IEEE Annals of the History of Computing

Edmund Berkeley established himself as an influential force in the early development of computer science. The article examines Berkeley's work with symbolic logic and explores how this knowledge shaped his ideas about early electronic computers. It further explores how Berkeley applied symbolic logic and human reasoning to the design of relay computers, especially machines designed for the insuran... View full abstract»

Sperry Rand Corporation was formed in 1955 by the merger of Remington Rand and Sperry Gyroscope. Remington Rand was an early entrant in the computer industry through its acquisitions of Engineering Research Associates and Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation. The article describes the major vacuum tube computers and the supporting software developed by Sperry Rand during the later 1950s. View full abstract»

The author refutes a misinterpretation of a computer pioneer's statements on the versatility of the computer and explains how context crucial to a proper understanding of the statements was overlooked. View full abstract»

The British Colossus computer was one of the most important tools in the wartime effort to break German codes. Based on interviews and on recently declassified documents, this article clarifies the roles played by Thomas Flowers, Alan Turing, William Tutte, and Max Newman in the events leading to the installation of the first Colossus at Bletchley Park, Britain's wartime code-breaking establishmen... View full abstract»

The author, a participant in packaged software's early days, worked with IBM up through the System/360 launch and then with Turnkey Systems, an early provider of packaged software. This article traces the author's background from graduate school through the Turnkey Systems sale to National CSS in 1979 and subsequently to Dun & Bradstreet. View full abstract»