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Home , Bob Kahn, Computer History Museum, Frank Heart, Glenn Ricart, Packet Radio Van

FEBRUARY 2002 CORE 3.1

A PUBLICATION OF THE HISTORY MUSEUM WWW.COMPUTERHISTORY.ORG PAGE 1

February 2002 OUR ACTIONS TODAY COREA publication of the Computer History3.1 Museum IN THIS MISSION ISSUE TO PRESERVE AND PRESENT FOR POSTERITY THE ARTIFACTS AND STORIES OF THE

INSIDE FRONT COVER VISION OUR ACTIONS TODAY The achievements of tomorrow must be was an outstanding success, and I simply doesn’t exist anywhere else in TO EXPLORE THE COMPUTING REVOLUTION AND ITS John C Toole rooted in the actions we take today. hope you caught the impact of these the world. With your sustained help, our IMPACT ON THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE Many exciting and important events announcements that have heightened actions have been able to speak much 2 THE SRI VAN AND COMPUTER have happened since our last CORE awareness of our enterprise in the louder than words, and it is my goal to publication, and they have been community. I’m very grateful to Harry see that we are able to follow through Don Nielson carefully chosen to strategically shape McDonald (director of NASA Ames), Len on our dreams! EXECUTIVE STAFF where we will be in five years. Shustek (chairman of our Board of 7 John C Toole David Miller Trustees), Donna Dubinsky (Museum This issue of CORE is loaded with THE SRI VAN AND EARLY PACKET SPEECH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT 2 Don Nielson First, let me officially introduce our Trustee and CEO of Handspring), and technical content and information about Karen Mathews Mike Williams new name and logo to everyone who Bill Campbell (chairman of Intuit) who our organization—from a wonderful EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT HEAD CURATOR 8 has not seen them before. The participated as panelists. We were perspective on the first mobile MADE IN SWITZERLAND Dominik Landwehr History Center has fortunate to receive good media experiments in the SRI van and an PUBLICATION STAFF become the coverage and were honored with special assessment of computing in (CHM). We have adopted the wonderful guests that included Dan Goldin, former Switzerland, to our new buildings and Karyn Wolfe 12 new logo that you see here and will NASA administrator; Zoe Lofgren, US our emerging CyberMuseum project. Our EDITOR RECENT DONATIONS use it everywhere in our institutional Congresswoman for the Santa Clara international presence is growing with 8 communications and designs. It Valley; Don Knuth; Gene Amdahl; Randy real content. I hope you see all of these BOARD OF TRUSTEES 14 BEYOND VIRTUAL symbolizes the strengths we have in Katz; and Jeff Hawkins; among others. elements as actions we are taking to Mike Walton an artifact-rich collection, the digital meet the challenges of our future plans. Leonard J Shustek, Chairman Charles H (Chuck) House VENCRAFT LLC INTEL CONVERGED age of the Museum’s present and Sally M Abel COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, 16 DIALOGIC DIVISION future, and people and communities Because NASA’s gates are moving FENWICK & WEST LLP REAL DESIGN, REAL BUILDINGS Kirsten Tashev worldwide—those who build our back, making us accessible by all, a David L Anderson Dave House organization, the public we serve, and sustained public presence will now be SENDMAIL ALLEGRO NETWORKS 14 the lessons of history we pass on to possible for us. You also should have C Christine Hughes 18 CORPORATION HIGHWAY 1 REPORT ON MUSEUM ACTIVITIES future generations. We are very grateful heard about us at the public Karen Mathews Peggy Burke Steve Kirsch to Museum Trustee Peggy Burke and environmental impact hearings for the 1185 DESIGN PROPEL SOFTWARE CORPORATION her team at 1185 Design who worked NASA Research Park. They are now Lori Crawford John Mashey 24 so enthusiastically to help us create completed, and have also raised our INFINITY CAPITAL LLC SENSEI PARTNERS LLC MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION our new look. visibility in the community. Finally, our Ike R Nassi CITIGATE CUNNINGHAM ALLEGIS CAPITAL 16 25 programs continue to grow—we’ve got a Suhas Patil Donna Dubinsky UPCOMING EVENTS HANDSPRING TUFAN A huge thank you to everyone who great series of lectures and events for CONTACT INFORMATION contributed generously and early to our this year. Enjoy the Museum in every David Emerson Bernard L Peuto Annual Fund campaign. In today’s way you can. CLARENT CORPORATION CONCORD CONSULTING Samuel Fuller John William Poduska Sr ON THE BACK COVER environment of public benefit Our announcements, taken together, ANALOG DEVICES ADVANCED VISUAL SYSTEMS MYSTERY ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION corporations, annual fundraising is created much more than just a “typical” There are still many incredible Eric Hahn F Grant Saviers perhaps the most difficult task, yet one press event. It was also the “virtual challenges ahead, and it will take lots of INVENTURES GROUP PRIVATE INVESTOR of the most important to sustained groundbreaking” of a new organization hard work and support. Our new Beta Gardner C Hendrie John Shoch BACK ALLOY VENTURES success. Our growth path is steep, and ready to meet the challenges of its Building, being constructed to our SIGMA PARTNERS Peter Hirshberg Pierluigi Zappacosta Copyright ©2002, Computer History Museum. All rights we need everyone to help make our future. With pride, I looked at about 100 proposed permanent location, will grow GLOSS.COM reserved. The Museum is an independent 501(c)(3) organization successful. If you forgot to people attending from all over to be a icon, and is organization, FID #77-0507525. PO Box 367, Moffett renew by calendar year-end, please do Valley; viewed the great artifact display symbolic of lots more to come for the Field, CA 94035, USA. so right now as you read this. It makes symbolic of one of the world’s finest entire community. Help us build a great BOARD OF ADVISORS Computer History Museum a big difference. collections; listened to Mike Williams’ institution and enjoy the steps along the Building T12-A passion and excitement while giving his way to celebrate computing history. Gene Amdahl Burge Jamieson Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA SIGMA PARTNERS In early December, we held a press tour; smiled at the awe and interest of William Aspray +1 650 604 2579 COMPUTING RESEARCH Randy Katz +1 650 604 2594 () conference to announce many exciting people who met us for the first time; ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY things—our growing relationship with and saw the work of a dedicated staff Robert Broderson WWW.COMPUTERHISTORY.ORG NASA, construction of the “Beta who created a highly professional event. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA David Patterson BERKELEY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Building” scheduled to open in early fall, BERKELEY Paul Ceruzzi Submission guidelines for technical articles can be our new name and logo, appointment of We are building a community with NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, James N Porter found at www.computerhistory.org/core, or contact the our new Head Curator Mike Williams, passion, enthusiasm, and the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION DISK/TREND editor at [email protected]. JOHN C TOOLE Eric Schmidt and our future plans. In my opinion, it commitment to build something that EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO SYNAPTICS GOOGLE Cover: Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Van, James Gray Stephen L Squires X1590.99, Gift of SRI International (see page 2) MICROSOFT CORPORATION HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY

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(left) Packet van with antennas atop. Deliberately left unmarked over its years of service, the van was often full of expensive equipment and in some cases also full of Army generals. SRI was trying to not attract attention…and, except for one curious San Francisco police officer, it didn’t.

(right) The inside of the van with a DEC LSI-11 running TCP at the top of the rack and two packet THE SRI VAN lower down. A Datamedia terminal sits to the right of the rack on the workbench. AND COMPUTER INTERNETWORKING

BY DON NIELSON

Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Van, X1590.99, Gift of SRI International

Since the days when it was a had gathered for the celebration filed a grow. In the meantime, the notion of a It should be pointed out that the switching, once chosen, the same problem posed by these dissimilar stagecoach stop between San Francisco normal weekly Program radio version of the wired ARPANET had introduction of a radio segment to physical pathway is maintained for the networks at a seminar held by Cerf in and Monterey, Rossotti’s was a well- report—representing the work of all the come to Larry Roberts at ARPA. When supplement the ARPANET came from whole session. When circuits are the summer of 1973.3 After some airing known San Francisco mid-peninsula Program’s contractors—to ARPA. While Roberts left, first and then simply following the military context in leased, the connection may even be in the community, the “watering hole” nestled in the second the testing of such a connection had pursued that same idea at which this and a great deal of research “hardwired.” rudimentary elements of such a bank of foothills west of San Francisco been going on for several months, this ARPA. Both Roberts and Kahn had seen in the is done. If the protocol came together for them on an Bay. In the 1970s, it had a casual long e-mail report was, in a ceremonial the military need for a mobile, military were to ultimately employ this In , where sub-units of October 1973 weekend at the Palo Alto atmosphere and some outdoor sense, the first internet transmission; version of the embryonic ARPANET. SRI new interactive digital technology, there a single message may travel entirely Rickey’s Hotel.4 They published the seating—a good location for the small that is, the first formal use of the and ARPA had also discussed the would have to be allowances for the different routes from source to design in May 1974,5 and named it the ceremony about to take place. No one known as “TCP.”2 possibility of a transportable, possibly military’s inherent mobility and possible destination, the exact role of intervening TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol. would mind if we parked SRI’s “bread handheld, terminal or switching for deployment to any point on earth. So a resources would not even normally be With some modifications, it is still in truck” van alongside the courtyard and TCP was designed to carry information such a network rather than the massive, , particularly one that known. Thus, there arose the concept of use as the basis for transport in the ran a few wires to one of the tables. It over dissimilar networks, in this case seemingly nuclear-hardened early IMPs served a mobile population, was a “virtual circuit,” where the only worldwide Internet. was far enough from SRI (Stanford the PRNET, through a gateway at SRI, (see back cover for more on the IMP) of needed. It turned out to be intrinsically defining network nodes lay at the ends Research Institute) to qualify as then across the ARPANET to a set of the fixed network. Following that different from the existing fixed, wired and in which the intervening nodes are Following the introduction of TCP, ARPA “remote,” but close enough to have hosts distributed around the United instinct, ARPA formed a team of one. This clear difference, along with neither specified nor known by either contracted for three separate good radio contact with them through a States. This small, virtually unknown, contractors in what came to be called the need for the two networks to work network users or providers. This implementations: , repeater station atop a hill above but deliberate episode became a the Packet Radio Program. The team’s well in tandem, led to the notion of a switching concept had been part of the BBN, and University College in London. Stanford. milestone in mobile digital radio and the mission was to create a wireless communication software structure basic ARPANET design and was now to The first, clearly “buggy” specification to flexible integration of digital adjunct to the evolving ARPANET. that would effectively bind these be extended to this amalgam of wire appear was in December of 1974 when So it was that this venue was chosen to communications networks. But let’s Members of the new Packet Radio disparate networks together as though and radio networks and thus to the Stanford produced RFC 675. BBN had mark the occasion of the first internet back up a bit and review in more detail Program were Bolt Beranek and they were one. world of . an in-house version working reliably transmission on August 27, 1976.1 The the emergence of internetworking and Newman (BBN) in , Collins Radio about a year later and began exchanging van was an SRI-outfitted the role the SRI van played in it. in Dallas, Network Analysis on Long One technical insight needs to be It was the clear differences between the TCP traffic with Stanford on an intranet lab that contained the equipment Island, University of California Los inserted here to understand how wire-based ARPANET and the radio- basis. Jim Mathis, a student of Cerf’s needed to make it a portable node on In the early 1970s, the ARPANET was Angeles, and SRI. Because it had a disparate packet networks can easily based packet radio (and eventually at Stanford, started to implement their the emerging Packet Radio Network growing rapidly. Universities, or their good understanding of radio and function together. In most satellite networks) that led Kahn, then protocol in 1975. He came to SRI in the (PRNET). PRNET was sponsored at SRI close affiliates, were the main players systems integration, SRI was chosen communications networks it is only the heading the networking efforts at ARPA, summer of 1976, where he completed a by ARPA (Advanced Research Projects connecting to the network. Under as system engineer and technical source and destination terminals that and Cerf at Stanford University, to version that would run on the much Agency) and started in 1973 or so. inducement from the sponsors at ARPA, director (SETD) of the program as well are visible to network users. The design the first end-to-end protocol that more modest hosts of the packet radio Placing a terminal on one of the wooden and through their own inventions of new as integrator for ARPA’s packet radio resources that lie in between are could span dissimilar packet networks. network (Digital Equipment Corporation courtyard tables and connecting it to and useful network services such as effort, a position it maintained for over normally of little interest to them as The essence of such a construct began LSI-11 microcomputers). In the the van, a number of SRI people who electronic mail, network traffic began to a decade. long as they fulfill their role. In circuit to emerge when Kahn addressed the meantime, Cerf, now a program

