Browsing by Subject "Computer software -- United States -- History"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Oral history interview with Herbert W. Robinson
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1988-07-13) Robinson, Herbert W. (Herbert William)
    The Council for Economic and Industry Research, Inc. was formed in 1952 to perform operations research and model building for the U. S. Air Force. In 1953 Robinson took over the project, which was designed to identify strategic bomb targets in the Soviet Union based on potential economic damage. In 1954 a public company renamed C-E-I-R, Inc. was formed with Robinson as its president. Orchard Hayes was in charge of computer operations for the nascent software development and programming business. Robinson discusses C-E-I-R acquisitions Automation Institute, General Analysis Corporation, Data Tech, ARB (a television rating company), and C-E-I-R de Mexico. He talks about the establishment of C-E-I-R operations in London and the Netherlands and the subsequent takeover of these by British Petroleum. Robinson discusses the difficulties in managing an industry that had no history. He discusses the involvement of Robert Holland and George Dick from IBM, their attempts to direct sales of C-E-I-R products, and the loss of technical personnel. He discusses the early lack of competition and the later entrance of IBM into competition with C-E-I-R. He talks of William Norris' interest and the acquisition of C-E-I-R by Control Data Corporation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Oral history interview with Paul Armer
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1981-06-01) Armer, Paul
    Armer discusses three major topics. He begins with an outline of the history of computers in industry, devoting special attention to changes in business affected by technological innovations. He describes the first commercial computer, the UNIVAC of Remington Rand, and explains how International Business Machines (IBM) entered the computer business later than a number of other companies, but became the industry leader through its marketing strategies. Armer next turn to his career at the Rand Corporation. He describes the JOHNNIAC computer built at Rand and the equipment they purchased from IBM. Armer concludes with an overview of hardware and software innovations since 1957. Topics include: the standardization of software brought about by IBM's 1957 introduction of the first high-level programming language (FORTRAN), the increased communication among businesses about program compatibility, the emergence of the software industry in the 1960s, the proliferation of computer applications since 1950 that have accompanied the vast decreases in the size and cost of computer equipment, and the social impact of computers.