Call Number: OH 1
Interviewee: Armer, Paul
Interviewer: George D. Green
Repository: Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Description: Transcript, 24 pp.
Abstract: Armer discusses three major topics. He begins with an outline of the history of computers in industry, devoting special attention to changes in business affected by technological innovations. He describes the first commercial computer, the UNIVAC of Remington Rand, and explains how International Business Machines (IBM) entered the computer business later than a number of other companies, but became the industry leader through its marketing strategies. Armer next turn to his career at the Rand Corporation. He describes the JOHNNIAC computer built at Rand and the equipment they purchased from IBM.
Armer concludes with an overview of hardware and software innovations since 1957. Topics include: the standardization of software brought about by IBM's 1957 introduction of the first high-level programming language (FORTRAN), the increased communication among businesses about program compatibility, the emergence of the software industry in the 1960s, the proliferation of computer applications since 1950 that have accompanied the vast decreases in the size and cost of computer equipment, and the social impact of computers.
Subject(s):
Rand Corporation. ; Programming languages (Electronic computers) -- Standards ; JOHNNIAC computer. ; International Business Machines Corporation. ; Computers -- United States -- History ; Computer software -- United States -- History ; Computer industry -- United States -- History ; Armer, Paul ; Univac computer
Citation: Paul Armer, OH 1. Oral history interview by George D. Green for American Business History series, circa 1 June 1981, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Copyright: Copyright to this oral history is held by George D. Green and Paul Armer.
Transcript: Transcript not available electronically. Please contact CBI.