OCTOBER 2001 CORE 2.3

A PUBLICATION OF THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER WWW.COMPUTERHISTORY.ORG SHAPING UP FOR SUCCESS

David Miller came on board with great 126 and 45 until they are demolished energy and experience as the vice for the proposed NASA Research Park. president of development. He has taken I think we will all see an exciting the reigns from Eleanor Dickman, who physical presence very soon. Our vision of a computer history had a wonderful year with us. Both museum is taking shape. It includes Board and staff are working to Meanwhile, the architecture and exhibit 1) a permanent home with unique strengthen and expand our already design teams for our permanent home artifacts and exhibits, 2) a Cyber- successful development organization to are moving rapidly ahead. As of Museum of virtual displays and digital insure future growth. August/September we are finishing the information, and 3) communities of “programming” phase and will be people across the world linked by a Mike Walton joined us in June as the moving into the “schematic design” variety of Museum programs. Our goal director of cyber exhibits. Some of you phase of the project. Please review the is to build a single organization that may know Mike from his work at materials on our website–we want your combines these three vital resources ConXion, which hosts our web site, or feedback and ideas. into a lasting institution. his previous volunteer work at the Museum. The CyberMuseum team has Inside this issue, you’ll see more about I am happy to report that we ended the already begun a series of experiments our volunteers and the great role they last fiscal year in the black–a critically and explorations to help formulate our play in so many ways. Our Volunteer important accomplishment in a down long-term technical strategies and to Appreciation Day in August was only a economy–and our growth is almost add real value to the current very small token of our appreciation for doubling every year! Congratulations to organization. This includes, among each and every one of them. all involved for helping to create tangible other things, experimenting with video progress out of great ideas. As you can from DECWORLD 2001 and looking at I can’t close without acknowledging the guess, we are vigilant about the long-term “cyber exhibits.” great programs we’ve recently had and economy and its financial impact on us reminding you that the 2001 Fellow this year, but are doing everything we Pam Cleveland has joined us as events Awards Banquet is coming up on can to minimize our risks. manager and her expertise has been so October 23rd. This year, we have put important with the frequent, together an incredible program to honor I’d like to welcome Lori Crawford as the spectacular, and unique events the Fred Brooks, Jean Sammet, and most recent addition to our Board of Museum is hosting. Maurice Wilkes. In addition to the Fellow Trustees. Lori comes to us from Infinity Awards, we will update you on our Capital with a wealth (!) of non-profit Finally, we welcomed the arrival of three exciting progress and celebrate our experience and will be chairing the new NASA interns in June: Jennifer international outreach with a unique Finance Committee. Cheng brings experience and energy to series of events in cooperation with the our event planning and development offices of the Consulate General of We have also made some significant teams, Kathy Vo Jozefowicz is defining Switzerland. Artifact donations, a staff changes in the last several months and implementing our e-store, and distinguished lecture panel, and a that are very important to our future. Robert Yeh provides financial and special reception will make that week Mike Williams, Professor Emeritus of administrative support. We are very very wonderful indeed. Computer Science at the University of happy to have such professional and Calgary, has joined us as head curator. dedicated people working with us and Finally, we continue to need your Known worldwide as a computer have wondered how we would have support in so many ways, but hope you historian, Mike has published survived our summer of growth without are also enjoying the multitude of extensively, served as editor of the IEEE their help. experiences through which computing Annals of the History of Computing, history can be preserved. The next six curated exhibits for other museums, Our interim building is well under way. At months are shaping up to be very and fallen in love with our collection and press time, we are moving forward with important, and opportunities abound to plans. I hope you have already met him a temporary steel structure–including engage in the organization–just ask! It and share our excitement about 22.5K square feet for the warehouse, is exciting to turn dreams into reality welcoming him to the Museum. In 9K square feet for exhibits/meetings, and to have so many people everywhere addition, Dag Spicer, after a leave of and 9.5K square feet of office be part of it. absence, has rejoined us for several space–that we expect to complete by months as exhibit curator to formulate April 2002. It will allow us to build our plans for the permanent building. operation and manage a dynamic collection process for several years. In JOHN C TOOLE addition, we intend to keep buildings EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO

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October 2001 COREA publication of The Computer Museum2.3 History Center IN THIS MISSION ISSUE TO PRESERVE AND PRESENT FOR POSTERITY THE ARTIFACTS AND STORIES OF THE INFORMATION AGE

VISION INSIDE FRONT COVER TO EXPLORE THE COMPUTING REVOLUTION AND ITS SHAPING UP FOR SUCCESS IMPACT ON THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE John C Toole

2 NEW WAYS TO EXPLORE COMPUTING HISTORY: PROTOTYPING THE PROCESS AT EXECUTIVE STAFF DECWORLD 2001 Karyn Wolfe John C Toole EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO 2 5 Karen Mathews A WALK THROUGH “VISIBLE STORAGE” EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Len Shustek David Miller VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT 16 Mike Williams RECENT ACQUISITIONS HEAD CURATOR

17 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 5 REPORT ON MUSEUM ACTIVITIES Karen Mathews Leonard J Shustek, Chairman Charles H (Chuck) House VENCRAFT, LLC INTEL CONVERGED COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, 21 Sally M. Abel DIALOGIC DIVISION UPCOMING EVENTS FENWICK & WEST, LLP CONTACT INFORMATION David L Anderson Dave House ALLEGRO NETWORKS SENDMAIL ON THE BACK COVER C Gordon Bell Christine Hughes MYSTERY ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION MICROSOFT CORPORATION HIGHWAY 1 17 Peggy Burke Steve Kirsch 1185 DESIGN PROPEL SOFTWARE CORPORATION Lori Crawford John Mashey INFINITY CAPITAL LLC SENSEI PARTNERS LLC Andrea Cunningham Ike R Nassi CITIGATE CUNNINGHAM ALLEGIS CAPITAL Donna Dubinsky Suhas Patil HANDSPRING TUFAN BACK David Emerson Bernard L Peuto CLARENT CORPORATION CONCORD CONSULTING Samuel Fuller John William Poduska Sr ANALOG DEVICES ADVANCED VISUAL SYSTEMS Eric Hahn F Grant Saviers INVENTURES GROUP PRIVATE INVESTOR Gardner C Hendrie John Shoch SIGMA PARTNERS ALLOY VENTURES Peter Hirshberg Pierluigi Zappacosta GLOSS.COM

Copyright © 2001, The Computer Museum History Center. All rights reserved. The Museum is an independent 501 (c) (3) organization, FID# 77-0507525. PO Box 367, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.

The Computer Museum History Center Building T12-A Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA +1 650 604 2579 +1 650 604 2594 (fax)

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The Museum seeks technical articles from our readers. Article submission guidelines can be located at www.computerhistory.org/core, or contact Editor Karyn Wolfe at [email protected].

CORE 2.3 PAGE 2

NEW WAYS TO EXPLORE COMPUTING HISTORY: PROTOTYPING THE PROCESS AT DECWORLD 2001

BY KARYN WOLFE

None of these stories are the In June 2001, The Computer Museum We thought that the best way to convey History Center sponsored an unusual the results of our efforts was to show truth; these are all of our event: DECWORLD 2001, a retro- you just a portion of the material that recollections after the fact. spective conference focused on the we collected while documenting the –Gordon Bell stories and recollections of the people unique culture and technical who helped create and develop the now- contributions of Digital Equipment defunct Digital Equipment Corporation Corporation. For a longer version of this All the stories I’m going to (DEC). Approximately 200 people article, for more information about the tell you are true; some of the attended the weekend, which included program and attendees, and for pictures details have been revised to informal get-togethers, a DEC artifact and detailed reports about the event, exhibit, show-and-tell, panel and open please visit our website at enhance the audience mike sessions, video presentations, a www.computerhistory.org/decworld. experience. –Joe DiNucci speaker banquet, video interviews, and lots of time to talk and get reacquainted.