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manager at ARPA, was trying his best to alphanumeric sequences that formed (Those SRI people present are also inculcate the Department of Defense patterns on a CRT in which errors would shown in the pictures on the left page.) with the virtues of packet switching and be obvious. While moving at high speed Other two-network TCP connections TCP for their future data networks. in the SRI van, the signal would would soon follow.7 Photo by Don Nielson sometimes be interrupted due to As a part of this emerging digital radio shielding of the radio signal (as when Within a year, and fulfilling the assumed network, SRI foresaw the need for a going beneath an underpass). The flow need for a network of global reach, mobile laboratory. A lot of design work would stop momentarily but no errors ARPA moved to include its third packet lay ahead regarding the notions of nodal were observed. Error-detecting cyclic network, one that was satellite-based. It power and reach, the size of packets redundancy checks, applied at the end was then time to demonstrate all three and the functions they were to perform, of each transmitted packet, were used networks together. On November 22, and the routing and reliability strategies to verify reception accuracy. These 1977, what has come to be more in a network characterized by packet checks plus the end-to-end ordering and generally regarded as the first internet loss rates much higher than that seen re-transmission properties of TCP would transmission occurred between the SRI on wire-based networks. Then there not permit delivery of altered packets mobile packet radio van and a host were the critical choices of radio even though packets were frequently computer at USC by way of London! The frequencies and the signal processing lost! Another similar procedure was to route is shown on the bottom right.8 strategies for the propagation and noise withdraw the synthesizer card from the Photo by Don Nielson environments in which such a packet- packet radio. This would terminate the So internetworking was born of switched radio network would operate. character flow, but re-inserting it would necessity, to demonstrate at ARPA that Since computers are notoriously start it again. Thus, traffic would stop, the innovations of packet switching intolerant of errors, how could a then resume, but no errors were ever were indeed relevant to the military’s vulnerable radio environment be made observed. Those demonstrations were mode of operation. No matter where to transport perfect data? splendid evidence that each packet deployed, they could move about as could have sanctity, even in a tough needed and still be tethered to the The SRI van was first used to environment of intermittent propagation powerful computing hosts kept safely characterize the channel and noise. This was an exciting away from the fighting. The robustness on which a packet radio system would consequence and certainly foreign to of the networks, be they fixed or be expected to operate. This was to be those circuit-oriented engineers who mobile, was, of course, not just a a fault-tolerant, dynamically-adaptable saw mobile digital radio systems as military feature. Packet switching was network. And so, a tough urban setting, some sort of oxymoron. sensible from the point of view of high with its shielding, reflective buildings, network utilization and for offering a and electrical noise, was chosen. Radio The first testing of TCP across soft failure in the presence of moderate was designed that was dissimilar networks started in the network congestion or even limited tolerant of multipath distortion and summer of 1976. The first trials stayed node failure. To be sure, the PRNET noise. Packets were encoded for error one radio hop from the Packet Radio was a collective effort of many people, detection and re-transmission when station (the PRNET’s controlling node) just as were the first workings of the received inaccurately. Noise and the where the bidirectional ARPANET internet. But the SRI van, purchased by propagation patterns were gateway software, built by Ginny SRI as a piece of capital equipment and characterized. When it came time to Strazisar at BBN, was located. During designed to be used in a wide variety of transport information across the packet July and August the SRI team tested experimental roles, found its major role radio network, a subnet was installed in and tuned Mathis’ version of TCP for in these first internetworking the Bay Area and the van became a better accuracy and speed. It was in experiments. mobile node in that network. The PRNET August of 1976 that a terminal, became a self-organizing network, with attached to an LSI-11 “host” running addressing and routing, capable of TCP that was in turn attached to the accommodating the transmission PRNET, proceeded through a gateway to challenges imposed by mobile users. It first access an ARPANET host. For the (top) The site of the first two-network internet was the first mobile packet network. first time, at least in a ceremonial (top) Diagram of the first two-network internet transmission on August 27, 1976 (from the left: transmission on August 27, 1976. (Original Don Cone, (unknown), Nicki Geannacopulos, sense, dissimilar networks were bridged illustration from an SRI technical report "Progress Dave Retz, Ron Kunzelman, Jim McClurg, and Given the difficulty of the radio by TCP, thus clearly creating a two- Report on Packet Radio Experimental Network" Jim Mathis). environment, a couple of interesting network internet connection. That published in September 1977.)

(bottom) Nicki Geannacopulos compiles and sends demonstrations were often used at the specific network configuration is shown (bottom) Diagram of the first three-network internet online the packet radio weekly report. time to illustrate the robustness of this in the figure at the top right, which is transmission on November 27, 1977, comprised of new concept of networking. To illustrate copied from a packet radio progress three physical and four logical networks, the the flow of traffic between a terminal in report written at that time.6 The ARPANET being used twice. (Original illustration from an SRI technical report "Progress Report on the mobile van and some distant occasion was the aforementioned Packet Radio Experimental Network" published in network host, a character generator distribution via TCP of the normal, long February 1978.) would grind out continuous weekly Packet Radio Program report.

