Editing Electronic Recording Machine, Accounting (section)

===First study===
[[File:Check with MICR.jpg|thumb|An early check, demonstrating the features developed by SRI: account numbers and [[Magnetic Ink Character Recognition]].]]

SRI immediately found a problem. Because accounts were kept alphabetically, adding a new account required a reshuffling of the account listings. SRI instead suggested using account numbers, simply adding new ones to the end of the list. In addition these numbers would be pre-printed on checks, thereby dramatically reducing the time to match the checks with account information (known as "proofing"). Numbered accounts are now a feature of almost all banks.

With that problem out of the way, SRI returned a report in September 1950 that stated a computer-based system was certainly feasible, which they called the Electronic Recording Machine (ERM).