The Museum created DECWORLD 2001 in order to gather stories and information that might otherwise be widely dispersed or even lost. The event was very successful in helping the Museum to fulfill its mission “to preserve and present for posterity the artifacts and stories of the information age.” We collected hundreds of quotes and comments, received donations of new DEC hardware, and captured hours of presentations, stories, and interviews. As we synthesize these new materials into our archives, we are The DECWORLD 2001 experiment included Gordon Bell examines an artifact at the videotaped interviews with many ex-DEC learning how to best make them usable “show and tell.” employees. and available for research and display both in our physical Museum and in our CyberMuseum that is under development. Our experiences with video, digital formatting, transcribing, web posting, interviewing, etc., are an experiment that will inform upcoming collection efforts.

Grant Saviers sported multiple badges from his years at DEC.

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DIGITAL “RULES” AND CULTURE

Attendees described the unique culture and “rules of the game” found at I never, in my life, spent a DEC, particularly in the early days when the company was small and literally period of time with so many defining much of the market. Here are some of their thoughts. truly brilliant people as I did at DEC. –Jeff Kalb

“He Who Proposes, Does” A Company of Techies Everyone was encouraged to accept Field sales had a test for who the responsibility for programs. The customers were. If the customer expression ‘He who proposes, does’ couldn’t program the machine and fix it was very common and the idea that from one of the handbooks, they didn’t someone like myself, for instance, in pass the test as a customer and we 1981, having been with the company bypassed them. That’s the kind of only six to eight months, could take a company it was. –Julius Marcus proposal all the way to the Board of Directors was something very foreign Group Process Really Works to me. –Jeff Kalb As a young consultant, one of the most unusual things about Ken Olsen’s “Do The Right Thing” Drove the approach was that he did not set me up Organization to make presentations or to give It seems that the most empowering lectures. He said: ‘Come to the value of the company was to ‘Do the Evening speaker Win Hindle described DEC’s meetings and see what you can do.’ internal culture as “merit-based, yet competitive; Right Thing.’ That gave people a What I saw was people interrupting, contentious, but fair; critical and open-minded.” tremendous sense of personal people shouting at each other. ‘What’s responsibility and support for the things this all about?’ I thought, and began to “that they did. So many were able to get realize it was about finding truth. No positions of responsibility much greater one person was smart enough. But, than they ever would have expected to. when we got into a group and debated –Ted Johnson the issue, we would get smart very fast. That was a very important philosophical DEC was Training Ground for Many principle for how DEC worked. The Entrepreneurs reason you don’t make arbitrary Probably the huge legacy of Digital was decisions from a position of authority is the incredible training ground that we because you’re probably not that smart. provided. A vast number of people went –Ed Schein on to become CEOs, to found new companies, to do things as A Boundary-less Organization entrepreneurs. I’m really proud to be Digital was a place without laws. I read associated with those that have gone General Electric’s annual reports and on to do great things. Periodically Evening speaker Ed Schein asserted that DEC Jack Welch talks about trying to be a was “based on very strong individuals, which is somebody will say, ‘Yeah, I was at DEC ‘boundary-less’ organization. Well, in a the quintessential American, individualistic, and started this company…’ and they very natural way, that was Digital during competitive company.” transported the DEC environment to the early days and quite far into the create good cultures and essentially company’s history. We were boundary- great designs. –Gordon Bell less because people were empowered to get the job done by using the resources of the company in whatever way was possible. And that meant going directly—not up through the hierarchy and down again—to the place from where you needed the help. And, by and large, that help was always given in the spirit in which it was requested. –Win Hindle ” CORE 2.3 PAGE 4

TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In addition to the atmosphere of working at DEC, attendees expressed admiration for the contributions they saw the company had made to the development of the computing industry… from the idea of interactive computing, to the concept of OEMs and VARs as channels of distribution for complete products, to the precocity and longevity of concepts such as VMS.

Digital’s Role in Interactive Computing Timesharing Digital had a unique role in computer Digital anticipated personal computing. history. The industry was comprised of Even in the early days with PDP-6 and Panel Two included Grant Saviers, Dick Clayton, companies that took punched cards, DEC-10, timesharing made it possible Julius “Mark” Marcus, Len Bosack, and Rich Lary sorted them, and did a little bit of for people to do computations presenting thoughts about 1970-1980, when arithmetic with them. From the very individually, in real time, and let the “product lines were in full force.” beginning we started with computers pace of thought control what happened controlling things. So we built interactive as opposed to the pace of the computer computers, which was almost beyond and the operations. So I think Digital’s the understanding of most people. We contribution, in the large, was to enable By 1980, finally people had this new concept—like with the individual use of computing and then SAGE system—that computers had the the company embodied that by allowing knew that “Digital” didn’t ability to do something, to interact with individuals to do their very best. mean watches. something. It was a paradigm shift. –David Rodgers –Grant Saviers –Stan Olsen

The Invention of the OEM and VAR “Approaches In my role in commercial OEM at DEC, we revolutionized the sale of CONCLUSION We hope you visit commercial computers into the industry. As you can hopefully see, the day www.computerhistory.org/decworld for We invented the VAR [Value Added resulted in wonderful reminiscences a more complete picture and to discover Reseller] program and we really got and rich contributions to the Museum’s more anecdotes and quotes, including: minicomputers established in the archival coffers. Thanks to all who Cats in the Cabinet by Marcia Russell commercial marketplace in a wide participated. Attendee and Museum variety of applications, spurring a huge volunteer Mike Baxter made the How VAX Got Started by Rich Lary growth within the industry. Almost all following comments a few days after the computer companies now use the the event: The Loading Dock Problem by Len Bosack VAR approach to selling those kind of The Story of Mullen Blue by Pat Mullen systems. –Jim Willis I’m still in awe at what I experienced at DECWORLD 2001.” It was mind- 700 Pounds of Lead by Pat Mullen VMS Safe and Secure bogglingly important, a successful I want to draw your attention to just how experiment, and a most mature UNIX for Sale – ouch! By Bob Glorioso good VMS is. It’s actually the 25th retrospective…I was very impressed to The Origin of “PDP” by Stan Olsen anniversary of the first boot up of VMS see mistakes discussed openly and Starlet on June 14, 1976. So VMS is without recrimination. This is really Problem Solving for the Imp-11 by Jim Leve 25 years old, and it’s still 25 years important learning, know-how that can ahead of the SQLs and the NTs. And to be reused. “Museum” does not The Story of the Digital Handbook Concept this day, if you want to make a safe web adequately describe what The Computer by Stan Olsen site, you put it up on VMS with Museum History Center has done: The Marketing Starts Writing Code by Bud Hyler freeware, and it’s so secure that no one artifacts are by no means idle museum can hack it, and the only VMS people pieces, there are layers of stories Giving Up “Frenchness” by Ed Schein that could hack it are too ethical to do hidden within them waiting to get out. so, thank you very much! –Max Burnet DEC Takes over Rhode Island by Marcia Russell

My Job Description (memo) by Ken Olsen

THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER PAGE 5 A WALK THROUGH “VISIBLE STORAGE”