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AFTERWORD 1 Identifying the first of anything that is created in The possible importance of “the van” a collaborative way is somewhat arbitrary. Certainly, THE SRI VAN AND experimental trials had been conducted prior to this began to surface sometime in 1996 time. Then there is the question of how many EARLY PACKET when an IEEE Spectrum editor called networks it takes to qualify as an “internet.” In this and mentioned that Vint Cerf had said case we have chosen first the minimum number— SPEECH in an interview that “SRI was the site of two—and then about a year later—three. In all this we are of course referring to just the transport the first internet transmission.” I said I aspects of internetworking. The terminology of When the ARPANET was perhaps five would look into it and began digging “packets” arises from how message traffic is years old and before the development through old PRNET documentation to packaged in modern digital networks. A packet is a of internet protocols, Bob Kahn at ARPA fixed-length, individually-addressed subunit of a verify a couple of events that I vaguely message. Its fixed length simplifies buffering set a group of contractors exploring how remembered. hardware at all the intermediate nodes and its the new network could handle normal addressing permits both packet accountability and traffic. Given the initial focus After the November 1977 date was diffusion across unused portions of a network. on reliable data transmission, it was confirmed and defined accurately and 2 TCP is the acronym for Transmission Control not clear whether the variability in had been promulgated a bit, the next Protocol, network software that establishes, interpacket delay would permit the call came from The Computer Museum operates, and closes a reliable virtual circuit across smooth flow required by a voice call. In History Center (now the Computer dissimilar networks. While still in use today, the overhead for this type of connection was deemed 1974, Kahn initiated the Network History Museum) about celebrating the excessive for some types of traffic. This soon led to Speech Compression Program because 20th anniversary of the Internet at the a companion transaction protocol called the of the narrow of the initial Supercomputer Conference in San Jose Internet Protocol (IP). Together they comprise the circuits comprising the net. This transport system of today’s Internet. in 1997. I offered that the van was still program resulted in the choice of some at SRI but had languished unused for 3 Abbate, Janet. Inventing the Internet, MIT Press, compression algorithms and these were perhaps 10 years on the back lot. When 1999, page 127. first tried over the ARPANET. In 1976, it was clear there was interest in putting SRI’s Earl Craighill and Tom Magill, both 4 Communication with Vinton Cerf, January 15, it on the convention floor, Don Alves of 2002. of whom had been working on the SRI and I began the job of getting it speech program, convinced ARPA to let running, dressing it up as best we 5 Cerf, Vinton G, and Robert E. Kahn. “A Protocol them try speech on the Bay Area for Packet Network ,” IEEE could, trying to replenish the almost Transactions on Communications, Vol. Comm-22, PRNET. By this time the internet non-existent radio and internet No. 5, May 1974. protocol, TCP, was also being tested equipment that had been in it, getting it and so speech experiments began also re-licensed, and coaxing it to San Jose. 6 From “Progress Report on Packet Radio on an internet basis. Experimental Network,” by R.C. Kunzelman, M.A. While not beautiful, it did seem to carry Placko, and R.T. Wolfram. Quarterly Technical some symbolism for many who saw it. Report 5, SRI Project 2325, Contract DAHC15-73-C- Because the SRI van was an easily So, rather than returning it to certain 0187, ARPA Order 2302, September 1977. outfitted facility and already had packet deterioration and scrap, SRI offered it 7 An expected part of the ARPA work was to radio and internet equipment installed, to the Museum, where it lives today. demonstrate progress and give evidence of this it became the first mobile node for new networking capability. So TCP, spanning the packet speech experiments. In addition PRNET and the ARPANET, would be demonstrated in to the challenges of mobile data May 1977 between the SRI van and hosts at ISIC and SRIKL. On August 11, 1977, a TELNET transport, transporting natural-sounding connection was demonstrated between the van and speech focused on the importance of Don Nielson has been at Stanford Research the Naval Ocean Systems Center in San Diego for delay variance. Innovations were Institute, now SRI International, for 40 of its 55- Admiral Stansfield Turner (Dir. CIA) and William needed in variable rate encoding, new year history. During the events associated with the Perry (DDR&E). On September 19, 1977, a single internet transmissions mentioned above, he was LSI-11 microcomputer, running a multi-connection buffering strategies, and rapid rerouting the SRI principal investigator for ARPA in the early TCP, multiplexed four terminals through a packet of packets whenever the route in use stages of the packet radio program. While that radio to four different ARPANET hosts, essentially failed. All these were to help smooth program was unfolding, he became director of SRI’s all of the ones running TCP servers at the time. Sciences Center (1975), the the flow of speech. Importantly, these center at SRI for computer networking. To better 8 From “Progress Report on Packet Radio requirements for packet speech (top) SRI’s Speech Packet Project Leader Earl align its work with the future of computing, this Experimental Network,” by R.C. Kunzelman, V.D. influenced the decomposition of the Craighill in the SRI van, which housed the speech group was permitted by SRI to join the Computer Cone, K.S. Klemba, J.E. Mathis, J.L. McClurg, and protocol into reliable or guaranteed encoding and packetizing equipment. Science Division, which Don came to head from D.L. Nielson. Contract MDA903-78-C-0126, ARPA 1983 until his retirement as an SRI vice president Order 2302, February 1978. (TCP) and non-guaranteed (IP) services. (bottom) SRI’s Jan Edl demonstrating speech in 1998. Since then he has been writing a book on transmission over the Internet. The Mickey Mouse SRI’s major innovations, from which this segment Thus, internet speech connections were phone was deliberately used to illustrate that the about the SRI van was drawn. speech equipment hardware and software was being conducted as early as 1977- designed to accommodate a standard, off-the-shelf 1978, about the same time as the telephone. Internet itself was becoming a reality.

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1 The Swiss Federal Insitute of Technology (ETHZ) in Zurich opened the first Swiss computing department (called the Institute for Applied Mathematics) in January, 1948, where the earliest Swiss computer, the COMPUTERS ERMETH, was developed under the direction of Eduard Stiefel. 2 After an extensive survey of (primarily U.S.) computers existing at the time, Stiefel and his team developed the ERMETH—Elektronische Rechenmaschine der Eidgenössischen Technischen Hochschule (ETH)—which was of simple design, built to perform reliable scientific calculations, and which ran for the first time in July 1956. MADE IN 3 In the late 1970s, Zurich computer specialist was inspired by the "workstation" concept he discovered at Xerox PARC. He returned to Switzerland to build the machine, which had a screen of higher resolution than the contemporary Apple II, and made use of a mouse.

4 Wirth built the Lilith computer between 1977 and 1980. The powerful workstation was one of the first to have a mouse, a high-resolution monitor, and a graphical user interface—well configured for graphics SWITZERLAND creation. By comparison, at this time, the Apple II was equipped with just a keyboard for input. 5 The Dépraz mouse, the first computer mouse “made in Switzerland," was manufactured by precision engineering expert André Guignard for Wirth's Lilith workstation. BY DOMINIK LANDWEHR 6 A bottom view of the Dépraz mouse.

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INTRODUCTION comparison with the elite universities of possible an entirely new approach to was looking for a high-performance LOGITECH—KING OF THE Logitech eventually took over the mouse Over the past 150 years, products such the United States. Between 1954 and computing. At the end of a year in solution for his corporation. Waldburger COMPUTER MOUSE concepts and products from Nicoud and as instant coffee and soups, precision 1959, electrical engineer and Professor California, Wirth made the return was already looking ahead to the When Wirth set out to build his Lilith Dépraz, developed prototypes suitable tools and machinery, pharmaceuticals, Eduard Stiefel and two of his assistants journey to Switzerland with a computer concept of a multimedia computer workstation in 1978 he found himself in for mass production and showed these and medicines have elevated (later professors themselves), Heinz mouse in his suitcase and an improved capable of processing not just data but need of a computer mouse. His to potential clients in the computer Switzerland to a leading position among Rutishauser and Ambros Speiser, workstation design in his head. also images and sounds. His colleague, Jean-Daniel Nicoud of the industry. “Various companies including the world’s industrialized nations. One developed a science-oriented computer, Developed under the name Lilith, the specifications helped provide a name Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Hewlett-Packard immediately showed an might therefore expect Switzerland to the ERMETH. This early computer has workstation had a high-resolution for the new company that would market Lausanne, managed to get the precision interest. But they told us our products have equally made a name for itself in indeed been seen as a significant graphical screen (592 x 768 pixels, the Lilith: DISER (Data-Image-Sound- engineering expert André Guignard were too costly,” remembers Borel. The the development and marketing of advancement, but it was rapidly compared to the alphanumeric display Processor and Emitter-Receiver system). interested in the project. The result was next step was decisive for the ultimate computers. Despite some brilliant overtaken by other computing of 24 lines of 40 characters of the The line included two “Modula the first computer mouse “made in survival of the company: they managed computer pioneers, such is not the developments. In particular, as noted by contemporary Apple II) and made use of Computers”—an MC 1 and an MC 2. Switzerland,” which was built by the to create a subsidiary in Taiwan and to case, however, and Swiss products Ambros Speiser: “The real importance a mouse as well as rudimentary DISER had ambitious objectives and it Dépraz company and used for the Lilith transfer production there. Because don’t hold as prominent positions in the of data processing in the commercial windowing technology. This computer opened sales offices in Zurich, workstation. dozens of Taiwanese competitors soon world computer market as they do in field was not recognized until these was nevertheless not yet based on a Lausanne, Orem, Atlanta, Chicago, arose, Logitech had to react quickly and textile machinery and gas turbines. But applications began to overtake those of but rather on relatively Dallas, and Paris. But a total of only Roughly at the same time another always work hard to undercut them. This who knows what will happen in the a scientific nature.” low-integration level circuits. 140 machines were manufactured, of Swiss, Daniel Borel, a physicist and was only made possible because the future? which 120 were sold. The company graduate student at Stanford, subsidiary was managed locally from In 1976, Niklaus Wirth, a Zurich When its commercialization started in misjudged its market and after six discovered the Alto workstation, the new Taiwan, whereas business could not EARLY COMPUTING AND THE computer specialist who at the time 1982, the Lilith machine was sold as a months it was already at the end of the interface technologies—mice, menus, have been conducted out of Switzerland LILITH COMPUTER regarded himself as an electrical pure research computer. A first batch of road. Cheap memory chips and high and windows—as well as America’s or California. Today Logitech is a leader The best place to begin our search for engineer, traveled to the Xerox Palo Alto 10 was built in the USA at a unit price performance had entrepreneurial spirit. That provided him not only in the computer mouse field innovative computer products is at the Research Center (PARC) in California. of 20,000 Swiss Francs. The first ushered in a new era. with inspiration to found his own but more generally in computer-human Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in There he saw a “workstation” for the “outsider” to discover this Swiss company. He began thinking hard about interfaces (touchpads, keyboards, Zurich (ETHZ), one of the few first time: a machine capable of machine was Heinz Waldburger who, as exciting products on which to base a trackballs, joysticks, , etc.). universities in Europe that could stand dialogue with the user that would make head of computer services at Nestlé, new company. In 1981, Daniel Borel, Pierluigi Zappacosta, and Giacomo Marini founded Logitech.

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7 Daniel Borel was inspired by "new" interface technologies—mice, menus, and windows—and 10 SupercomputingSystems' GigaBooster hit the market in 1995 as a promising supercomputer that greatly ultimately co-founded Logitech in 1981. He is now president of this successful company. increased performance for a fraction of the cost. Yet only 10 units were sold.

8 Doug Engelbart pioneered the mouse in the 1960s at SRI. 11 Jean-Daniel Nicoud facilitated the donation of a significant portion of the items listed on page 13. A foremost developer of microprocessor-based computers in Switzerland, Nicoud spent hours 9 In 1994, Supercomputing Systems (SCS) founder Anton Gunzinger was highlighted in a Time documenting the donation for the Museum. magazine special issue as one of 100 figures who will influence events in the 21st century. SCS then delivered the promising, but commercially unsuccessful, GigaBooster supercomputer to 12 This logic module from the ERMETH computer now resides in the collection of the Computer History the market. Museum. The first computer ever built in Switzerland, the ERMETH is currently on display at the Technorama in Winterthur, Switzerland.

