While the specific tasks a computer did varied according to need and her department, the majority of computing work involved three components: reading film, running calculations, and plotting data. During wind tunnel tests, manometer boards measured pressure changes using liquid-filled tubes. Computers “read” photographic films of the manometer readings, and recorded the data on worksheets. Working one on one for an engineer, or collectively in a computing section, computers then ran different types of calculations to analyze the data, and plotted the results on graph paper. All this work was done by hand, using slide rules, curves, magnifying glasses and basic calculating machines, like the Marchant or the more popular Friedan, which could multiply AND calculate square roots.[15] Once completed, the calculations, graphs and other information were checked for accuracy and sent back to the engineers to design the next tests. In interviews, computers recalled a feeling of camaraderie among section employees in this period, as engineers, model builders and computers worked together as a team. Margaret Hurt, whose career at the 16-foot tunnel spanned thirty years, remembered everyone at the tunnel addressing each other by their first names, and frequently gathering for social activities outside of work.[16]
I think this relates to the current discussions around AI but I'm not sure how to phrase it yet.