BY LEN SHUSTEK

Like all serious collecting museums, EARLY COMPUTING The Comptometer was used, mostly The Computer Museum History Center Once upon a time, “computers” were can only display a small part of the people that computed, not computing collected artifacts at any one time. In machines. Mechanical devices helped our current temporary facilities at the make the people more reliable and NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett faster than a reckoner who had only Photo by Jessica Huynh Field in Mountain View, California, we pencil and paper. For instance, the have configured one of the warehouses 1895 Swiss “Millionaire” was one of into a “Visible Storage Exhibit Area” where you can see, smell, and even (curators should stop reading here!) by businesses, only for adding and touch about two hundred of the subtracting, but trained operators could thousands of items in our collection. tally a column of numbers blazingly fast Photo by Jessica Huynh And this is only the “iron;” we also have because all the digits of a single software, documents, photos, posters, number could be pushed at the same audiotapes, videos, films, t-shirts, and time. If you don’t believe this, I’ll get coffee cups—everything you need to my mother, who was a Comptometer document the history of a revolution, operator in the early 1940s, to give you which this is. a demonstration. But mechanical the first affordable mass-produced calculators were not the genesis of Every Museum docent gives a different machines that could multiply and divide modern electronic computers, they tour, stopping at certain items, telling as well as add and subtract. About were instead one of many dead ends. unique stories—each weaving different 5,000 were produced, and this, one of threads of computing history’s story. several in our collection, still works as Here is one virtual and very personal well as it did the day it was made. tour, and I ask forgiveness if I’ve omitted any of your favorites. Every item shown here—with the exception of Once upon a time, the people pictured!—is currently on “computers” were people display at The Computer Museum that computed, not History Center. computing machines.

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ANCESTRAL BEGINNINGS But as a business, Hollerith’s IBM started before the invention of the One of the direct ancestors of the “Tabulating Machine Corporation” had electronic computer. Its products computer was the handsome Hollerith a less than stellar business plan: they were electro-mechanical machines census machine, which was designed had only one product, and one major designed primarily for office automation, customer that bought every 10 years. based on Hollerith’s punched card. Hollerith gradually made the transition Here are machines used for punching, to supplying general office machines copying, and sorting the cards. based on the same technology, and diversified the product line by merging with a computing scale company and a time clock company, calling the result CTR (“Computing-Tabulating-Recording”)

Company. Hollerith’s health was failing Photo by Michael Dubinsky and he retired in 1911 with about a million dollars, which was serious money in those days.

It took a consummate salesman fired from National Cash Register in 1911 to rename the company “IBM” in 1924 to solve a new kind of problem. In and create the dominant force in 1880, the U.S. census had taken seven computers for many decades. That years to produce 21,000 pages of data. salesman was T.J. Watson, and he and There was a real danger that the 1890 census might take more than 10 years Photo by Michael Dubinsky to count, which would trigger a constitutional crisis because that document requires an “actual enumeration” every decade for allocating seats in the House of Representatives. A young New York engineer named Herman Hollerith won IBM’s business model was brilliant: a three-way competition for technology instead of selling machines, they to save the day by using “punched leased them and so created a recurring cards” to record and then tabulate the revenue stream. And, they sold the data. It was a great success, and “razor” for your “shaver” as well: in 26,000 pages of data were compiled 1930 IBM sold 3 billion of those in only 21⁄2 years. punched paper cards, accounting for 10% of their revenue and 35% of their profit.

his son Tom Watson, Jr. ran the company for an astounding 60 years between them.

…as a business, Hollerith’s “Tabulating Machine Corporation” had a less than stellar business plan: they had only one product, and one major customer that bought every 10 years.

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The drive toward fast electronic ELECTRONIC BEGINNINGS of computers in that modern design, computers with no moving parts was It wasn’t until the 1940s that electronic and the only one ever named for John natural and unstoppable, but some devices we recognize as being similar to Von Neumann, the brilliant Hungarian- people still enjoyed tinkering with modern computers began to appear. born mathematician who played an homebuilt computers made out of more Here is a small part of one of the first, important role in the invention of the unusual technology. Here are three the ENIAC (“Electronic Numerical modern “stored program” computer. The examples, constructed as early as Integrator and Calculator”), designed Johnniac was built by the Rand 1932, by Prof. Derrick Lehmer at the Corporation of Santa Monica, California, University of California at Berkeley. One and was an approximate copy of the is built from bicycle chains and screws, machine built under Von Neumann’s one from industrial gears and supervision at Princeton’s Institute for toothpicks, and one from 16mm film Advanced Studies. It wasn’t exactly the

strips and wooden bobbins. Photo by Michael Dubinsky same, but that was ok because in those days the notion of computers sharing Lehmer’s Sieves, three very different program “software” (a term not yet invented) was not an issue—if you had a computer, you wrote programs specifically for it and no other machine used them. Photo by Jessica Huynh These new contraptions were clearly going to be useful for many different things. But in the early 1950s if you wanted a computer for, say, calculating some physics equations for your PhD during WWII at the University of dissertation, you had a problem. “computers,” solve the same Pennsylvania to compute ballistics Computers had been invented, but you problem—finding prime numbers using tables for the Army. Unfortunately couldn’t buy one. If you were the Sieve of Erastasthones—and ENIAC, a room-sized monstrosity with determined enough, like Gene Amdahl dramatically demonstrate that an 18,000 vacuum tubes, was finished too at the University of Wisconsin, you algorithm and the device that executes late to help with the war effort. And, it simply built one for yourself. This is his it are very different indeed. wasn’t really a computer in the modern WISC from 1952, the “Wisconsin sense, because it didn’t have a program Integrally Synchronized Computer.” In stored in memory that could be easily changed.

The “stored program” breakthrough occurred June 21, 1948 at the Photo by Jessica Huynh in those days the notion of University of Manchester on a test computers sharing program computer called “The Baby” that at the “software” (a term not yet time wasn’t considered important invented) was not an issue— enough to preserve so it no longer if you had a computer, you exists. But starting in 1949 and based wrote programs specifically on that idea, true computers as we for it and no other machine know them today began to appear. The used them. Johnniac was one of the first generation

the process Amdahl decided that building the computer was more fun than doing the physics, and he went on

Photo by Michael Dubinsky to design many important computers that were manufactured first by IBM and later by his own eponymous company. But this early handcrafted WISC, like many of the objects in our collection, is a one-of-a-kind item. If you look closely you can also see that it is the only

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object in our collection that is The 1953 breakthrough that caused One of the first large computers that perforated with bullet holes, a computers to flourish was the magnetic core memory made possible was a huge punishment many of us have wished core: a small ferrite doughnut that could system for the military with the combat- but not dared to inflict on our own speak name of “Semi-Automatic Ground computers. For the real story on the Environment” or SAGE. This photo bullet holes, visit the Museum and ask a docent.

MEMORY MAKES IT WORK

The biggest impediment to building Photo by Michael Dubinsky computers in the early 1950s was the lack of a good way to store data—which was now both numbers and programs. Early machines experimented with a wide variety of bizarre schemes, from be magnetized either clockwise (“zero”) vacuum tubes that conducted a current or counter-clockwise (“one”). An Wang shows only a few of SAGE’s 51,000 or not, to CRT screens with spots of at Harvard pioneered the use of core, vacuum tubes, every one of which had light and dark, to this strange-looking and Jay Forrester at MIT made it to be working simultaneously in order delay line from the UNIVAC I that for the computer to work.

