Browsing by Subject "Computers -- United States -- History"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 43
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    Burroughs B 5000 Conference
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1985-09-06) Waychoff, Richard; Turner, Lloyd; Rosin, Robert F.; Pearson, Ralph W.; Oliphint, G. Clark; MacKenzie, F. Brad; MacDonald, Ray W.; MacDonald, Duncan N.; Lonergan, William D.; Kreuder, Norman L.; King, Paul D.; Hootman, Joseph T.; Hauck, Erwin A.; Hale, John E.; Galler, Bernard A., 1928-; Ford, James; Eppert, Ray R., 1902-; Dent, Benjamin A.; Dahm, David M.; Creech, Bobby A.; Collins, George A.; Berce, Henri; Barton, Robert S.
    The Burroughs 5000 computer series is discussed by individuals responsible for its development and marketing from 1957 through the 1960s in a conference sponsored by AFIPS and Burroughs Corporation. In the first session the technical aspects of the B 5000 and 5500 are discussed by a group of managers, engineers, and consultants. Topics include: the state of the industry in the late 1950s; the 5000's predecessors, particularly the ElectroData 101 and 201, B 205, and B 220; factors influencing the decision to produce the B 5000; reasons for designing the machine for ALGOL rather than FORTRAN and the effect of this decision on the computer's development and sales. The group reviews the MCP operating system, PERM, Polish notation, descriptors, stacks, the BALGOL compiler, and other innovations of the computer. In the second session, the same group discusses the development of the B 5000 into a product, including the effect of the administrative organization on the project; the relations between hardware and software engineers; the interaction of project personnel and upper-level management, field marketing, and customers; the COBOL processor, the head protract disk system; the operating system; ALGOL; and documentation of the computer. In the third session managers, sales personnel, and customers of the B 5000 discuss Burroughs' product line before the 200 and 5000 series computers; sales training and market reaction to the B 5000; acceptance of B 5000s at Ohio Oil Company and Stanford University; its rejection by the University of Michigan; reasons why the B 5000 was not marketed overseas; and Burroughs' presidents Raymond Eppert and Ray MacDonald. Technical session participants included: Robert S. Barton, Bobby A. Creech, David M. Dahm, Benjamin A. Dent, Bernard A. Galler, John E. S. Hale, Erwin A. Hauck, Paul D. King, Norman Kreuder, William Lonergan, Duncan MacDonald, F. Brad MacKenzie, G. Clark Oliphint, Robert F. Rosin, Lloyd Turner, and Richard Waychoff. Marketing session participants included: Henri Berce, George A. Collins, James Ford, Bernard A. Galler, John E. S. Hale, Joseph T. Hootman, Paul D. King, F. Brad MacKenzie, Ralph W. Pearson, and Robert F. Rosin.
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    Oral history interview with Antonín Svoboda
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1979-11-15) Svoboda, Antonín
    Svoboda describes his research on computing in Czechoslovakia, France, and the United States. He begins by discussing his early career: his electrical engineering education in Prague, the differential analyzer he built for the French during World War II for fire control, and his work in New York for the ABAX Corporation on Bofort anti-aircraft guns. He explains how MIT became interested in his work on linkage computers for aiming guns automatically and describes the two-part linkage computer system he built for them, the OMAR and the Mark 56. On his return to Czechoslovakia in 1948, the Research Institute of Mathematics asked Svoboda to develop computing machines, and funded his visits to major digital computer projects. He recounts visits to Harvard, the Institute for Advanced Study, and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1951 he began work on Czechoslovakia's first (electromechanical) digital computer, the SAPO, and its successful completion despite interference from the Communist government. He also mentions the EPOS computer he built in Czechoslovakia in the early 1960s. Svoboda describes his escape to the U.S. in 1964 and his appointment at UCLA. He concludes by assessing his greatest contributions: the use of graphical and mechanical means to teach logical design, the solution of multiple output optimization, and the Boolean analyzer (a parallel processing unit on Boolean algebra).
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    Oral history interview with Arnold A. Cohen
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1987-07-02) Cohen, Arnold A.
    The interview focuses on Engineering Research Associates (ERA). Cohen begins the interview by briefly describing most of the early ERA personnel. He discusses his own work and that of C. B. Tompkins on various ERA projects including the Goldberg Project and the design of memory systems.
