Norm's machine was of the analogue type, which is less flexible, less complex, and vastly smaller and cheaper. He called it the ICWEA (ICK-wee-ah), which stood for "I Can Work 'Em All!" It could, too! It was especially good at deriving equations from curves, which was really something.
Charley Oglethorpe burst into the office one morning, catching Norm in a brown study. "Hi, Genius. How is she perking now?"
"All right, except the pen skips a little sometimes and makes a messy curve."
"Have to damp that arm better. When can I have her to work on?"
"Soon as I finish these Mugu problems."
Charley stared at him.
"Mugu. Guided-missile center. It's nice business if we can get it—the digitals are all booked up months ahead, and the particular type of problem they send us is right up our alley."
"I thought you were kidding me, like that Boolean Algebra stuff."
"Wasn't kidding then, either."