Historic tale: “Papertape, Punch Cards and Virtual Network”

Pretty early in the history of information technologies, we started to use computers at TNO’s location The Hague Waalsdorp (and its predecessors). This virtual department of Museum Waalsdorp’s website tries to keep the (virtual) recollection of old computer systems and their use. Based upon descriptions, anecdotal stories, recollections and photographs an impression will be given on the developments of TNO’s internal and external computer and network services:

• Period till 1974: “The first computers” (DICON, SIMREK, Ferranti FM 1600B, CDC 3200, CDC 1700)
  • The early computer history at the Physics Laboratory TNO
  • The early computer history at LEOK
  • Analog and hybrid computing at LEOK
• Period 1974 – 1978: “Punch cards and 110 Baud”
  (CDC 6400, NOS/BE, DEC PDP 11/45, DEC PDP 11/60, Digigraphic, Tektronix 4010)
  • The CDC 6400: the punch card period
  • Data communication and interactivity: the first start
  • Graphic processing
  • Application example: the simulated FUCAS radar
• Period 1978 – 1983: “The simulations expand”
  • The CDC CYBER 74
  • Graphical Services
  • Data communication
  • Stories and anecdotes
• Period 1983 – 1986: “Increased reliability”
  • The Control Data CYBER 170-835
  • Computerised laboratory administration
  • Personal Computing: FEL-TV
  • Integration of LEOK and the Physics Laboratory
  • Data communication: Wargames on the move and the FELLAN
• Period 1986 – 1989: “From fixed towards virtual memory”
  • The Control Data CYBER 840A
  • Data communication and PCLAN
  • Graphical services: GX4000 and I2S
  • Expanding administrative processing (FELBIS)
  • Electronic and mechanical computer-aided designs
  • The DEC systems
• The period 1989 – 1994: “Supertime and decentralisation”
  • ETA and CONVEX: between -40 C and +40 C
  • Computer lines at TNO-FEL
  • Data communication developments
  • Graphical, ECAE and MCAD systems
  • Phasing out the PDP systems
  • The explosive use of workstations and PCs
  • Distributed Interactive Simulations

Tables and other background information

• Timeline of computer systems at TNO-FEL
• Relative computational speed (old) systems we worked with
   
• CDC Cyber Systems (architecture, hardware, NOS/BE, NOS/VE, peripherals)
• DEC systems and peripheral equipment
• Ferranti 1600B system and equipment
   
• What is a punch card… and who to do with it?
  • The History of 90-column punch cards by Remington Rand (courtesy Oliver J. Jones)
     
• Links to other computer history sites

 
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