There were 46 SAGE computers built, one plus a second hot-standby backup Photo by Jessica Huynh Photo by Michael Dubinsky

stored information as sound waves traveling through metal tubes filled with liquid mercury.

practical by inventing a matrix scheme using two wires at right angles to read

and write individual cores without having Photo by Michael Dubinsky The biggest impediment to a separate wire for each one. building computers in the early 1950s was the lack of Magnetic core became the dominant a good way to store data— computer memory for 25 years until in each of 23 underground bunkers which was now both semiconductor memories were invented. located in the northern U.S. and numbers and programs. Forrester, who was inducted as a Canada. Their purpose was to process Museum Fellow in 1995, decided radar data and detect Russian piloted shortly after his invention that all the bombers coming over the north pole really interesting problems in computer toward the U.S. Despite all the tubes, hardware had been solved, and he these machines were incredibly reliable moved on to other fields where he made and were operated until the early equally brilliant and seminal 1980s. The fact that by then Russia contributions. had long since developed Inter- Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and SAGE was not fast enough to track them usefully didn’t put them out of business. Perhaps the Russians didn’t know SAGE’s limitations.

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BUILDING SUPERCOMPUTERS engineers and 4 are programmers.... Seymour Cray had a long and Many of the artifacts in the collection Contrasting this modest effort with our demonstrate technological or vast development activities, I fail to commercial failures, and studying these understand why we have lost our is one of the best ways to learn from industry leadership position by letting history. The “STRETCH,” IBM’s attempt someone else offer the world’s most powerful computer.”

Sometimes, Mr. Watson, bigger isn’t better.

Photo by Michael Dubinsky Part of CDC’s advantage over IBM was its smallness, but part was the remarkable genius of its principal designer, Seymour Cray. He got his start in the late 1950s to build a designing computers for the military, supercomputer dramatically better than like this Univac NTDS computer used on anything that had come before, was a commercial failure because it was too expensive and not fast enough. But it distinguished career based on pioneered amazing technology that later repeatedly designing the world’s fastest surfaced in other computers over the computers until his untimely death in a Photo by Jessica Huynh next 20 years. Due to its commercial car accident in 1997. This Cray-1 from failure project engineer Red Dunwell was considered a persona non grata by T.J. Watson for many years, but later was lauded by Watson when STRETCH’s numerous innovations had become apparent. Photo by Jessica Huynh

Although IBM was very successful in providing computers for the military and for ordinary businesses, from STRETCH onward, and for the next several decades, it struggled with building the very fastest scientific computers. In 1965, a small company in Minnesota introduced the CDC 6600, which

board a battleship and built like a tank. In general, the military’s influence in the 1975, sometimes called the “world’s early development of computers was most expensive loveseat,” is perhaps

Photo by Jessica Huynh huge and the industry would not have the most famous example. developed as quickly without it. The physical design of fast supercomputers presents two important problems: keeping the circuitry close together so that delays caused by wiring are minimized, and getting the heat out so that circuits don’t overheat. In tweaked IBM’s nose by being the speaking about this machine at the fastest computer in the world for many time, Cray was as proud of the plumbing years. An angry T.J. Watson blasted his that kept it cool as the electronics that staff with this memo: “Last week, did the computing, and would talk at Control Data...announced the 6600 length about his patents for copper tube system. I understand that in the extrusions into the aluminum cooling laboratory...there are only 34 people columns. including the janitor. Of these, 14 are

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Cray’s next machine, uncreatively called MAKING MAINFRAMES Within the 360 family, IBM did finally the “Cray-2,” solved the cooling/ In the meantime, IBM was doing a manage to build a supercomputer that booming business selling mid-sized could compete with the CDC 6600. And computers for both business and this IBM 360/91 was perhaps the scientific purposes. But by the early 1960s it had a looming crisis: it was building too many different kinds of

Photo by Michael Dubinsky computers. Each used different technology, software, engineers, Photo by Jessica Huynh salesmen, and support technicians. To consolidate behind a single uniform product line that could do both scientific and business computing at both small plumbing problem another way: the and large scale, Watson put a 28-year- boards themselves were swimming in a old untested manager by the name of non-conducting liquid called “Fluorinert,” Fred Brooks in charge of a “you bet your pinnacle of the “lights and switches” an artificial blood plasma that just company” project that would obsolete front console design, although even by happens to have the right thermal, their entire product line. It was a then most of the operation and fault mechanical, and electrical properties. remarkably bold move for a 60-year-old diagnosis of computers was being done Changing out a defective board within prosperous company and it could have electronically. The end of the flashing the 30-minute “mean time to repair” been a colossal disaster, but the result lights and whirring tape drives since requirement was a challenge, though, was wild success: IBM dominated the then has made computers more since all the Fluorinert had to first be mainframe computer industry for efficient but much less photogenic. pumped into a holding tank, the board 20 years with the System/360 that replaced, and the liquid pumped back. was introduced in 1964. MINI COMPUTERS FOR THE MASSES Other people solved the cooling problem While Seymour Cray’s companies were for supercomputers in other ways. The building massive supercomputers, “ETA-10,” created by engineers who, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) was a pioneer in “mini-computers” for the Photo by Jessica Huynh masses. This PDP-8 from 1965 was a Photo by Jessica Huynh Photo by Jessica Huynh

like Cray, had left CDC, contained circuit boards that were immersed in a vat of liquid nitrogen.

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huge success; for about $17,000 U.S. and British integrated circuits and BUT DO THEY STILL WORK? anyone could own a serious Bulgarian (?) circuit boards, all running Many people touring the Visible Storage professional computer. You could even purloined DEC software. Exhibit Area ask how many of our argue that it was the first “personal” machines still work. The answer, computer, if that means a computer The computer revolution has been a unfortunately, is “very few.” Even if we small enough for one (strong) person to worldwide activity, and our collection is have complete hardware and pick up and put in his car! appropriately international in scope. documentation and the necessary This Z-23 medium-sized computer was software, it takes a huge effort to By that definition, DEC had started by restore and keep the older machines making decidedly non-personal running. But it can be done, and this computers like this PDP-1, which had IBM 1620, designed in 1959, is an example. Photo by Jessica Huynh Photo by Jessica Huynh Photo by David Pace

built by the German Zuse Computer Company in the early 1960s. Its only 8K of memory, weighed a ton, and designer, Konrad Zuse, a formerly could fit in no one’s car. But DEC’s under-recognized genius of computer machines were always approachable design, independently invented many and touchable, and this one was the concepts before WWII that were inspiration for one of the first computer subsequently reinvented by others in A dedicated team of Museum volunteers games, SpaceWar!, which simulated different countries. But he lost that led by the indefatigable Dave Babcock dueling rockets ships on the screen of advantage to engineers from Great worked for over a year to get this early the circular display tube. Britain and the U.S. because of transistorized machine back in working Germany’s war activities. His son, Horst condition. As part of the project, they DEC went on to make many other Zuse, a computer scientist himself, has also created an exquisitely detailed medium-sized computers. One that set a worked to restore his father’s proper cycle-by-cycle simulator that runs on the standard was the 1978 VAX, of which place in history and facilitated the web. They collected a huge library of we have several in the collection. For donation of this machine to us. 1620 software on original punched years rumors were floating around that cards, which were converted to modern certain eastern European countries had storage and can now run on both the built clones of U.S. computers because real machine and on the simulator. In they could build the machine and then the long term—think 100 or 500 steal the programs; software had as years—the only consistent way to keep much value as hardware. After the fall these old machines running and to of the Berlin wall and the collapse of preserve the accomplishments they the Soviet Union we were able to get represent will be to do it in “virtual this clone of a DEC VAX, made from space” through simulations. The end of the flashing lights and whirring tape drives since then has made computers more efficient but

Photo by Jessica Huynh much less photogenic.

