers, the tire companies, brake manufactures, carburetor builders, wheel makers, this process revolves continuously. By now I think you get the idea. The industry, as we know it today, would not be able to operate without a multitude of zeros and ones.Needless to say, this example contains procedures that are used by some manufacturers, while different procedures may be used by others. While this is the norm in the industry today, there are still a percentage of companies that may do some of these procedures the old-fashioned way.
So, the next time you can't get your system to boot, and you can't get that important e-mail message because the network is down, just remember: There are a lot of other dedicated folks out there making sure you can jump on your chop, go for a cruise, and make all of your problems go away.Be Well.