He’d been working on the project for several years and it was finally ready for a test run.
He wanted to share the moment with his friend from the inventors club, who knew what he’d been working on and had come up with a number of ideas and suggestions throughout its development. This was his alpha version. The software program he built would allow access to all worldwide financial systems. These could be displayed simultaneously while using inbuilt binary analysis subsystems that enabled a user to receive instant graphs that compare international stock exchange data. He had included a basic glossary so that many of the program’s features could be activated by using voice control. Two special voice command features were included, known only to him. They were ‘H7Q’ and ‘H7Q4’. The first voice command was what he used to start the program, much like a password. The second would only be used as an emergency shutdown.
This counter command was incorporated should anything go wrong. It would instantly shut down the program, ensuring that no other alterations could be made before any bugs in the coding were fixed. It would shut down for twenty four hours while problems were being resolved. A problem may take many hours to fix. The whole thing contained a vast number of lines of code; the final number to be determined when he was confident that every aspect of the program was working and no further bug fixes were needed. Over time, several sections had been run individually to check on their performance, but tonight would be the first time the entire program would be activated, and he wanted to share the moment with his friend.
Although his fellow inventor was mainly involved in things mechanical, he had made some useful suggestions about the use of graphics for the main menu screens. Besides, this would be a very special moment and he was really excited that they were going to witness it together.
At last, they were standing side by side, in front of the system’s large screen.
Doing his best to remain calm and professional, he said to his friend, “Are you ready?”
The other nodded enthusiastically.
He switched the microphone on and said, “H-7-Q.” At this, the screen lit up with a very impressive opening page.
His friend was impressed and while staring approvingly at the screen, asked almost absentmindedly, “What was the H7Q for?”