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PERSONAL COMPUTING POWER Club meeting in 1977 were not obvious the world’s first mass-market high- By the mid-1970s, computers became candidates for creating Apple Computer, resolution graphical computer was the really personal and started showing up a hugely important computer company justifiably famous Macintosh. in homes. The do-it-yourself computer kit that would still be an major force 25 that started this revolution was the years later. Altair 8800, which appeared on the Only a few hundred of the Apple I’s were built. The company’s first big success was the Apple II, which was wildly Photo by Jessica Huynh Photo by Jessica Huynh Photo by Jessica Huynh

Eventually large companies recognized that personal computers were becoming cover of Popular Electronics in January a serious force, and even IBM produced popular in schools and even made a one that subsequently set the standard foray into businesses because of for 90% of the desktop computers. In VisiCalc, the world’s first interactive retrospect, that was a most unusual spreadsheet. Apple kept moving quickly: turn of events: the “open standard” their first big failure was the Apple III, computer was produced by the starched shirts at “Big Blue” whereas the hippies at Apple kept their design to themselves. The interpretations and lessons of this bit of history will be debated for years. Photo by Jessica Huynh

But the 1982 IBM PC, of which we have many examples in the collection, was not IBM’s first personal computer. Back in 1975 they had produced this “IBM 5100” to run the BASIC and APL their first non-product was the Lisa, and

1975 and had thousands of propeller- head hobbyists dreaming of owning

their own. Photo by Michael Dubinsky Photo by Jessica Huynh

None of the companies that built “real” computers took this kind of computer seriously. But new companies started in the most unassuming ways and surprised the establishment. The two scruffy-bearded Steves (Jobs and Wozniak) who showed off this Apple I at a Homebrew Computer

languages. The remarkable thing, besides the high price tag, was that it was actually a shrunken mainframe on a desktop running an emulation of the Photo by Jessica Huynh big 360 systems and their software. Fred Brooks’ idea of “one computer for everything” had perhaps gone a bit too far.

THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER PAGE 13

INNOVATION AND FIRSTS PARC also prototyped portable One of the minefields in the Where were the big companies when computers, like the NoteTaker, technological history business is the the innovative products were first election of “firsts.” It depends on coming out of the young upstarts? Well, pedantically precise definitions, requires in some cases, they were creating meticulous and detailed records, is innovations and failing to make almost always controversial, is often products out of them. Xerox, in their historically meaningless, and engenders Photo by Kevin Powerx Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), emotional responses that can created the Alto, a high-resolution sometimes lead to fisticuffs. But it’s fun! So in that spirit, The Boston Computer Museum, our ancestor whose collection is the core of ours, ran a which was never produced but looks contest in 1985 to discover the real remarkably similar to the later first personal computer. The winner, as Photo by Kevin Powerx Osborne 1. How Xerox repeatedly the “first advertised commercially- available non-kit computer under $1000,” was a computer you have never heard of: the Kenbak-1, designed Photo by Kevin Powerx

managed to invent the future but failed by John V. Blankenbaker and advertised to build it has been chronicled in in Scientific American in 1971. “Firsts,” several books like the aptly titled when you find them, may not be what Fumbling the Future by Douglas Smith you expect. and Robert Alexander and the more graphic computer that was intended to recent Dealers of Lightning by The Museum’s award for the first be what the Macintosh became. Xerox Michael Hiltzik. microprocessor-based computer was PARC also created the world’s first given to an almost equally obscure prototype laser printer, based on a French computer, the Micral, designed by Vietnamese immigrant Thi Truong around an Intel 8008 and programmed by Philippe Kahn. Photo by Kevin Powerx

The election of “firsts” depends on pedantically precise definitions, requires meticulous and detailed standard office copier. But even with records, is almost always that head start they did not come to controversial, is often dominate the early laser printer market. historically meaningless, and engenders emotional responses that can sometimes lead to fisticuffs. But it’s fun!

WWW.COMPUTERHISTORY.ORG PAGE 14

Speaking of microprocessors and firsts, ALTERNATE ROUTES AND DEAD ENDS The Museum collection contains many what was the first microprocessor-based Although the digital electronic computer other instructive dead-ends, although device? It was this calculator from now dominates, it wasn’t always clear not all of them were failures. The Busicom, a Japanese company that that binary was the best way to Illiac IV from 1970 was an experiment hired Intel in 1971 to create the world’s compute. From the 1920s to the 1960s first microprocessor, the 4004. This “analog computers” represented numbers in a much more direct way than an abstract string of bits: a signal of 5.2 volts could be the number 5.2. Photo by Kevin Powerx You could add, subtract, multiply, and

Photo by Kevin Powerx divide at blazingly fast electronic speeds. But the accuracy of the results and the complexity of the computational sequences was limited, so stand-alone analog computers, like these made by EAI and Heathkit, became dinosaurs in making one fast computer out of a that only survive in textbooks and bunch of slower ones that all execute computer history museums. the same program in lock-step on different data. It worked, but it turns out not to be a great way to build fast computers. Note the coffee-table-sized hard disks, that hold about as much as yesterday’s floppy disk. Photo by Kevin Powerx prototype, from Federico Faggin’s desk, has one of the world’s first working microprocessor chips plugged into it. Photo by Kevin Powerx

Stand-alone analog computers became dinosaurs that only survive in textbooks and computer history museums.

THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER PAGE 15

Some computers in the collection UBIQUITOUS NETWORKING At the dawn of the era of ubiquitous always bring a smile to visitor’s faces. The most dramatic change in computing mobile computing, this virtual tour This “kitchen computer” was the in the last five years has been the appropriately ends with an early ungainly fantasy item in the Neiman-Marcus astounding growth of the Internet and example of mobile personal computing: the World Wide Web. This Steve Roberts’ computerized recumbent interconnection of millions of computers bicycle BEHEMOTH (Big Electronic started modestly in the late 1960s by a Human-Energized Machine ...Only Too government-funded project called Heavy). In the 1980s, Steve logged ARPANET. This refrigerator-sized computer was the “Interface Message Processor” (“IMP”) manufactured by Photo by David Pace catalog in 1965, and was an attempt to answer the persistent and puzzling Photo by Jessica Huynh question: Why would anyone want a computer in their home? The standard answer for years had been “for storing about 17,000 pedal-powered miles recipes,” and this computer had a built- while sending email from a chorded in chopping board to facilitate following keyboard built into the handlebars and its recipe instructions. Of course, the reading responses on the heads-up input was in binary and the output was display attached to his helmet. If it in octal, so the user interface left sounds like Steve was pedaling to the something to be desired! For about beat of a different drummer, think $10,000, you could get the computer, about him in a few years when every an apron, a set of cookbooks, and a device you own is seamlessly connected two-week programming course. As a to the Internet and you do email while in measure of the social sensibility of the the shower. time, the advertising tag line for this Honeywell-built computer was “If only she could cook as well as Honeywell Bolt Beranek and Newman of If you have enjoyed this virtual tour of can compute.” We have no indication Cambridge, Mass., as the our Visible Storage Exhibit Area, I that even one of these wonderful home communications pipe for the ARPANET, encourage you to visit in person and appliances was actually sold, but many which started with only four nodes: see the other 2/3 of it, which altogether home computers still come with mainframe computers at Stanford, is still only 10% of our hardware recipe software. UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and the collection. And if you think it is University of Utah. Thirty years later, important to preserve these items and even cell phones can be nodes on stories as a record of one of most the network. remarkable technological achievements of our civilization, please support The Computer Museum History Center.

