Browsing by Subject "Computer industry -- History."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Oral history interview with Cuthbert Corwin Hurd
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1981-01-20) Hurd, Cuthbert Corwin, 1911-
    Hurd discusses International Business Machines' (IBM) commitment to research in computer technology, IBM's support for academic research on computers, and his own work at IBM--especially on the IBM 701, 704 and 705 computers. He also describes John von Neumann and his contributions to the development of computer technology.
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    Oral history interview with Donald L. Bitzer
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1988-02-19) Bitzer, Donald Lester
    Bitzer discusses his relationship with Control Data Corporation (CDC) during the development of PLATO, a computer-assisted instruction system. He describes the interest in PLATO of Harold Brooks, a CDC salesman and his help in procuring a 1604 computer for Bitzer's use. Bitzer recalls the commercialization of PLATO by CDC and his disagreements with CDC over marketing strategy and the creation of courseware for PLATO.
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    Oral history interview with Frank Lautenberg
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 2002-05-03) Lautenberg, Frank R.
    Frank Lautenberg is the senior U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He was born in Paterson, NJ, the son of Polish and Russian immigrants, and served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II. He graduated from Columbia University with an Economics degree in 1949. Lautenberg helped co-found the early payroll services firm Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) and served as both Chairman and CEO. In this oral history Lautenberg refers to his roots in Paterson, which was then still heavily involved in silk manufacturing. He describes his early relationship with silk industry accountant Henry Taub, the originator of ADP (then called Automatic Payrolls) in 1949. Lautenberg remembers the decision to outsource the rendering payroll service, including the intricate financing required in recasting the direction of the company in 1952. Henry became chief planner and strategist. His younger brother Joseph became manager of operations, and Lautenberg became the marketer of service. Lautenberg describes use of Friden calculators and the Comptometer bookkeeping machine at Automatic Payrolls, as well as later punched card tabulating operations. Lautenberg explains the decision to go public in 1961 to accommodate the major payroll and human resource information needs of employers, and later expansion of company facilities and services like records, brokerage, and time-sharing. He talks about his service to ADAPSO and his Senate race. Lautenberg also deals briefly with privacy and security concerns related to automated data processing systems. This oral history was sponsored by the Software History Center in conjunction with the Center's ADAPSO reunion (3 May 2002).
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    Oral history interview with Isaac Levin Auerbach
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1992-10) Auerbach, Isaac L. (Isaac Levin), 1921-1992
    Auerbach begins by discussing friction between himself and J. Presper Eckert and his reasons for leaving Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation. He recounts the circumstances leading to his employment from 1949-1957 with the Burroughs Corporation, his relations with Irven Travis, who headed the computer department at Burroughs, and the formation of the Burroughs Research Laboratory. He describes a number of projects he managed at Burroughs, including computer equipment for the SAGE project, BEAM I computer, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System, a magnetic core encryption communications system, and a missile guidance computer used for the Atlas missile. Auerbach comments on his management of the Defense, Space and Special Products Division, the general management of Burroughs, and his decision to leave the company. Auerbach outlines the establishment of Auerbach Electronics (later Auerbach Associates), one of the first computer consulting firms, and describes his initial contacts with RCA (for the BMEWS system), Honeywell, Leeds and Northrup, and Hot Shoppes (Marriott). He describes the growth of the company and other ventures such as Standard Computer Corporation (computer leasing), International Systems (data processing system for parimutuel betting developed with George Skakel of Great Lakes Carbon Corporation), and Auerbach Publishers, a successful venture that became known for its computer product reviews. He describes his concern with military and government contracts, the sale of Auerbach Associates in 1976 to the Calculon Corporation, and his subsequent consulting activity. He concludes with a discussion of his work with the International Federation for Information Processing, the American Federation of Information Processing Societies, and his philanthropic work primarily in the Philadelphia area and Israel.
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    Oral history interview with James W. Birkenstock
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1980-08-12) Birkenstock, James W. (James Warren), 1912-
    From his perspective as advisor to the president and subsequently as Director of Product Planning and Market Analysis at IBM, Birkenstock discusses the metamorphosis of the company from leader of the tabulating machine industry to leader of the data processing industry. He describes his involvement with magnetic tape development in 1947, the involvement of IBM in the Korean War, the development of the Defense Calculator and the 70l computer, and the emergence of magnetic core memory from the SAGE project. He then recounts the entry of IBM into the commercial computer market with the 702. The end of the interview concerns IBM's relationship with other early entrants in the international computer industry, including litigation with Sperry Rand, its cross-licensing agreements, and cooperation with Japanese electronics firms.
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    Oral history interview with Stephen W. Dunwell
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1989-02-13) Dunwell, Steve, 1913-1994
    Dunwell describes the development of data processing equipment at International Business Machines in the mid-twentieth century. He discusses early data processing and cryptanalytic equipment before focusing on the development of computers following World War II. In this context, he describes IBM's Poughkeepsie Laboratory, John von Neumann's contributions as an IBM consultant, and the IBM 701 and STRETCH (7030) computers.