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    Oral history interview with Ben Persons and Herb Pelnar
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 2001-07-17) Persons, Ben; Pelnar, Herb
    In this oral history Ben Persons, most recently Technical Assistant to the Lab Director at IBM Rochester, and Herb Pelnar, retired AS/400 System Administrator, talk about their careers at IBM, focusing in particular on the development of System/38. Persons shares his experiences repairing World Trade equipment, contributing to the design of an underground command and control system for the Pentagon, and his work on TSS at IBM’s Yorktown research facility. Pelnar discusses his employment as a SAGE display system technician and in coordinating the RETAIN maintenance system. Pelnar also speaks about about his work coding System/32, and on the role and environment of the programmer within IBM before 1980.
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    Oral history interview with Carl Chambers
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1977-11-30) Chambers, Carl
    Chambers discusses the initiation and progress of the ENIAC project at the University of Pennsylvania Moore School of Electrical Engineering. He recalls the conditions under which John Mauchly, one of the ENIAC designers, came to the Moore School in 1941, Mauchly's 1943 proposal to the Army for a computer project, the National Defense Research Committee's initial denial of funds because of its commitment to analog computing, and the start of the ENIAC project six months later. Chambers describes the interactions among the ENIAC staff, and focuses on the personalities and working relationships of Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert. He recounts their conflicts with project director John Grist Brainerd, and the commercial interests they first envisioned in 1944. Chambers discusses John von Neumann's involvement from 1944 in the EDVAC project, the financial strains that accompanied this project, and the patent disagreement that led Eckert and Mauchly to resign from the faculty. He concludes with his views on the importance of the 1946 Moore School summer course, "Theory and techniques for design of electronic digital computers," now known as the "Moore School Lectures" in disseminating computer technology.
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    Oral history interview with Carl Hammer
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1983-04-15) Hammer, Carl, 1914-2004
    Hammer reviews his career in the computing industry, including his work for RCA, Sperry, and Sylvania. He begins with his entry into data processing at the Columbia University T. J. Watson Scientific Computing Laboratory and his work under Paul Lazarsfeld as a research associate at the Bureau of Applied Social Research. He turns next to his employment beginning in l950 at the Franklin Institute. He discusses the industrial applications of computers, and collaborations between the Franklin Institute and the government. From 1955 through 1957 Hammer headed the European Univac Computing Center. He discusses interactions with U.S. computer professionals, the peculiarities of installing computers in Europe, and the differing effect of computers on institutions in Europe and the U.S. He reviews Sperry's merger with Remington Rand and the changes in marketing and other operations after the merger. He cites these changes as his reason for leaving Sperry to work for Sylvania on his return from Europe in 1957. Sylvania's MOBIDIC computer and the ballistic missile early warning system are described in detail. In 1959 Hammer joined the Surface Communication Division of RCA. He discusses the in-fighting at RCA after John L. Hammer became president in 1960, the resulting demise of RCA's computer operations, and his own return to Univac in 1962.
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    Oral history interview with David C. Walden
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1990-02-06) Walden, David C.
    Following a brief overview of his background, Walden traces his involvement with the ARPANET, from discussions before the official DARPA request was issued to his later management of the project at Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN). He discusses the people involved in the ARPANET work at BBN and how they were influenced by their previous work developing real-time computer systems at Lincoln Laboratory. Walden describes the working environment of the group at BBN and their relationships with the IPT Office, other DARPA contractors, and the larger community. This interview was recorded as part of a research project on the influence of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the development of computer science in the United States.
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    Oral history interview with David J. Wheeler
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1987-05-14) Wheeler, David J., 1927-
    Wheeler, who was a research student at the University Mathematical Laboratory at Cambridge from 1948-51, begins with a discussion of the EDSAC project during his tenure. He compares the research orientation and the programming methods at Cambridge with those at the Institute for Advanced Study. He points out that, while the Cambridge group was motivated to process many smaller projects from the larger university community, the Institute was involved with a smaller number of larger projects. Wheeler mentions some of the projects that were run on the EDSAC, the user-oriented programming methods that developed at the laboratory, and the influence of the EDSAC model on the ILLIAC, the ORDVAC, and the IBM 701. He also discusses the weekly meetings held in conjunction with the National Physical Laboratory, the University of Birmingham, and the Telecommunications Research Establishment. These were attended by visitors from other British institutions as well as from the continent and the United States. Wheeler notes visits by Douglas Hartree (of Cavendish Laboratory), Nelson Blackman (of ONR), Peter Naur, Aad van Wijngarden, Arthur van der Poel, Friedrich L. Bauer, and Louis Couffignal. In the final part of the interview Wheeler discusses his visit to Illinois where he worked on the ILLIAC and taught from September 1951 to September 1953.
