IEEE Annals of the History of Computing

Eduard Stiefel, in 1948 the first director of the Federal Institute of Technology's newly established Institute of Applied Mathematics, recognized that computers would be essential to this new field of mathematics. Unable to find exactly what he wanted in existing computers, Stiefel developed the ERMETH. This article examines the rationale of, and objectives for, the first Swiss computer. View full abstract»

In 1956, the Swedish office equipment company Facit embarked on a plan to produce large-scale computers for the Swedish and Western European markets. The plan involved recruiting several top engineers known as the BESK Boys, who developed a computer for Facit that briefly was the world's fastest. Circumstances, however, ultimately worked against Facit. View full abstract»

The author, a pioneer in the early days of shrink-wrapped PC products, was also an early participant in ADAPSO. This article, the first part of which appeared in the Annals' October-December 2004 issue, traces the author's career from running the Software Products Group at Dun & Bradstreet to the early days of Vanguard Atlantic Ltd. View full abstract»

Human-computer interaction is considered a core element of computer science. Yet it has not coalesced; many researchers who identify their focus as human-computer interaction reside in other fields. The author examines the origins and evolution of three HCI research foci: computer operation, information systems management, and discretionary use. The author describes efforts to find common ground a... View full abstract»

Multiplication is vital to the conduct of commerce but is time-consuming and error-prone. Among the many aids developed over two centuries to address these issues, the most widely used was the ready reckoner, a printed book containing tables of precalculated multiplication results that could be useful in business transactions. View full abstract»