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While the Logitech head office remains inluence events in the 21st century. with the combative name “GigaBooster.” new encryption system that is able to Computers in Retirement,” which will Dominik Landwehr is the head of the Science and in Switzerland, the company’s Gunzinger had succeeded in developing But just 10 units were sold. Today encode and decode at a rate of 155 last until Spring 2003. Various private Future Department at the Migros Culture Percentage, a private Swiss benefactor that is operational headquarters are in a very promising new computer that not Gunzinger coolly analyzes the flop in the megabits per second. collections have been made accessible designed to give the general public access to Fremont, not far from Stanford only improved performance significantly following terms: “At a time when PCs to the public. A private initiative led by cultural and social events. Landwehr is running a University. It is no coincidence that the while consuming less energy, but more were becoming more powerful with each CONCLUSION the Association of Friends of the Swiss number of educational and artistic programs in the same building also houses an importantly, cost a mere fraction of the passing year, we were competing in the One out of these three ventures became Computer Museum, which aims at field of technology. He regularly contributes articles to a number of publications, including the renowned organization by the name of Bootstrap, “supercomputers” then on the market. wrong market and research funds from a worldwide and widely-respected player better understanding the increasing Neue Zürcher Zeitung, which covers a wide array of the consulting firm of the inventor of the Gunzinger and his team created a the state and other sources simply in the computer business. Not a bad influence of information and topics about technology and society. At present he mouse, Doug Engelbart. Engelbart design based on 170 processors, all dried up.” There was another problem percentage overall, although one could communication technologies on society, is doing research into the use of the German cipher machine Enigma, which was widely used in pioneered the mouse and a number of working in parallel, which in practice too: the software had to be frequently have dreamed of a more prominent role plans to create a museum which will Switzerland during World War II. Landwehr other developments at the Stanford achieved a speed of 10 gigaflops, i.e., updated and the costs soon exceeded for Switzerland in the hardware field. On gather large Swiss collections of graduated from Zurich University and has worked for Research Institute (SRI) in the 1960s. 10,000 million floating-point operations the capabilities of such a small firm, the other hand, in niches like knowledge calculating and typing machines as well various Swiss newspaper, radio, and Engelbart did not become rich from his per second, with the maximum possible which brought production to a halt. management, secure banking as computers. Finally, in October 2001, agencies. A number of missions for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) inventions, and indeed the recognition speed at that time being between 100- transactions, cryptography, etc., many the enthusiastic donation of more than brought him to Thailand, Romania, and the Afghan of his achievements was late in coming. 200 gigaflops. Encouraged by his Gunzinger’s SCS did, however, Swiss pioneers and companies are key 3.5 tons of computers from Switzerland border in Pakistan. But as a guest of Logitech, Bootstrap achievements, Gunzinger founded the overcome this hardship and is still players, and venues like biocomputing to the Computer History Museum is yet pays no rent. It is Borel’s way of saying company Supercomputing Systems going strong today, employing some are just beginning to be explored. another sign of the increased interest in thank you to the researcher who made (SCS) in 1993. The new start-up was 60 people. As Gunzinger says, “We this global technology revolution. it all possible. built on a dream: “We shall make have learned from our mistakes and we The discovery of this mostly unknown supercomputers in Switzerland and earn now stick to what we are good at, role in computer history has also paved BYE-BYE SUPERCOMPUTER a living at it.” The company’s namely developing computer systems.” the way for various conservation It was not that long ago that the name presentation included the trendy tag SCS is now active in a wide variety of initiatives. The Museum of of Anton Gunzinger, a Zurich computer line: “because it’s fun.” fields, and has developed, for instance, Communication in Bern displays the specialist, was very popular. In a 1994 a digital sound mixer based on up to most important milestones of the PC’s Time magazine special issue, Gunzinger Switzerland’s first commercial 126 processors, making use of history worldwide in its temporary was named one of 100 people who will supercomputer hit the market in 1995 Gigabooster technology, as well as a exhibition, “Control-Alt-Collect:

COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 PAGE 12 PAGE 13

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM COLLECTION

ARTIFACTS AND SOFTWARE Preliminary description of the UNIVAC (1950), Commodore Business Machines Amiga 1060 COMPUTING IN SWITZERLAND ITEMS Microscope journal collection (1975-1980), Supercomputing Systems Swiss TNet crossbar X2292.2002 A, Gift of Robert Garner personal computer (c. 1985), X2419.2002 X2326.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud switch and connectors (1999), X2315.2002, Computer Displays, Inc., Mechanical Mouse Bobst Graphic Lausanne Scrib portable computer Gift of Supercomputing Systems (c. 1970), X2322.2002, Gift of Richard Fryer RCA 301 documentation collection (c. 1965), Commodore Business Machines Commodore 16 (1977), X2310.2002, Gift of Bobst Group SA Supercomputing Systems GigaBooster (1992), X2339.2002, Gift of Allen Chalmers (c. 1983), X2417.2002 X2316.2002, Gift of Supercomputing Systems Swisscom AG Swiss public telephone booth Data General/One Notebook computer, printer, Convex Computer Corporation, C3820 Gallium containing a working Teleguide electronic telephone software, documentation, and carrying case RCA 301 salesmen’s model (c. 1960s), Commodore Business Machines Commodore 64 Arsenide Supercomputer System (1994), Supercomputing Systems MUSIC (Multiprocessor directory (c. 1997), X2319.2002, (c. 1983), X2297.2002, Gift of William Geiger X2337.2002, Gift of Allen Chalmers (c. 1978), X2418.2002 X2301.2002, Gift of the Swiss Center for System with Intelligent Communication) (1994), Gift of Swisscom AG Scientific Computing X2317.2002, Gift of Supercomputing Systems DEC VLSI VAX microcode and documentation Texas Instruments Advanced Scientific Computer Commodore Business Machines PET 2001 Personal CD-ROM archive, X2350.2002, Gift of Bob Supnik internal memo collection and machine descriptions Computer (1977), X2400.2002 Convex Computer Corporation, C3820 manual (c. 1968), X2347.2002, Gift of William Kastner collection (c. 1991), X2327.2002, Gift of the Swiss ETH Zurich Switcherland (1993-98), X2323.2002, Commodore Business Machines plus/4 Personal Center for Scientific Computing EXPANDING THE COLLECTION Gift of Hans Eberle Two early programming texts by Computer (c. 1983), X2416.2002 (c. 1965), X2336.2002, Gift of Kristen Nygaard Crocus manual collection (c. 1976), X2328.2002, The Computer History Museum often receives support from friends of computing 1/2-inch wafer of Convergent Technologies, Inc., Workslate (1983), Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud history who work with our collections team to expand the collection in important planar transistors (1958), X2351.2002, Gift of UNIVAC Maintenance Manual (1958), X2406.2002 Art Zafiropoulo X2292.2002 B, Gift of Robert Garner Epsilon-System, SA, Crocus microcomputer system ways. Individual donors may contribute their own collections, as with the items listed Convergent Technologies, Inc., Workslate kit (1977), X2313.2002, Gift of André Thalmann on the opposite page that were donated by Michael Plitkins, a senior staff engineer Fairchild Semiconductor first working planar UNIVAC Solid-State 90 bound manual set (1959), microprinter (c. 1985), X2428.2002 in advanced at TellMe. A quick scan through the list reveals Plitkins to be transistor (1957), X2352.2002, X2292.2002 C, Gift of Robert Garner Epsitec Smaky manual collection (1986-1994), a collector of both popular and obscure computing artifacts—including rare Gift of Art Zafiropoulo Hewlett-Packard Integral Personal Computer (1985), X2325.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud Xerox PARC technical report collection X2412.2002 prototypes—with a real nose for the important details of computing history as well. It Hewlett-Packard HP110 portable computer (1984), (70 publications) (1970s-1980s), X2353.2002, Epsitec Systems Belmont/Lausanne Smaky 324 is an honor that he chose the Museum to be the recipient of his devoted and X2338.2002, Gift of Allen Chalmers Gift of James Mitchell IBM Vacuum Tube Logic Trainer (c. 1955), single board computer (1987), X2302.2002, personal collecting efforts. X2411.2002 Gift of Epsitec SA IBM 026 keypunch print wheel (c. 1960), Xerox PARC technical report collection (c. 1970s- X2243.2002, Gift of Lee Schur 1980s), X2295.2002, Gift of Mike Rutenberg Mindset Corporation MINDSET personal computer Epsitec Systems Smaky 100 personal computer The items listed on this page reflect another such effort, when several people and system (1983), X2408.2002 (1984), X2307.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud organizations made a group donation this past fall of artifacts related to computing IBM 10SR MODII 14-inch hard drive assembly in Switzerland. Over the course of many months, the Swiss Science and Technology (HDA), X2344.2002, Gift of Will Galloway GIFTS OF MICHAEL PLITKINS Mindset Corporation MINDSET personal computer Epsitec Systems Smaky 130 personal computer system (1983), X2409.2002 system (1990), X2308.2002, Office at the Swiss Consulate in San Francisco helped pull together a donation of IBM Model 604 Electronic Calculating Punch Apple Computer, Inc., Apple II GS Woz Edition Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud computers, peripherals, documentation, and stories by several key players. The (1948), X2294.2002, Gift of Robert Garner personal computer system (c. 1989), X2415.2002 Motorola, Inc., Envoy Personal Wireless items were then shipped (courtesy of PRS Presence Switzerland) to the Museum Communicator (c. 1994), X2405.2002 Epsitec Systems Smaky 300 personal computer (most were shipped from Switzerland), and were exhibited at a reception prior to the Marchant Calculating Machine Company Apple Computer, Inc., Lisa II System including four (1990), X2311.2002, Gift of Epsitec Systems SA “Figuremaster” calculator (1948), X2320.2002, profile external hard drives, an AppleWriter printer, Osborne Computer Corporation Executive Portable Fellow Awards Banquet on October 23, 2001. This exhibit of a truly “international” Gift of George William Bolton an ImageWriter II printer, an Apple 1200, Computer (1982), X2401.2002 Epsitec Systems Smaky 400 single board computer flavor was much appreciated by donors and friends of the Museum, since many of and assorted PCBs (c. 1990), X2431.2002 (1996), X2312.2002, Gift of Epsitec Systems SA them had never had the opportunity to see Swiss-made computing innovations, Non-Linear Systems Kaypro 4 portable computer, Osborne Computer Corporation Vixen portable documentation, and software collection (1984), Apple Computer, Inc., Lisa/Mac XL personal computer (1987), X2403.2002 Epsitec Systems Smaky 6 Microcomputer and except Logitech mice, of course! X2333.2002, Gift of Ronnie Sue Helzner computer system (1984), X2410.2002 Stoppani Electronic SA MICROLERU Smaky 6 Radio Shack TRS-80 64K Color Computer 2 microcomputer paper tape reader (1978), One of the “key players” in this particular donation was Jean-Daniel Nicoud, a leader Punch card equipment and book collection Apple Computer, Inc., Newton Message Pad 100 (c. 1985), X2414.2002 X2309.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud in Swiss microprocessor-based computing and micro-robotics and professor emeritus (c. 1958), X2281.2002, Gift of Alfred C Hexter (1993), X2405.2002 Radio Shack TRS-80 Micro Color Computer ETH Zurich Ceres-1 (1987), X2321.2002, at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Not just a prolific inventor, Atari Computer Corporation Atari 400 home (c. 1984), X2413.2002 Gift of Hans Eberle Nicoud was also a favorite with students because of his interactive and creative DOCUMENTATION computer (c. 1980), X2422.2002 teaching style, as well as the variety of robot-building contests he set up over time. Sinclair Research Ltd. QL microcomputer (c. 1984), ETH Zurich Ceres-3 personal computer system In 1974, he organized the first International Conference on Microprocessors and Applied Computer Techniques Apricot Software Atari Computer Corporation Atari 400 home X2429.2002 (1990), X2318.2002, Gift of Nicklaus Wirth and collection (1985), X2332.2002, computer (c. 1980), X2423.2002 ETH Zurich coordinated 10 other conferences over the years. Nicoud indicates that Gift of Michael Kimball Sony Corporation Hit Bit HB-75AS home computer miniaturization and human interaction have always held an attraction for him, and he Atari Computer Corporation Atari 800 home (c. 1983), X2428.2002 ETH Zurich ERMETH logic module (c. 1956), continues to develop small mobile robots, with particular interest in defusing Automatic Digital Calculators (1965), X2324.2002, computer (c. 1982), X2424.2002 X2314.2002, Gift of Ambros Speiser Gift of Allen Baum Sun Microsystems Sun-3/80 workstation system landmines and in the development of autonomous flying robots. As a co-developer of Atari Computer Corporation Atari 800 home (1990), X2420.2002 LCD-EPFL Novasim Virtual Data General NOVA the first Swiss mouse and of several subsequent Logitech mice, Nicoud also Basic Programming Concepts and the computer (c. 1982), X2427.2002 peripheral (1972), X2306.2002, developed the Scrib, the first portable computer for journalists, and built the line of Symbolics, Inc., 3620 LISP workstation system IBM 1620 Computer (1962), X2282.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud Smaky personal computers, which were the only Swiss-made computers that sold in Gift of Derek Peschel Atari Computer Corporation Atari 810 home (c. 1990), X2430.2002 computer disk drive (c. 1982), X2425.2002 LCD-EPFL Stoppani, Ltd. Travers Dolphin (Dauphin) significant numbers. In the course of this “Swiss” donation, Nicoud spent hours Computer book collection (various dates), Texas Instruments Homecomputer 99/4A (c. 1979), System “Club” development system (1977-1980), religiously documenting the machines and their development processes so that the X2299.2002, Gift of Harry Stewart Atari Computer Corporation Atari 810 home X2421.2002 X2304.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud Museum could have appropriate materials through which to understand and exhibit computer disk drive (c. 1982), X2426.2002 Early computing texts collection (various dates), If you would like to update the Museum regarding LCD-EPFL Stoppani, Ltd. Travers Dolphin (Dauphin) the items. X2354.2002, Gift of L Peter Deutsch Atari Computer Corporation Portfolio 16-bit personal your artifact donation, please contact Registrar System “Industry” development system (1977- computer (1989), X2407.2002 Jeremy Clark at +1 650 604 1524 or 1980), X2305.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud As an institution, the Museum is grateful for the time and dedication of people like Operating Principle of the Belgrade Hand Prosthesis [email protected]. Plitkins and Nicoud who truly value preserving the stories and artifacts of the Mechanism, X2293.2002, Canon Cat V777 Work Processor (1987), LCD-LAMI-EPFL OMS Data Aquisition System Gift of Tom Callahan X2402.2002 (1972), X2303.2002, Gift of Jean-Daniel Nicoud information age. Indeed, it is only because of people like these that the Museum exists and will continue to grow.

COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 PAGE 14 PAGE 15

Chair of the CyberMuseum Committee Gordon Bell (right) and Director of Cyber Exhibits Mike Walton discuss the next set of project goals. The CyberMuseum will not only communicate the BEYOND VIRTUAL physical Museum to web visitors but will also present computing history in a dynamic and inventive way. BY MIKE WALTON

HOW BIG A BOX DO YOU NEED? for the novice and serious researcher PRESERVING BITS AND PIECES present interviews along with statistics, What would you do if you wanted to alike, enabling the gathering of Experiments currently underway are artifact information, and materials from present the entire authentic information at all levels of exploring the possibilities outside the other sources to create an information- and had limited square footage in which interest. This vision becomes powerful “virtual museum” box. The initial rich environment. Our monthly lectures to put it? This is the challenge that the and challenging when coupled with the approach is to systematically convert are also videotaped and can be added Computer History Museum faces, and magnitude and quality of artifacts in our the wealth of knowledge in our library, to our permanent display on the web. for us the answer is clear: We need to collection. collections, and media stores into Soon you might be able to watch our present online the wealth of knowledge digital format while indexing what we environment? How do you best of computers as untouchable by lectures streamed live from location. contained in our Museum. “GOING” ONLINE have to increase depth and instill the “human factor” into inexperienced hands. Cyberspace is An enterprising company today would completeness of our data. By digitizing digital reporting? advancing in this same spirit, and a At this stage, the role of the You have probably heard of the great probably never consider whether or not our collection, we are fulfilling multiple CyberMuseum goal is to put the history CyberMuseum project is to experiment, progress toward our permanent home in to have a website. The Internet has purposes: we preserve the information, CYBERMUSEUM CHAMPIONS of computing directly into the hands of evaluate the technologies, provide 2005, but another important innovation arrived, and if you’re not there, it’s like and at the same time we make it The CyberMuseum project is not just the public. recipes, and ensure the preservation of has been developing in our back rooms. being cut out of the phone book. In usable for the web and other projects about web objects, but is also about materials in formats that can be used As part of our critical mission, we are many cases, “going” online usually such as physical exhibit design. people and communities. Gordon Bell, CAPTURING ORAL HISTORIES online. going to preserve much of computing means representing the physical an original founder and current Trustee A picture and list of specifications might history using today’s computers and institution with a phone number, Meanwhile, we are trying various ways of the Museum and a senior researcher be an adequate display for a specific FOSTERING AN INTERNATIONAL present it across the networks of address or driving directions— to display, exhibit, and update this at Microsoft, is a major champion of the computer, but presenting personal COMMUNITY tomorrow. While the physical Museum is information that ties the website to the information. We are investigating ways CyberMuseum. He has dedicated a lot histories with stories and media is a Perhaps the greatest potential for the being carefully crafted and planned to physical. to enrich video with other content, such of personal time and resources to help much more complex endeavor. The CyberMuseum project lies in reaching a inhabit 120,000 square feet in the as running transcripts or closed bring the Computer History Museum’s CyberMuseum is conducting much larger audience than the physical future, the Museum online is free to Our CyberMuseum will most certainly do captioning. It is possible to create mission and vision to Cyberspace. experiments in capturing stories on Museum could expect to reach. People expand beyond the space restrictions of this, but this “virtual” facsimile of the hyperlinks within the media to access video in a number of oral history who may never see us in person will be the “real” world. real world will inhabit only a portion of material outside of the video Bell has been performing a number of projects. One of the fortunate facts able to get much of the experience and the overall CyberMuseum. Both the presentation and thus enrich the interesting personal explorations over about computing history today is that information online. While nothing can We are calling this project the physical Museum and the CyberMuseum experience. the last few years in a project he calls many of the early pioneers are alive to replace the visceral experience of CyberMuseum. The name is derived will benefit from shared research, MyMainBrain. Partly experiment in data tell their stories. Some of the best seeing the collection first-hand, the from the term “Cyberspace,” first overlapping exhibit design, and ever- To get through just a portion of the representation, partly personal librarian, information comes from the individuals CyberMuseum will bring as much of it coined by science-fiction author increasing data about the collection. large collection we have acquired at the and right now, all about Gordon, who were on the front lines of to life as possible. in 1984 in his book CyberMuseum projects can build tools Computer History Museum would take MyMainBrain contains digitized computing history. Recording a story Neuromancer: to help manage our Museum data years. So to begin, we identified some documentation, images, media, and “straight from the horse’s mouth” can We hope our efforts will bring together internally. Such tools can help the of the most significant subjects and minutiae from his long career. He hopes capture not just basic statistics of the many outside sources of research in a Cyberspace. A consensual Museum develop, use, modify, and objects, and are working with them in to make the process available as a era but also a sense of the participant’s multilateral preservation effort. A hallucination experienced daily by expand data in a centralized manner. limited digital conversion exhibit software tool for others to organize and world view, interpretation of events, and fortune in data and research is already billions of legitimate operators in experiments. Together with the exhibit catalog their own lifetime achievements the emotions of actually being there. at risk of disappearing for lack of every nation, by children being taught The CyberMuseum can go beyond the design teams for the physical building, or as a memory assistant and funding or interest. The CyberMuseum mathematical concepts....A graphical normal “virtual” museum, allowing our we are streamlining the process. By productivity aid. Oral histories are often done by can link researchers, user communities, representation of data abstracted collection, media library, and other getting the “recipe” right for the many interviewers who are experts in the field universities, and collectors, while from the banks of every computer in resources to be accessed through one types of materials, we can begin the The experiments and experience from and with highest production values enrolling them whenever possible to the human system. Unthinkable easy-to-navigate portal. Exhibits online task of automating the lengthy process MyMainBrain have already helped the wherever possible. The Computer participate in the common mission of complexity. Lines of light ranged in can provide multiple levels of of working through the rest of the CyberMuseum project by laying some of History Museum is treating oral presenting and preserving the stories the non-space of the mind, clusters experience, allowing any depth of collection. the groundwork for storage methods histories with the great care expected of of computing history. and constellations of data. Like city research. The challenges of this vision, and data acquisition. a historical collecting museum, yet is lights, receding... of course, are also great—to rapidly Some of the issues that arise as these also experimenting with new methods. If you would like to get involved with adapt and present consistent data in experiments are carried out are: What Bell also was a pioneer earlier in his We are also moving forward in our “pro- the project or contribute your stories Cyberspace was thus defined as a place different views to a world-wide audience formats will have longevity? How can career, among other places, as vice casual” video collection. By creating a or insights to the Museum, please where the world’s information could be while keeping it simple enough to the complex hyperlinks of interrelated president of research and development portable recording studio, we can be on contact us and become a part of visualized. In the CyberMuseum, our navigate by novice users, all on a information be managed? How detailed at Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital the spot for impromptu interviews. our community. goal over time is to visualize and access small budget! do these records actually need to be? led the revolution that empowered end the entirety of computing history, How do you reconcile conflicting and users to interact directly with The CyberMuseum plans to organize the Mike Walton is the Director of Cyber Exhibits at the making the institution an exciting place missing information in such a complex computers, forever abolishing the idea oral histories online, posting past and Computer History Museum.

COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 PAGE 16 PAGE 17

REAL DESIGN, REAL BUILDINGS

BY KIRSTEN TASHEV

SELECTING OUR TEAM BENCHMARKS The Museum’s building plans have The Museum selected another first- focused on the overall visitor experience During the programming phase, passed some key milestones in the last class firm to develop the exhibitions for as well as defining specific Museum representatives and the design several months, including our plans for the new building. After an intensive requirements including size, function, team conducted various information- both the permanent building and an interview process with eight qualified character, adjacency, and quality of each gathering tours of local museums, exciting temporary facility. Last spring, firms from across the United States as space (see chart on opposite page), including the San Francisco Museum of after completing a five-month “ideas well as visits to the finalists’ recent while allowing enough flexibility in the Modern Art, the San Jose Museum of competition” with three outstanding projects, we selected Van Sickle & design to accommodate future growth Art, the Tech Museum of Innovation in architectural firms, the Museum Rolleri (VSR) of Medford, New Jersey. and change. As you read this article, San Jose, and the Children’s Discovery The Beta Building will be located at Moffett Field, just south of the historic Hangar One and will provide the selected Esherick Homsey Dodge & VSR is recognized for its work on the the team is well into the next phase— Museum of San Jose. In the fall, the Museum with much-needed space for operations and exhibits during the process of building the new Museum building, scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2005. Davis (EHDD) of San Francisco, Experience Music Project in Seattle, “schematic design”—that will result in a team was also fortunate to visit some California, to design the new building. Washington; the Gerald R. Ford Museum more refined building program in terms outstanding international museums that Museum Trustee and Building in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and the of architectural amenities and exhibit display computer history exhibits, Committee Chairman Grant Saviers Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New spaces, as well as a signature building including the Science Museum in Building will provide the Museum with Behavioral Sciences at California State explained, “the purpose of the York, New York. VSR has also received design. London, England; the Deutsches the necessary space to grow, hold University in San Bernardino, California; competition was not to choose a design several awards including the Museum in Munich, Germany; and the events, and stage and organize our and the Performing Arts Center at for the new building, but to select the Southeastern Museum Conference PHASING THE APPROACH Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum in artifact collection, and will allow us to California State Polytechnic University in best architect for the project going Curator’s Committee Exhibition In the “programming” phase, the team Paderborn, Germany. These are explore new ideas as we plan our San Louis Obispo, California. forward.” (Excerpts of the competition Competition Award and The American developed a strategy to build the new fantastic institutions and we are permanent facility. can be seen on our website). With the Association for State and Local History facility in two phases: Phase I, honored to be building strong As you can see, we are moving forward competition behind us, we are very Award of Merit in 2000. Dennis Van scheduled to open in late 2005, will relationships with them. Their hospitality The Beta Building is being designed by rapidly to create critically important pleased to be collaborating with the Sickle, VSR principal, said, “We look initially include 32,000 sf (square feet) was wonderful and greatly contributed Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall facilities necessary for us to achieve EHDD team on the design of the forward to working on this most of gallery space with 23,000 sf of to making the trip an overwhelming Holmes & Narver (DMJMH+N), an our goals and become the great Museum’s permanent facility. prestigious project and believe the time exhibits fully installed. Phase I also success. architecture, engineering, and institution we are striving to be. Our has come to create a museum that includes administrative offices, a retail construction services firm with offices building plans—coupled with our “We are thrilled to work with the captures the rich stories of an industry store, a small café cart, a research BETA BUILDING UNDERWAY in San Francisco and around the world. CyberMuseum (see article on page 14), Computer History Museum board and that has truly changed the world.” reference library, a multi-purpose room Other exciting news currently in the DMJMH+N’s other recent public projects our active programs, and the staff to design one of the first Silicon for events, and other spaces for a total works is our plan to construct a include the United States Botanic communities of people who are helping Valley landmarks of the 21st Century,” CREATING COLLABORATION of 72,000 sf. The remaining 9,000 sf of temporary building to be located less Garden Conservatory in Washington, us—will allow us to evolve and serve said Chuck Davis, senior design From the beginning, the Computer exhibits within Phase I are scheduled to than 500 feet south of Moffett Field’s DC; the School of Social and the public for many years to come. principal, EHDD. “Our goal is to capture History Museum purposefully set out to open in 2007. landmark Hangar One, and adjacent to the unique character of the Computer create a collaborative team relationship our future permanent building site. Kirsten Tashev is the Building and Exhibits Project History Museum and to create an between architecture and exhibits in In Phase II, an auditorium will be added Scheduled to open in the fall of 2002, Manager at the Computer History Museum. inspiring environment where people can order to foster a process by which each as well as a larger restaurant. The the temporary space is being dubbed learn and study computing history and discipline would inform the other. The exhibits will be expanded, as will the the “Beta Building,” both a nod to the innovation.” Founded in 1946 by goal is to create a building that administration, library, and multi- computer industry’s term for a product legendary architect Joseph Esherick, seamlessly integrates the architecture purpose events spaces. Phase II will in testing phase and an indication that NEW BUILDING—AMENITY BREAKDOWN/PHASING PLANS (NET SF) EHDD has become a leader in the and exhibits, so that they support and add approximately 48,000 sf and is more is on the way with the Museum’s architecture field, with a wide breadth of enhance each other. Towards this end, slated to open in 2010. This strategy permanent home opening in 2005. AMENITY PHASE I PHASE II TOTALS (2005) (2010) cultural institution experience including over the past summer, EHDD and VSR gives us flexibility with our program and When the temporary space is aquariums, museums, zoos, and worked very closely with Museum budget and brings us remarkably close completed, it will contain 41,000 sf of EXHIBITS (INCLUDES CIRC.) 32,500 sf 20,000sf 52,500sf libraries. EHDD has designed recognized usable space, including 22,500 sf for VISITORS SERVICES 7,230 0 7,230 representatives in the “programming” to our first estimates and goals made CAFÉ (IN LOBBY AREA) 0 1,700 1,700 facilities such as the Monterey Bay phase of the new building. before the programming phase began. artifacts storage; 9,000 sf for exhibits RETAIL 1,600 0 1,600 Aquarium in Monterey, California; the Together, Phases I and II equal and event space for more than 200 MULTIPURPOSE 1,600 9,000 10,600 ADMINISTRATION 6,560 5,000 11,560 National Museum of Marine The purpose of the programming phase approximately 120,000 sf. people; and 9,500 sf for office space LIBRARY 1,500 3,000 4,500 Biology/Aquarium near Kaohsiung, has been to clearly identify the scope of and a catering prep kitchen. It will be LOADING/SERVICES 4,200 0 4,200 BUILDING SERVICES 1,750 0 1,750 Taiwan; the Exploris interactive museum the building and to systematically refine used for Museum functions, additional in Raleigh, North Carolina; and the east the needs of the new facility in order to artifact storage, and will bring together wing of the New England Aquarium in meet the Museum’s mission, budget, staff now housed in three separate Boston, Massachusetts. and programs. Discussions have buildings at Moffett Field. The Beta

COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 PAGE 18 PAGE 19

REPORT ON MUSEUM ACTIVITIES BY KAREN MATHEWS

Karen Mathews is Executive Vice President at the Computer History Museum

Revolutionary spoke on September In his lecture last fall, Dan Ingalls discussed An October panel called “Early Mouse Encounters” addressed an audience the day after A crowd of 250 people heard Fred Brooks explore 18th about the extraordinary and accidental Linux Smalltalk, the software environment meant to featured (left to right) Doug Engelbart, Bill English, his induction as a Fellow of the Museum “What is the Real Virtue in Virtual Reality?” phenomenon. support the Dynabook computer, and which evolved Jean-Daniel Nicoud, Stuart Card, Niklaus Wirth, and (see page 20). into the current-day object-oriented Squeak. Daniel Borel (not shown) on the earliest developments of the mouse user interface.