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    Oral history interview with Douglas T. Ross
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1984-02-21) Ross, Douglas T.; Aspray, William
    Ross, the founder of SofTech Corporation, recounts some of his early experiences working on MIT's Whirlwind computer in the 1950s. He explains how a summer job at MIT's Servomechanisms Laboratory operating a Marchant calculator led him to use the Whirlwind for greater computing power--and to seventeen years in the MIT computer labs. Ross reports on his first use of Whirlwind for airborne fire control problems. Soon after that the Whirlwind was used for the Cape Cod early warning system, a precursor to the SAGE Air Defense System. Ross describes improvements made to Whirlwind, including the introduction of the first light pen and the replacement of the paper tape reader with a photoelectric tape reader (PETR). Ross also discusses some of the programs he wrote or used on Whirlwind, such as the Initial Data Processing Program (IDPP), the Servo Lab Utility Program (SLURP), and the Mistake Diagnosis Routine (MDR). He describes the IDPP as particularly interesting, because it involved pattern recognition and was thus an early example of artificial intelligence research.
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    Oral history interview with Earl Edgar Masterson
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1986) Masterson, Earl (Earl Edgar)
    Masterson begins by describing his early life and work with Radio Corporation of America. He then recounts his job interview with J. Presper Eckert and Fraser Welch and his work with the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, especially his work with the UNIVAC and his design of a functional high-speed printer. He also discusses James H. Rand and Remington-Rand's management of Eckert-Mauchly after the firm's acquisition. He concludes with a review of his work for Honeywell and development of high-speed printers there.
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    Oral history interview with Edward C. Svendsen
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1986-09-16) Svendsen, Edward C.
    Svendsen begins with a description of his early life and education and a discussion of his work in the Navy during World War II. The bulk of the interview concerns the relationship between Engineering Research Associates and the Navy. Topics include: John Parker and the management of ERA; the work of Howard Engstrom, William Norris, Ralph Meader, John Howard, and Sid Rubens at ERA; and ERA's projects for the Navy.
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    Oral history interview with Frances E. Holberton
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1983-04-14) Holberton, Frances E.
    Holberton discusses her education from 1940 through the 1960s and her experiences in the computing field. These include work with the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, David Taylor Model Basin, and the National Bureau of Standards. She discusses her perceptions of cooperation and competition between members of these organizations and the difficulties she encountered as a woman. She recounts her work on ENIAC and LARC, her design of operating systems, and her applications programming.
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    Oral history interview with Frank Heart
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1990-03-13) Heart, Frank
    Following a brief overview of his fifteen years of experience at Lincoln Laboratory (including work on Whirlwind and SAGE), Heart describes his move to Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN) and how he became involved with the ARPA network project. As the manager of the project at BBN for over ten years, Heart discusses his relationships with the group at BBN, DARPA and Lawrence Roberts, and the host community. Some of the problems encountered and surprises in the development of the network are addressed by Heart, as are the changes he has seen in DARPA over the years of his involvement with them. This interview was recorded as part of a research project on the influence of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the development of computer science in the United States.
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    Oral history interview with Gene M. Amdahl
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1989) Amdahl, Gene
    Amdahl begins the first session with a description of his early life and education. He recalls his experiences teaching in the Advanced Specialized Training Program during and after World War II. Amdahl discusses his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and his direction of the design and construction of WISC. He concludes the first session with a brief discussion of his work at International Business Machines (IBM). In the second and third sessions, Amdahl discusses his role in the design of several computers for IBM including the STRETCH, 701, 701A, and 704. He discusses his work with Nathaniel Rochester and IBM's management of the design process for computers. He also mentions his work with Ramo-Wooldridge, Aeronutronic, and Computer Sciences Corporation.
