The first business computer. The first Systems Analyst. As a curator, I always demur when asked "what was the first....? There's no end to it, and technology does not proceed that way. A new technology does not suddenly appear in fully functional form; it "eases up" to functionality.
An old, rare IBM film about SAGE recently surfaced on YouTube -- what a fantastic resource that web site is. The film brought back many discussions I've had with my colleagues about the place of SAGE in the history of computing. Paul Edwards saw SAGE as the centerpiece of the "Closed World" of computing. IBM historians have discussed its role in propelling that company into the forefront of commercial computing after 1960.
Despite my dissertation research on Konrad Zuse, I've been accused of a bias toward the American side of computer history. Here are a couple of news items from the U.K. that may offset that.
In an earlier post (March 20), I discussed Moore’s Law and its relation to the history of computing. Once again I feel compelled to return to the topic—this time, to discuss its impact, not on computer science and technology, but on its historians. Put simply, historians of technology, including me, find Moore’s Law unnerving.
In an earlier post I mentioned the American Computer Museum of Bozeman, Montana. You can look at its web site for details. Now that the weather is getting warm, it is time for all of us who are interested in computing history to figure out a way to get to Bozeman and see it. You don't really need an excuse.
IEEE Santa Clara Valley (SCV) Section is proud to present this Special Citation at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View at noon on the 29th. This is the first IEEE Special Citation to be awarded in the USA under the new IEEE History Staff program. All are invited to celebrate this award at the world's largest computer history museum.
IEEE members will also receive complimentary admission to the museum's exhibits for the day. The IEEE and the Computer History Museum have an outstanding ongoing relationship for the preservation of our professional history.
On Thursday, August 13, 2015, a FMS audience enjoyed a marvelous "conversation" between FMS Technical Chair Brian Berg and SanDisk founder Eli Harari. PhD. Eli's narrative was stimulated and augmented by very informative slides Brian created.
Dear fellow members of ITHS, I am an historian, serve on the board of ITHS, and worked at IBM for 38 years. Some of you may have seen books I have written on the history of the IT industry over the years.
Abstract
The microprocessor changed what is now known as Silicon Valley from a mostly agricultural and defense electronics region into a center of innovation for many new technologies. How did that happen and what challenges were faced along the way?
This IEEE Life Member panel will discuss and debate the development of microprocessor technologies in the 70's, 80's and 90's.
The IBM Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator (in use from 1948-1952) pioneered some features of the modern computer such as self-modifying instructions and stood on the indistinct dividing line between the modern computer and the calculating machines that came before. It was also a pioneer in another sphere, the movie business.
The IEEE SV Tech History committee fulfilled its mandate by holding four technical meetings in 2014. It was a close call as three of those meetings occured in the last three months of the year.
Our committee’s charter is to have at least four technical meetings per year that will educate, inform and raise the level of awareness of technology history indigenous to greater silicon valley. In addition, we are open and receptive to holding joint meetings with other IEEE Societies, groups, committees as well as tech non profit organizations. Our website complements our meetings and provides in
Editor's NOTE: This article was written by Ted Hoff, PhD EE and edited by Alan J. Weissberger, Chairman of the IEEE SV History Committee.From Ted Hoff:
The errors listed below are in approximately the same order as they appear in Malone's book.
On August 6, 2014, Michael Malone, Author of The Intel Trinity, spoke at the Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley. The program was held in the upper galleries of the Tech Museum in San Jose, CA.
Similar to his earlier speech at the
A group of students at the Harvard Innovation Lab have created a time-lapsed visualization of the impact of computers, IT, and technology on our lives. The video provides a historical review of the office desk, beginning from the 1980s all the way to present day.
When was the last time you walked into a data center and were stopped dead in your tracks by the beauty of a computer? Right, probably never. That is why you will most likely never see a computer in any art history books...but there is one that may well change that.
Even though there is amazing beauty in the intricate mesh of microelectronic circuits inside, most people never really get to see that. Instead, we have come to view a computer as nothing more than a box that we plug things into.
Introduction:
This CHM conversation (with NY Times moderator John Markoff asking the questions) was more about the challenges faced by Ms Arati Prabhakar, PhD then it was about DARPA. It would've been very appropriate for a Women in Engineering meeting. However, there were several important topics related to Ms Prabhaker's two terms of employment at DARPA, which we've attempted to capture in this event summary article. Note the addendum on Sil
Gary A. Kildall, PhD (1942 – 1994), developed and then demonstrated the first working prototype of CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers) in Pacific Grove in 1974.