Leonard J. Shustek is the chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Computer Museum History Center. Len Shustek’s educational background is in computer science (MS, PhD, Stanford University) by way of physics (BS, MS, Polytechnic University in Brooklyn NY). After graduation he joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University as an assistant professor of Computer Science.

In 1979 he co-founded Nestar Systems Inc., an early producer of networked client-server computer systems. In 1986 he was co-founder of Network General Corporation, a manufacturer of network analysis tools, notably “The Sniffer(tm)”. The company became Network Associates Inc. after merging with McAfee Associates and PGP. Shustek is now semi-retired and serves on the boards of several high-tech startups and three non-profit organizations.

He teaches occasionally as a consulting professor at Stanford University, and is a partner at VenCraft, a small “angel financing” venture capital fund. He is also a trustee of Polytechnic University. Write to him at [email protected].

WWW.COMPUTERHISTORY.ORG PAGE 16

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER COLLECTION

Apple IIe, Amdek data display, Daisywheel Olivetti PR-2300 printer (JP 101) (c. 1985), Macintosh Portable Computer, Apple Desktop Printer, and sheet feeder (1985), X2238.2002, Gift of Mark Possoff Bus Mouse, power adapter, and case (1989), X2164.2001, Gift of C. T. Kennedy X2266.2002, Gift of Randy Katz Interact Model 1 Home Computer System Assorted early PDAs including a Grid Pad, with a complete library of software and TI programmable 59 calculator with a a Toshiba T100X, an NCR System 3130, and documentation (c. 1982), X2239.2002, PC100C printer/docking port, including cover, a GO G400 PDA with external disk drives Gift of Lawrence Ching full program library, complete manuals, and (c. 1992), X2165.2001 - X2168.2001, clippings (c. 1977), X2267.2002, Gift of Ed Devinney Aaron Paint System (c. 1990), X2240.2002, Gift of Bruce Watts Gift of Harold Cohen IBM 1130 computer system with extensive HP 9810A calculator (Model 10), program software and documentation (1964), PT-396/AS plotter (c. 1950s), X2241.2002, library and associated documents, X2180.2001, Gift of Robert Garner Gift of Douglas Brentlinger X2269.2002, Gift of Robert Schapp, Jr.

Three-and-a-half linear feet of assorted Assorted ephemera including UNIVAC and Osborne 1 portable computer, Trantor documents, many dealing with early IBM other early flow chart templates, core external hard drive, and extensive associated and CDC computers, X2191.2002, memory, UNIVAC publications, and computer Osborne software and documentation Gift of Douglas Albert textbooks (c. 1966-1970s), X2242.2002, (1981), X2271.2002, Gift of Ann Hyde Gift of Richard and Jean Lehman "The Bus Probe" Curcuit Board (1981), Millenium Information Systems Programming X2192.2002, Gift of Peter Ingerman DEC baseball cap, X2243.2002, Panel, CPU, 2 2-Slot 8" disk drives, an Atari Gift of Gordon Bell 1200 XL, and five boxes of associated Cromemco System 3, LSI Information software and documentation (c. 1978-1982), Terminal, Prism printer, disk drives, and PDP-6 backplane and a group of PDP-6 X2272.2002, Gift of Harry Stewart a complete library of associated software system modules (c. 1963), X2244.2002, and documentation (c. 1980s), Gift of Robert Garner Four linear feet of assorted computing X2217.2002, X2256.2002, X2190.2002, documents including networking and Gift of Peter Ingerman PDP-10 disk (c. 1967), X2245.2002, Stanford AI Lab documents, X2273.2002, Gift of Elizabeth Feinler Gift of Mark Kahrs Onyx C8002, Zephyr Console Terminal, and extensive documentation and operating Assorted DEC t-shirts and software, Metaphor digital workstation unit with manuals (c. 1981), X2218.2002, X2247.2002, Gift of Pierre Hahn infrared keyboard, numeric keypad, special Gift of Douglas Broyles purpose keypad, and mouse (c. 1997), "Alpha Implementations and Architecture" X2274.2002, Gift of Tim VanRoekel Two "Cedar" circuit boards (c. 1995), signed and donated by the author (1996), X2219.2002, Gift of Dr. Allan Malony X2248.2002, Gift of Dileep P. Bhandarkar IBM Personal System portable computer, Model 8573-401 (1991), X2276.2002, IBM Selectric (1963), X2221.2002, AI textbook collection (c. 1980s), Gift of Dana Herbert Gift of Donald Knuth X2251.2002, Gift of Arthur Iadonisi Visual Technology, Inc., Notebook portable Twelve books on programming and personal Replicas of the Genaille-Lucas Arithmetique, computer with original instruction manual computing topics (c. 1982-1992), "Napier's Bones," Napier's Calculating Box, and two OS manuals, X2277.2002, X2223.2002, Gift of Mark Possoff and Schickard's Clock, X2252.2002 - Gift of Sylvio Demers X2256.2002, Gift of Gordon Bell Six linear feet of assorted rare publications, Extensive donation of Lotus software, documents, and personal papers (c. 1950- VT 180 "Robin" computer system complete ephemera, and publications as well as 1980s), X2224.2002, Gift of George Michael with disk drives and modems (1982), industry literature (1980-2000), X2262.2002, Gift of H. Michael Boyd X2278.2002, Gift of the Lotus Division HP65 and HP67 User's Library (c. 1975- of IBM 1977), X2233.2002, Gift of George Michael RX180 AB Disk Drive (1982), X2263.2002, Gift of H. Michael Boyd Assorted UNIVAC I and UNIVAC II equipment Hitachi TFT display and accessories, core (c. 1953-1958), X2279.2002, memory module, and IBM data cartridges, RISC II Chip (c. 1985), X2265.2002, Gift of Mac Maginty X2235.2002, Gift of Joshua Shapiro Gift of David Patterson

THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER PAGE 17

REPORT ON MUSEUM ACTIVITIES KAREN MATHEWS

Karen Mathews is Executive Vice President at The Computer Museum History Center

In July of 2001, The Computer Museum History Center celebrated its second anniversary as an independent non- profit institution, with the exciting and The 2000 Fellow Awards Banquet brought together Banquet emcee Peter Hirshberg, 2000 Fellow more than 300 industry luminaries and enthusiasts Vint Cerf, Museum CEO John Toole, and Museum important mission to preserve and to celebrate three new Fellows: Fran Allen, Trustee Chairman Len Shustek celebrated with present early information age Vint Cerf, and Tom Kilburn. Cerf at his induction as a Fellow. developments. In two short years we have tripled our staff, volunteer base, Hosts for the evening are Donna DECWORLD 2001 events, and annual budget. We have Dubinsky, Len Shustek, Suhas Patil, Museum-sponsored DECWORLD 2001 significantly increased our world-class Jayashree Patil, Elaine Hahn, Eric Hahn, represented another benchmark in the collection and the number of tours we Karla House, Dave House, Angela Hey, Museum’s quest to gather and preserve offer. All the while, we have worked John Mashey, and Peter Hirshberg. The personal stories of the computing behind the scenes planning a premier master of ceremonies is Internet revolution. Nearly 200 people from 16 Museum building, complete with luminary and 2000 Fellow Vinton Cerf. states and two countries—many who innovative and inspiring exhibits, had not seen each other for years— scheduled to open in 2005. In short, To further enhance the magical evening, gathered to present the inside stories of we have made amazing progress across a reception prior to the banquet and Digital Equipment Corporation, a all areas of the Museum. Here are ceremony will feature an impressive company whose achievements notably some highlights. exhibit of artifacts recently donated to influenced the technology boom. Twenty- the Museum by various Swiss seven people donated items to the individuals and organizations, initiated Museum's collection. Over 60 DEC and coordinated by the Swiss Science alumni were interviewed, recording MAKE HISTORY ON OCTOBER 23: DON’T and Technology Office in San Francisco stories for posterity, and approximately MISS THE ANNUAL FELLOW AWARDS and shipped courtesy of PRS Presence 10 hours of video recorded the entire Each year, on one brilliant evening, Switzerland. A number of dignitaries and proceedings. Museum staff is busy hundreds of industry luminaries come pioneers from Switzerland will be in converting videos, transcripts, and other together to applaud the achievements of attendance. images of the event for posting to the three outstanding people in the web. For details, see Karyn Wolfe’s computer technology world. This year Don’t miss this marquis event! Call or article in this issue and visit that evening is Tuesday, October 23 at visit www.computerhistory.org for details http://www.computerhistory.org/ the San Jose Fairmont Hotel. and registration. decworld.

Honorees are: Frederick P. Brooks for his contributions to computer PERSONAL RETROSPECTIVES ON THE architecture, operating systems, and XEROX ALTO software engineering; Jean E. Sammet, On June 4, Butler Lampson and Chuck for her contributions to the field of Thacker closed the Spring Lecture programming languages and its history; Program with an entertaining talk given and Maurice Wilkes, for his life-long to over 300 people that included contributions to computer technology, personal stories from time spent at including early machine design, Xerox PARC developing the Xerox Alto. microprogramming, and the Cambridge Attendance, by a show of hands at the ring network. lecture, included a high percentage of

CORE 2.3 PAGE 18

RISC II Chip. Donated by UC Berkeley Professor David Patterson, the RISC II contained 40,760 transistors and ran at 3 MHz. Designed by Bob Sherburne and Manolis Katevenis, students of Professors David Patterson and Carlo Sequin, this is the second in a revolutionary line of Reduced Instruction Set Computers.

Aaron Paint System. Donated by artist Chuck Thacker and Butler Lampson discussed Gene and Marian Amdahl stand in front of Gene’s and inventor Harold Cohen. Aaron, an the Alto and other advances made during their PhD thesis—the WISC computer—after his Fall artificial intelligence-based system for time at Xerox PARC in the final lecture of the lecture that opened the 2001 lecture program. drawing, has changed over the years. Spring program. The version donated used a small robotic arm with a built-in paint delivery people who had been in the After leaving IBM, Amdahl set out to system. The association between Cohen development group itself. The Alto deliver on this idea under the auspices and the Museum dates back to the late demonstrated many new concepts in of Amdahl Corporation. He relayed some 1970s when Cohen and an earlier computing, and the same design team of the difficulties and opportunities system painted a mural for the invented so many, many things whose along the path and how eventually, Museum’s original site in Marlborough. impacts are still with us: for example, through sheer tenacity, Amdahl Corp. LANs, Ethernet, bit-mapped displays, was funded by the Heiser Corporation graphical user interfaces, laser printing, and later, Fujitsu, and Nixdorf, who and object oriented programming. made it possible to fulfill his vision. The EXHIBITING AT HOT CHIPS Lecturers discussed how Xerox did company grew exponentially: it went Museum staff created an exhibit for the better capitalizing on ancillary from $50 million in sales in its first recent Hot Chips and Hot Interconnect investments at PARC (e.g. Ethernet, year, to $100 million, $200 million, and Conferences at Stanford University. The physics) than it did on the Alto. $400 million by the fourth year. Amdahl exhibit featured highlights from various left the company after five years, and areas of the collection, including Don subsequently founded three other Lancaster’s TV Typewriter Prototype, an companies. early RISC wafer, and the "canonical GENE AMDAHL LAUNCHES FALL teapot" used in many early computer LECTURE LINEUP graphics tests. The first of our fall lecturers, Gene Amdahl spoke on September 5 to an COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS Hot Chips organizing committee member appreciative crowd of 200. He told the Here are some of our recent Allen Baum said, "Listening to story of how, through a series of events acquisitions: presentations about the latest cutting at IBM, he was able to identify a edge technology is great, but it really business opportunity for a theoretical The IBM 1130. Purchased and donated hits home when you can see what used competitor to create a lower-priced by Robert Garner, this small computer to be the latest and greatest, and how machine at the high end of IBM’s line. designed for both scientific and little time it took to advance from there. IBM would likely have had to lower the business applications became popular An exhibit like this gives perspective on price of its own high-end machine, with universities. Machines like this what we can look forward to, and just impacting the prices of the entire line. occasionally appear on Internet auction how fast it is likely to come." Thus, they could not lower prices, even sites and with help from people like at the high end, giving a theoretical Robert, the Museum is able to acquire competitor the edge. them for the permanent collection. Says CYBERMUSEUM ACTIVITIES Garner, "It’s a thrill to discover and then As more physical artifacts make their donate workhorse computers of bygone way into the digital realm, we will need eras to the Museum. The mid-west great ways to represent the complex owners of this operational IBM 1130, relationship of ideas, people, selling it on eBay, were delighted that it companies, and computing machines found a suitable home. I myself have that comprise computing history. An pleasant memories playing Star Trek on enthusiastic new addition to the staff, the 1130 late in the evenings while an Mike Walton, has joined us as director undergraduate!" of cyber exhibits to help tackle these problems. Backed by an impressive CyberMuseum Committee led by Gordon

THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER PAGE 19

Bell, the group is exploring San Francisco Chronicle among others. methodologies for collecting and Associated Press and Newhouse News presenting stories and oral histories Wire released articles that were picked online, capturing visitor submissions up by several publications across the about the artifacts in discussion country. CNN.com taped a show in the forums, and taking in digital artifact Visible Storage Exhibit Area featuring donations such as pictures, media, or an interview with John Toole, KICU software. Channel 36 ran an interview with Toole, and NPR featured an interview with As the CyberMuseum grows, you will Museum Board of Trustees Chairman see it start to manifest in parts of our Len Shustek. current website. Each new experiment completed by the staff will add a new feature or exhibit to the site. As the John “Carniac” Toole illuminated and entertained process is refined, the CyberMuseum APPRECIATION FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS volunteers and staff with some amazing facts will extend the real-world Museum into Volunteers have given their all at a about computing history at the annual appreciation event. cyberspace. In the future, it may also number of work parties, receptions, and give depth to the exhibits in the real- events over the past four months. world, physical Museum. Museum staff had the happy occasion to honor and thank these wonderful volunteers at an Appreciation Party on August 18. A picnic at Chase Park, PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE Moffett Field, featured horseshoes, Media attention has stepped up in volleyball, Texas barbecue, and "Carniac recent months. Articles about the the Magnificent," a computer history Museum have appeared in the New York trivia buff wearing a turban and Times, International Herald, and the cape–aka John Toole! Volunteers who attended the Museum’s annual appreciation event received a t-shirt, a certificate of appreciation from the staff and Trustees, a great barbeque, and heartfelt thanks from Museum staff.