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    Oral history interview with George M. Ryan
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1993-06) Ryan, George M., 1922-
    After briefly describing his background and education, Ryan, former chairman and CEO of CADO Systems Corporation, discusses his work in the development and distribution of data processing equipment from the early 1950s through the early 1990s. He recalls work with Benson-Lehner in the early 1950s and he describes the firm's development of the computyper, a billing machine. Ryan discusses his role in the sale of the computyper to Friden and his employment by Friden. He recalls his frustration with Friden's attempts at further development of the product, his involvement in the acquisition of the Flexowriter for Friden, and his management of a branch for Friden in Los Angeles. Ryan recalls his return to Benson-Lehner from Friden in the late 1950s and the events leading to his formation of Intercontinental Systems Incorporated with Pete Taylor in the late 1960s. Ryan describes ISI's distribution and development of data processing equipment and his philosophy for the management of engineering and sales at ISI. Ryan recalls his idea to develop a computer for small businesses and describes his role in the partnership that became CADO Systems Corporation in 1976. He discusses the development of the computer by Jim Ferguson and Bob Thorne, his strategy of marketing the computer to small businesses and government offices, CADO's rapid growth, and the creation of additional product lines. Ryan concludes the interview by summarizing his activities since leaving CADO in 1983.
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    Oral history interview with Herman H. Goldstine
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1980-08-11) Goldstine, Herman Heine, 1913-
    Goldstine, associate director of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) computer project from 1945 to 1956, discusses his role in the project. He describes the acquisition of funding from the Office of Naval Research, the hiring of staff, and his relationship with John von Neumann. Goldstine explains that von Neumann was responsible for convincing the Institute to sponsor the computer project. Goldstine praises von Neumann's contributions, among which he counts the first logical design of a computer and the concept of stored programming. Goldstine turns next to the relations between the project and one of its funders, the Atomic Energy Commission. He points out the conflict of interest of IAS director Robert Oppenheimer, who chaired the AEC General Advisory Committee, and von Neumann who sat on this committee, when other AEC officials discontinued funding for the project. Goldstine also recounts the problems that arose during the project over patent rights and their resolution. Goldstine concludes by discussing the many visitors to the project and the many computers (Whirlwind, ILLIAC, JOHNNIAC, IBM 70l) modeled after the IAS computer.
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    Oral history interview with Isaac Levin Auerbach
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1978-04-10) Auerbach, Isaac L. (Isaac Levin), 1921-1992
    Auerbach recounts his experiences at Electronic Control Company (later the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Company) in the period 1947-1949. He emphasizes the economic and practical infeasibility of the BINAC computer project for Northrop Aircraft. Auerbach also discusses the UNIVAC, including personalities, politics, and its technical features. The roles of the National Bureau of Standards, Northrop Aircraft, Raytheon, Remington Rand, and IBM are brought into a perspective relative to the development of the UNIVAC.
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    Oral history interview with Ivan Sutherland
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1989-05-01) Sutherland, Ivan Edward, 1938-
    Following a brief overview of his background, Sutherland describes his tenure as head of the Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) from 1963 to 1965. He discusses the existing programs as established by J. C. R. Licklider, his interaction with the research community, the budget, and the new initiatives started while he was there: projects in graphics and networking, the ILLIAC IV, and the Macromodule program. Other topics covered include: the difficulties of getting qualified people into the office, the impact of IPTO's funding in artificial intelligence, and the review process. This interview was recorded as part of a research project on the influence of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the development of computer science in the United States.
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    Oral history interview with James E. Thornton
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1984-02-09) Thornton, J. E. (James E.)
    After Thornton briefly describes his education, the interview focuses on the design and construction work at Engineering Research Associates on Task 29 which became the ERA 1103 computer.
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    Oral history interview with James T. Pendergrass
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1985-03-28) Pendergrass, James T.
    Pendergrass discusses his work in the Navy and the early use of computers there. He discusses his decoding and production work during the second world war, particularly on the Enigma project in which he used IBM, Kodak, and NCR equipment. After the war Pendergrass remained in the Navy and worked with Rear Admiral Leonard Winger and others in the Naval Security Group. Pendergrass reviews his computer training in 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania Moore School for Electrical Engineering and his subsequent work for the Navy with Engineering Research Associates, the Institute for Advanced Study, and IBM. He concludes with a discussion of his Navy work on the Atlas project and advances in computer technology in the late 1940s and early 1950s.