CS361: Operating System

John Blood - ComputerWorld 1974

Trends

JAN 16, 1975 Blue Cross DP Operators Attempt to unionize (IBEW), New York Programming Language: COBOL Struggling, but compiler tests give hope *Improper interpretation into instructions *Printing Obscured *Wasting File Space *Problems don't always compile HP REPLACES 2600A CRT ADDS INTELLIGENT TERMINAL: *2615A *Asynchronous 9,600bps transmission *compared to 2600A's 2,400bps *2616A *designed for HP DOS-III, TCS, or image environments (IBM put out similar specs) TELEX FILES CONTEMPT CHARGE AGAINST IBM: *Anti-Trust Lawsuit *$150,000/day fine *Telex wants interface specs on central processors *Wants to know how to connect more memory JOBS! Programmer/Analyst - UNIVAC 9400, COBOL, BAL Salaries $850 - $1200 / month = $3715 - $6556

July 3 1974 AT&T Covert Strategy to deal with adverse opinion *Written by Illinois Bell Planning Division *Counter attack on kneejerk reaction that competition is good *Bell Refused to Patronize companies using non-bell equipment 'Unisym' Discounts Differences Among Minicomputers *Looking for standard minicomputer assembler *Unified Symbolic standard terminology *Virtual Machine supports direct and indirect address modes *Allied Business Systems, Arcturus Electronics, Data General, Digico, HP, Honeywell, General Electric JOBS! Fortran, BASIC, COBOL, timesharing systems

July 10 1974 IBM Asks Suit Dismissal if Commerce Data Withheld *Anti-trust case. *Commerce department said not in national interest CIA Seeks Breakup of AT&T Monopoly (computer industry association) *Anti-trust case *Undercut competition in the terminal area by up to 50% NOW: United States v. AT&T finalized January 1982 divested 70% TI Adds 4k Ram Chips to 980 Mini (980B) *64k ram total without increasing cabinate space House Pols Save Time With Computerized Polling *Hole encoded plastic cards

August 7 1974 Computers in Society: Impact Still a Burning Question *Still a question in automation ethics today *Elimination of Menial Jobs *Burden on the Educational Systems HP Mini-Computers $129,500 timesharing system