Each new issue of CORE serves as a We still have $359,000 to raise by the LINUS TORVALDS DAN INGALLS Borel, Stuart Card, Doug Engelbart, Bill capabilities, and we get approached marker of our steady progress in end of our fiscal year on June 30, and THE ORIGINS OF LINUX FROM SMALLTALK TO SQUEAK English, Jean-Daniel Nicoud, and Niklaus with various challenges such as building a solid institution “to preserve we hope that those of you who have not To an audience of 350 on September Smalltalk-80, the language from which Wirth. These early developers and language and social issues. We have to and present for posterity the artifacts yet given will make a pledge or a gift 18th at Space Camp, Linus Torvalds, the Squeak programming environment is proponents of the computer mouse adapt and learn, and things [like the and stories of the information age.” as soon as possible before we close creator of the derived, traces its roots to the famous relayed insider stories of how the mouse] essentially augment us so that I am always amazed and gratified to the year. Your support will make a phenomenon Linux, provided an inside beanbag chair culture of Xerox PARC concepts came about and were we can be capable within that see how much there is to relay to you. real difference! look at how he went from writing code (Palo Alto Research Center) in the implemented. This event was made environment.” Among many other topics throughout as a graduate student in Helsinki in the 1970s. Developed by a team headed possible with the support of PRS this issue, we can tell you about our PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT THE MUSEUM early 1990s to becoming an icon for by Dan Ingalls, Smalltalk was to be the Presence Switzerland. Zurich Network Stuart Card is a Xerox research fellow successful year-end solicitation effort, We were proud to offer a rich set of open source software by the end of the supporting software environment for sponsored the reception and Spotlife is and manager of the User Interface seven recent lectures, further lectures and events last fall. The decade. At the age of 11, Torvalds ’s visionary portable and providing web streaming. Research group at Xerox PARC. His collections activities including a large average attendance for Museum started using a Vic-20 computer as a networked Dynabook computer—a study of input devices led to the Fitts’s donation and exhibit of computing lectures was 250 people, which speaks “classic geek with BASIC.” Early on, he concept that remains compelling today. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Law characterization of the mouse and artifacts from Switzerland, the 2001 volumes about the intellectual curiosity believed that UNIX was better than Though the original Dynabook never Doug Engelbart and his lab at SRI was a major factor leading to the Fellow Awards event, Museum and vigor of our community. I encourage everything else; however, in Finland it came into being, Smalltalk took root pioneered an elaborate hypermedia- mouse’s commercial introduction by participation in the CRN Industry Hall you to attend these wonderful events was difficult to find UNIX for the and continued on. Ingalls told the story groupware system called NLS (oNLine Xerox. Daniel Borel co-founded Logitech, of Fame event, and a major press and to get the word out to others who hobbyist. Why did he write his own at Xerox PARC on October 11th to an System), most of whose now-common whose first commercially-available announcement with NASA. would enjoy hearing the inside stories operating system? He said, “Because, audience of over 200 Museum guests features were conceived of, fully product was the computer mouse in from of the information hey, that was what you did.” He added, of how the forward-looking Smalltalk integrated, and in everyday operational 1982. Bill English was the first person YEAR-END CONTRIBUTORS ENABLE technology revolution. Feel free to make “When you don’t have anything to start concepts and capabilities have evolved use by the early 1970s. NLS was first to ever use a mouse. In 1963, while he MUSEUM GROWTH suggestions for speakers and topics you with, you can’t see the progress you are into a modern environment called demonstrated in public at the 1968 Fall was chief engineer for Engelbart’s Thanks to the generosity of so many of would like us to include. And please talk making—it’s just one instruction set at Squeak. Ted Kaehler (who worked with Joint Computer Conference in a Augmented Human Intellect Research you who responded to our year-end fund- to us about sponsorship of the lecture a time.” Twice he had been about to Dan at Xerox PARC, Apple, Apple again, remarkable 90-minute multimedia Center, English built the first mouse raising appeal, we are well on our way program—a terrific opportunity to show give up, but persevered just the same. Disney, and Viewpoints Research presentation, in which Engelbart used based on an idea in Engelbart’s early to meeting the ambitious financial goals your support of our growing public Currently, Torvalds is a working member Institute) attended the talk and said, NLS to outline and illustrate his points, notes. He later developed the “Hawley” set forth at the beginning of the fiscal presence. Among other things, this of the software team developing “There are many attitudes and stances while others of his staff linked in from mouse that was used with the Xerox year. We are grateful for the many would accelerate our ability to offer Transmeta’s Code Morphing™ chip in object-oriented software that are his lab at SRI to demonstrate key PARC Video Terminal System and early people who, in spite of recent financial videos of these lectures to our public. software and Mobile Linux. completely accepted now. Dan reminded features of the system. This was the Alto computers. and political challenges in our country Stay tuned for Charlie Sporck on us of how hard they were to think of and world debut of the mouse, hypermedia, and world, have demonstrated their semiconductor industry history; Jeff defend 30 years ago.” and on-screen video teleconferencing. ETH Zurich Professor Emeritus Niklaus commitment to our mission. Heartfelt Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky, and Ed Engelbart said, “It isn’t the human- Wirth spent two years on sabbatical at thanks to all of you. Colligan on the creation of the handheld EARLY COMPUTER MOUSE ENCOUNTERS computer interface I was looking at, it’s Xerox PARC, where he became an computer; Charlie Bachman on the The Museum, together with the San the... human’s interfacing with [an] enthusiastic user of the workstation origins of the database; and Al Shugart Francisco Swiss Science & Technology augmentation system.” He explained Alto, which heralded a new era of on early storage developments. Office, hosted a panel discussion on that “humans have certain basic computing with its high-resolution October 17th at Xerox PARC with Daniel sensory, perceptual, mental, and motor display and the mouse. Back in

COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 PAGE 20 PAGE 21

Museum Fellow Don Knuth calls on an inquirer in Audience members pose questions in an “ask the David Stork addressed friends of the Museum In December, Google, Inc. Chairman and CEO Eric Museum volunteer and donor Robert Garner acquired Museum supporter Ned Chapin examines the his lecture, “Questions Answered,” that drew professor” style lecture by Don Knuth. before previewing “HAL's Legacy,” his documentary Schmidt discussed lessons learned from his and donated a 1948 IBM 604—a punched card Switcherland and MUSIC artifacts at the almost 300 attendees. film that investigates similarities and differences experience in the technology trenches. calculator whose speed performance was due to its “Computing in Switzerland” exhibit reception prior between the 1968 vision of technology in the year implementation with electronics (vacuum tubes), to the Fellow Awards Banquet on October 23rd. 2001, and technology as it actually evolved. rather than IBM’s traditional relay technology.

Switzerland, he used the mouse for the real. Brooks said, “We figure out which awards include the , the state-of-the-art technology today with the science. HAL’s Legacy, which I plan to might be reemerging on today’s Linux workstations Lilith and Ceres, which he one hurts worse, work on it, then move National Medal of Science, the Steele computer capabilities depicted in the show my students, uses people’s stage. Lively discussion followed in the designed in conjunction with the on to the next loudest problem.” Prize, the Adelsköld Medal, the Harvey 1968 epic film, “2001: A Space fascination with HAL, an imaginary question-and-answer period on topics programming languages Modula-2 and Currently, the greatest inhibitor is Prize, the Medal, Odyssey.” Now that 2001 has come and artificial intelligence, to introduce them such as competing against a behemoth Oberon. Jean-Daniel Nicoud is professor “swimming” due to lag (latency). Other and the Kyoto Prize. He holds honorary gone, we can compare the film’s to the even more fascinating real world (such as Microsoft), and why emeritus of ETH Zurich in Lausanne, problems include poor registration with doctorates from Oxford University, the “visions” with current of artificial intelligence.” cooperative consortia don’t work. Switzerland. Among many other the real world, ergonomics, cables (and University of Paris, the Royal Institute of technological fact—in particular those Schmidt made the point that the best inventions, he developed the Dépraz wireless), and the tedium of building Technology in Stockholm, the University related to its central character, the HAL ERIC SCHMIDT progress is often made when academia Mouse, initially sold by Logitech. models. Brooks assured us that virtual of St. Petersburg, the University of 9000 computer, which could speak, UNWINNABLE WARS: PERSONAL or egos not interested in monetary reality technology will one day fulfill its Marne-la-Vallee, Masaryk University, St. reason, see, play chess, plan, and PERSPECTIVES ON TECHNOLOGY profit are able to form useful standards FRED BROOKS promise as a useful tool in areas such Andrews University, Athens University of express emotions. In some domains, LEADERSHIP (such as the Internet standards created WHAT IS THE REAL VIRTUE IN as vehicle simulation, molecular Economics and Business, the University reality has surpassed the vision in the On December 6th at Xerox PARC, Eric by Vint Cerf and the IETF). VIRTUAL REALITY? medicine and structure, and more. of Tübingen, and 16 colleges and film. In numerous others, reality has Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google Hewlett-Packard Company, with the help “Computer scientists are toolsmiths,” universities in the USA. fallen far short. In the documentary, Inc., examined unwinnable battles he Prior to his post at Google, Schmidt was of its Chief Science Officer Stephen he said. “Is this tool dangerous?” he Stork navigates between scenes from was involved with or witnessed during chairman and CEO of , chief Squires, generously hosted this October asked. “Sure! All tools are dangerous. Attendee Bob Zeidman said, “It was the film and interviews with Arthur C. his rich and varied 20-year career in the technology officer and corporate 24 event, which included a lovely The danger lies not in our tools, but in great to be able to hear Don Knuth, one Clarke, , , computer industry. He recollected trying executive officer at Sun Microsystems, reception. Fred Brooks addressed an ourselves.” of the many pioneers that the Computer Rodney Brooks, Larry Smarr, Daniel experiences at Sun Microsystems a member of the research staff at Xerox enthusiastic crowd of 250 people about History Museum is able to bring in each Dennett, Raymond Kurzweil, Doug attempting to replicate its initial PARC, and held positions at Bell work since 1990 in virtual reality at the month. Professor Knuth is a living Lenat, and others. These contributors to standardization victory with NFS Laboratories and Zilog. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. QUESTIONS ANSWERED legend for his developments in “HAL’s Legacy” have given us more (Network File System) in the company’s In that year, virtual reality was hyped by Nearly 300 people gathered at Xerox computer science. He is also, I found than a scorecard for the film and novel. long-standing battle to prevail over other COLLECTIONS HIGHLIGHTS the press and by a professional PARC on November 8th to try to “stump out, a quiet guy of towering height with They have shown the reasons for the UNIX companies and later, over The report of items acquired in recent association conference panel, the professor,” a rare opportunity to ask a good sense of humor who is quick to way things developed—and may Microsoft itself. He looked at the futile months is on page 12. Here are a few unfortunately designed to “wow” people The Art of Computer Programming point out his own shortcomings. I continue to develop—to 2001 and UNIX user-interface wars (such as Open highlights: Richard Fryer donated an rather than inform them. Brooks author Don Knuth anything and particularly agreed with his call for beyond. The film was produced by David Look vs. XOpen), the calamitous early CDI mouse, circa 1970, an reminded us that “a lily needs no everything about computer better communication skills among Kennard and InCA and funded by the merging of Sun’s UNIX (SunOS) and excellent example of an early gilding—the plain truth is exciting programming. Knuth is professor programmers, and I’m looking forward Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. AT&T’s UNIX (System V), and the failure commercial mouse intended for use enough.” He posited that the research emeritus of The Art of Computer to examining his CWEB language for of UNIX to unify behind a single version. with and larger challenge of virtual reality is to make it Programming at Stanford University ‘literate programming.’” Event attendee Ellen Spertus, assistant mainframes. Former Marchant employee “look real, sound real, feel real, and where, since 1968, he supervised the professor of computer science at Mills He observed the importance of George William Bolton donated a interact realistically.” Even in today’s Ph.D. dissertations of 28 students. The 2001: HAL’S LEGACY DOCUMENTARY College, Oakland, commented, “Even understanding history, and that, “each “Figuremaster” mechanical calculator world, Brooks said, “virtual reality barely author of numerous books, Knuth’s Museum members and guests enjoyed people who say they don’t like and every generation makes the same and allowed the Museum to record his works.” Advancement in virtual reality software systems, TeX and MF, are a pre-broadcast preview on November computers are fascinated by robots, mistakes.” An example that surfaced thoughts on his years working with technology consists of making strides in used extensively for book publishing 20th of the 90-minute version of a PBS real or imaginary, making them a great during the talk was that some of the old Marchant. And, longtime Museum four dimensions: fast, pretty, handy, and throughout the world. His numerous documentary by David Stork comparing way to draw people into computer battles found during the UNIX wars supporter and friend, Robert Garner

COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 PAGE 22 PAGE 23

The “Computing in Switzerland” exhibit showed Banquet attendees enjoy the Fellow Awards program. Museum Trustees Len Shustek and Donna New Fellow Jean Sammet enjoys a moment at the New Fellow , who resides in the UK, The 2001 Fellow Awards went to: Frederick P. artifacts related to computing in Switzerland, Dubinsky relax after the Fellows banquet. banquet table during the award ceremony. delivered an acceptance speech by videotape. Brooks, for his contributions to computer including much of the line of Smaky personal architecture, operating systems, and software computers. engineering; Jean E. Sammet, for her contributions to the field of programming languages and its history; and Maurice Wilkes, for his lifelong contributions to computer technology, including acquired an IBM 604 Electronic donors include Ambros Speiser and evening were Donna Dubinsky, Len used to tell people that I hoped to have Hopper. Thanks to CRN for recognizing early machine design, microprogramming, and the Calculating Punch for the Museum. The André Thalmann, The Bobst Group, Shustek, Suhas Patil, Jayashree Patil, a machine working in the summer. But I the accomplishments and determination Cambridge Ring network. 604, a vacuum tube-based machine, Epsitec SA, ETH Zürich, Supercomputing Elaine Hahn, Eric Hahn, Peter Hirshberg, did not say which summer,” he said, of such wonderful people in computing. was announced by IBM in 1948 and Systems AG, Swisscom AG, and the Angela Hey, and John Mashey. Following and added, “No doubt as time goes on John Toole spoke at the event about the was probably the company’s first Swiss Center for Scientific Computing. are a few highlights from the evening. we will see many more changes. And Museum and its plans. I was pleased attempt at a wholly electronic machine this is where the Museum comes in. As and honored to accept the award for targeted at the emerging commercial Swiss chocolatiers Albert Uster Imports, Len Shustek cited John Brockman’s I see it, an important function of the on behalf of the Museum computing market. Nestlé Switzerland, Lindt, and others work with a group of experts from Museum is to record changes as they and to give a short tribute to her donated delicious chocolates for exhibit various fields to identify the most occur, and to collect artifacts that will memorable contributions, which include SPECIAL EXHIBIT OF COMPUTING viewers. The artifact donation was important inventions of the past 2000 illustrate those changes for the benefits the time- and error-saving compiler. ARTIFACTS FROM SWITZERLAND initiated and coordinated by Christian years. Only three inventions got more of posterity.” A reception prior to the Fellow Awards Simm and his staff at the Swiss than five votes each. Second on the list JOINT NASA/COMPUTER HISTORY banquet and ceremony on October 23rd Science and Technology Office in San was the invention of the computer (to Fred Brooks said, “I remember at age MUSEUM PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT featured an impressive exhibit of Francisco, and shipped courtesy of PRS find out the other two you can buy 13 reading Time magazine; it had a On Friday, December 7th, the Museum artifacts donated to the Museum by Presence Switzerland. Brockman’s book!). Shustek pointed out cartoon on the front of the Harvard and NASA co-hosted a press tour and various Swiss individuals and that for 5,000 years of recorded Mark I [computer] looking like a kind of special announcement for nearly 100 organizations. The exhibit displayed a THE 2001 FELLOW AWARDS—A SUCCESS civilization, there were no computers, a beast. The article described this people who gathered to hear about the series of artifacts related to computing BY ANY MEASURE and suddenly computers appeared. Now computer. I knew at age 13 that that Museum’s partnership with NASA for a in Switzerland, including: a 1956 Over 400 Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, and forevermore, computers will be was what I wanted to do.” presence in the NASA Research Park, ERMETH pluggable unit, 1972 Novasim, computer scientists, business leaders, everywhere, affecting what we do, how the Beta Building (see page 16), the 1976 Crocus, 1977 Dauphin, 1978 academics, and other friends of we live, how we work, how we play. He Vint Cerf pointed out after hearing our appointment of Head Curator Michael R. Scrib, 1978 Smacky 6, 1986 Ceres-1, computing history supported the said, “We need to preserve the 2001 Fellows speak, “It illustrates how Williams, and the Museum’s new name 1990 Ceres-3, 1991 MUSIC Museum at this year’s Fellow Awards structure of how that happened, so that their insights and their perspectives are and logo. Panelists included NASA Ames microcomputer, 1993 Convex C3820, Banquet at the San Jose Fairmont Hotel looking back from 500 years from now, still incredibly valuable to every one of Research Center Director Henry 1994 GigaBooster supercomputer, on October 23rd. Master of Ceremonies it doesn’t look like a point event—that us today. It is by knowing and McDonald; Museum Executive Director and the 1999 TNet switch. Additionally, and 2000 Museum Fellow Vint Cerf led computers suddenly arose, with no understanding the past that we can & CEO John Toole; Chairman of the a Swiss public telephone booth the evening to celebrate the recognition of who did it, and why they shape and guarantee the future.” Museum’s Board of Trustees Len equipped with a functioning Teleguide achievements of honorees Frederick P. did it, and how they did it, and how it Shustek; Museum Trustee and CEO of electronic phone directory (donated by Brooks, Jean E. Sammet, and Maurice came to be. That’s what the Museum is CRN INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME Handspring Donna Dubinsky; and Swisscom AG) demonstrated how Wilkes. here to preserve.” The Computer History Museum Intuit’s Chairman of the Board Bill intertwined computers have become participated as a co-host of the CRN Campbell. The press responded with with our daily lives. Hewlett-Packard Company was the Lead Maurice Wilkes (via videotape) told us Industry Hall of Fame event on great enthusiasm and coverage included Sponsor for the event. Patron Sponsors that it took around three years before November 12 in Las Vegas. Honorees KLIV, KGO, KTVU, KICU, the San Jose Donors Hans Eberle, Jean-Daniel were 1185 Design, Allegro Networks, the first computers were working, and were Doug Engelbart, Judy Estrin, Mort Mercury News, and the San Jose Nicoud, and Niklaus Wirth were present Citigate Cunningham, eBay, Intel, and how, while development was going on, it Rosenthal, Phil Zimmerman, the late Business Journal. and spoke to the audience. Other Mid-Peninsula Bank. Hosts for the seemed interminable. “When pressed, I , and the late Grace

COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 PAGE 24 THANKS TO OUR ANNUAL DONORS PAGE 25

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CORE 3.1 COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM CORE 3.1 MYSTERY ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM

Explained from CORE 2.3 DARPA selected Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN) to develop the IMP. The Interface Message Processor (IMP) led the team, with Severo was the packet switching node of the Ornstein as lead hardware developer ARPANET, which connected computer and Bill Crowther as lead programmer. systems, beginning in the early 1970s, MIT professor Bob Kahn, who had taken into a nationwide research network for a leave of absence in 1966 to join BBN, computer resource sharing. This was responsible for the system design. ARPANET originally consisted of only The IMP (Interface Message Processor), X105.82, Gift of Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc. four nodes (UCLA, SRI, UCSB, and the Shortly before the planned delivery date University of Utah) and eventually grew of September 1, 1969, the first IMP to over 100 nodes. It was connected via During an early ARPANET planning arrived at the laboratory of Professor "gateways" (now called routers) to two session, engineer Wesley Clark Len Kleinrock at UCLA. A month later, other networks (packet radio and suggested developing a standard the second IMP arrived at SRI and, soon SATNET) that were also supported by interface in order to avoid thereafter, the first characters were DARPA (Defense Advanced Research creating separate hardware and transmitted between SRI and UCLA. Projects Agency). These three software for every different time-sharing In November and December, IMPs interconnected networks ultimately system that would be connected. The number three and four were installed at evolved into today's Internet with its IMP was thus a communications University of California Santa Barbara tens of millions of nodes. "switch" accepting packets and relaying and the University of Utah. The network them to other IMPs or locally-connected quietly expanded to 13 sites by host computers. In December 1968, January 1971 and 23 by April 1972.

Please send your best guess to WHAT IS [email protected] before 04/15/02 along with your name, THIS? shipping address, and t-shirt size. The THIS ITEM WILL BE EXPLAINED IN THE first three correct entries will each NEXT ISSUE OF CORE. receive a free t-shirt with the new Museum logo and name.

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