VIDEOS HATS VISIT THE 200+ UVC videos from the Gray-Bell Our staff and volunteers wear these archive include presentations by baseball caps proudly (yes, in the MUSEUM’S computing legends and innovators. See Museum) and we hope you will too. and hear Seymour Cray, Danny Hillis, Here’s an easy way to spread the word ON-LINE John Hennessy, Alan Kay, James about the Museum. Gosling and others talk about their work STORE and visions. POSTCARDS These collectible postcards are printed POSTERS on high-quality paper, and each one Some of our most popular items. Our pictures and describes a one-of-a-kind posters depict the stories of the artifact from our collection. We are proud to make Internet, microprocessor evolution, Museum souvenirs and items memory, and the chronology of COMING SOON computers. The posters are both We will soon be making videos available from our archives available to beautiful and educational. from the Museum’s lecture series. you, including: Visit our website to be put on the DECWORLD 2001 ITEMS mailing list: Tote bags and polo shirts are of very high quality and celebrate a company www.computerhistory.org/store that impacted computing history (see +1 650 604 2577 article on page 2).

www.computerhistory.org/store +1 650 604 2577

CORE 2.3 PAGE 20 THANKS TO OUR ANNUAL DONORS

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Cardholder’s signature ______We gratefully accept direct transfers of GENERAL SUPPORTER securities to our account. Appreciated PLEASE PRINT: ____ $500 securities forwarded to our broker Name(s) as I/we like it to appear in printed material ____ $250 should be designated as follows: ______$100 FBO: The Computer Museum History Affiliation ______$35 (student) Center; DWR Account # 112-014033- Title ______other $ ______072; DTC #015; and sent to Matthew Preferred mailing address ______Ives at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, City, ST, Zip, Country ______245 Lytton Avenue, Suite 200, Palo Please return this form (or facsimile) with your remittance to: (please circle) work home Alto, CA 94301-1963.

The Computer Museum History Center Email address ______In order to be properly credited for P.O. Box 367 Moffett Field, CA 94035 Home phone ______your gift, you must notify us directly USA +1 650 604 2575 (tel) Work phone ______when you make the transfer. Please +1 650 604 2594 (fax) contact David Miller with questions or www.computerhistory.org concerns at +1 650 604 2575. CORE 2.3

THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER PAGE 21 UPCOMING EVENTS

Please RSVP for all events and activities by calling +1 650 604 2714 or visiting www.computerhistory.org/events. Please verify location and date 24 hours prior to attending. Thank you!

THU, OCTOBER 11, 6:30 PM MON, OCTOBER 24, 6 PM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FROM SMALLTALK TO SQUEAK LECTURE TITLE TO BE ANNOUNCED The Museum tries to match its needs Dan Ingalls Fred Brooks, University of North with the skills and interests of its

LOCATION: Xerox PARC, Pake Auditorium Carolina Chapel Hill volunteers and relies on regular volunteer support for events and WED, OCTOBER 17, 6PM THU, NOVEMBER 8, 6 PM projects. Monthly work parties generally EARLY COMPUTER MOUSE ENCOUNTERS QUESTIONS ANSWERED occur on the 2nd Saturday of each Panel Presentation: Daniel Borel, Stuart Donald Knuth, Stanford University month, including: Card, Bill English, Jean-Daniel Nicoud, and Niklaus Wirth THU, DECEMBER 6, 6 PM NOVEMBER 10, DECEMBER 8,

LOCATION: Xerox PARC, Pake Auditorium LECTURE TITLE TO BE ANNOUNCED JANUARY 12 Eric Schmidt TUE, OCTOBER 23, 6 PM Please RSVP at least 48 hours in ANNUAL FELLOW AWARDS BANQUET & POSTPONED. advance to Betsy Toole for work parties, SWISS TECHNOLOGY RECEPTION DORON SWADE, AUTHOR and contact us if you are interested in LOCATION: Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE lending a hand in other ways! For more California, USA Please check our website for new date information, please visit our volunteer www.computerhistory.org/fellows and time web page at www.computerhistory.org/volunteers

CONTACT INFORMATION

JOHN TOOLE JESSICA HUYNH CHARLIE PFEFFERKORN ROBERT YEH Executive Director & CEO Web Services Intern Museum Collections Consultant Administration and Accounting Intern +1 650 604 2581 +1 650 604 2070 +1 650 604 2578 +1 650 604 2067 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

JENNIFER CHENG KATHY VO JOZEFOWICZ DAG SPICER Event and PR Intern E-Commerce Intern Exhibits Curator +1 650 604 2714 +1 650 604 2577 +1 650 604 2160 THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CENTER Building T12-A JEREMY CLARK DAPHNE LISKA KIRSTEN TASHEV Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA Registrar Development Associate Building & Exhibits Project Manager +1 650 604 2579 +1 650 604 1524 +1 650 604 2579 +1 650 604 2580 +1 650 604 2594 (fax) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] or PAM CLEVELAND JACKIE McCRIMMON BETSY TOOLE THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY Event Manager Acting Executive Assistant Hospitality & Facilities Support CENTER +1 650 604 2062 +1 650 604 5145 +1 650 604 2567 PO Box 367, Moffett Field, CA 94035, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] USA

LEE COURTNEY KAREN MATHEWS MIKE WALTON Volunteer Coordinator Executive Vice President Director of Cyber Exhibits WWW.COMPUTERHISTORY.ORG [email protected] +1 650 604 2568 +1 650 604 1662 [email protected] [email protected] Current staff openings can be found at WENDY-ANN FRANCIS www.computerhistory.org/jobs. Office Administrator DAVID MILLER MIKE WILLIAMS +1 650 604 5205 Vice President of Development Head Curator [email protected] +1 650 604 2575 [email protected] [email protected] CHRIS GARCIA KARYN WOLFE Historical Collections Coordinator CAMILLA NEVE Special Projects Manager +1 650 604 2572 Development Associate +1 650 604 2570 [email protected] +1 650 604 5133 [email protected] [email protected]

CORE 2.3 MYSTERY ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION OF

THE COMPUTER MUSEUM HISTORY CENTER

Explained from CORE 2.2

THE COMPTOMETER

The early, wooden-cased Comptometer the action of the keys stored in a helical workhorses of the accounting profession mechanical calculator was invented in spring, which is automatically released in the first part of the century. They 1886 by Dorr E Felt of Chicago, who at the proper instant to perform the never successfully advanced into the claimed that it was the first successful carry. Numbers are subtracted by electromechanical era, but remained key-driven adding and calculating adding the complement (shown on the purely mechanical, two-function adding machine. For each digit to add, a keys in smaller numbers). and subtracting machines. pushbutton numbered from 1 to 9 is selected, thereby rotating a Pascal-type Through effective marketing and training For further information: wheel with the corresponding number of (at Comptometer Schools) of skilled http://members.cruzio.com/~vagabond increments. The carrying of tens is operators versed in complement /ComptHome.html#Intro accomplished by power generated by arithmetic, these machines became the

Please send your best guess to WHAT IS [email protected] before 11/15/01 along with your name and THIS? shipping address. The first three correct THIS ITEM WILL BE EXPLAINED IN THE entries will each receive a free poster: NEXT ISSUE OF CORE. COMPUTER CHRONOLOGY – THE EMERGENCE OF THE INFORMATION AGE

NONPROFIT ORG The Computer Museum History Center U.S. POSTAGE PO Box 367, Moffett Field, CA 94035 USA PAID MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA PERMIT NO. 50 Address Service Requested