History of Computers part 4 BBC Documentary.mp4

Summary

The video script narrates the transformative impact of IBM's 650 computer on the tech industry in the 1950s. It underscores the pivotal role of salesmen in driving the adoption of IBM's machines, leading to its dominance over competitors like Remington Rand's UNIVAC. The script also delves into the challenges faced by the British computer industry and the necessity of innovative thinking to compete with American giants. Furthermore, it highlights the critical issue of software development, which threatened the industry's growth due to its high costs and complexity. The advent of high-level programming languages like FORTRAN and COBOL revolutionized the field, making computers more accessible and setting the stage for their widespread integration into various sectors, from administrative tasks to factory automation. The script also touches on societal fears and hopes regarding automation and the potential obsolescence of human labor.

Takeaways

• 🌕 The script highlights the pivotal role of salespeople in driving technological advancements, particularly in the early days of the computer industry.
• 💼 The sales force was seen as American heroes, instrumental in the success of companies like IBM, which soared past competitors to become a dominant player in the computer market.
• 📈 IBM's rapid growth was fueled by the sales of their 650 computer, which quickly became a significant success, outselling competitors like Remington Rand's Univac.
• 🇬🇧 The British computer industry felt threatened by IBM's dominance and sought to compete by merging companies and focusing on innovative strategies.
• 🤖 The script underscores the importance of software development, which was a significant challenge in the 1950s and could have stunted the growth of the computer industry.
• 💡 The development of high-level programming languages like FORTRAN and COBOL revolutionized the industry by making programming more accessible and less tedious.
• 🔢 The shift from binary to more user-friendly languages was crucial for the expansion of computer use, as it allowed a broader range of people to engage in programming.
• 🏭 Automation and computerization began to transform various sectors, including administrative offices and factories, leading to increased efficiency but also concerns about job displacement.
• 🎬 The script references cultural perceptions of computers, with movies like 'Desk Set' reflecting society's mixed feelings about automation and its impact on jobs.
• 📉 Despite fears of job loss due to automation, proponents argued that computers were tools that would upgrade human capabilities rather than replace them.

Q & A

What was the significance of the IBM 650 computer in the 1950s?

The IBM 650 computer was significant in the 1950s because it led to IBM becoming the largest computer company in the world, outselling its competitors like Remington Rand's UNIVAC.

How did the British computer industry react to the dominance of IBM?

The British computer industry, represented by companies like the British Tabulator Company, sought to compete with IBM by merging and developing their own computers, aiming to outthink rather than outproduce the American giant.

What was the main challenge faced by the computer industry in the late 1950s?

The main challenge faced by the computer industry in the late 1950s was the high cost and difficulty of software development, which threatened the growth of the industry.

Why was programming in binary code difficult for programmers?

Programming in binary code was difficult because it required writing instructions in a tedious and error-prone format of zeros and ones, which was not intuitive and far from natural language.

What was the role of high-level programming languages in addressing the software development crisis?

High-level programming languages like FORTRAN and COBOL made programming easier by allowing programmers to write code that was closer to English, which reduced the complexity and increased the efficiency of software development.

How did the introduction of high-level languages impact the computer industry?

The introduction of high-level languages like FORTRAN and COBOL revolutionized the computer industry by making programming more accessible and efficient, which in turn facilitated an endless variety of new uses for computers in various sectors.

What was the impact of computers on administrative offices as described in the script?

Computers replaced armies of clerks in administrative offices, streamlining processes and reducing the need for manual labor, which led to concerns about job displacement.

How did the script illustrate the fear of job loss due to automation?

The script illustrates the fear of job loss through the example of a Hollywood film where characters express concern that computers will replace human workers, reflecting the societal anxieties of the time.

What was the perspective of IBM's Tom Watson Jr. on computers and human jobs?

Tom Watson Jr. viewed computers as tools that upgraded human capabilities rather than replacing them, arguing that they were meant to enhance productivity and not to downgrade human roles.

How did the Bank of America utilize computers to improve its operations?

The Bank of America used computers to automate the sorting and posting of personal checking accounts, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing the number of bookkeepers needed for the task.

What was the general public's perception of computers as portrayed in the script?

The script portrays a mixed public perception of computers, with some viewing them as a threat to jobs and others seeing them as a symbol of progress and a means to alleviate tedious tasks.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Rise of IBM and the Birth of Software Crisis

This paragraph discusses the pivotal role of salesmen in the early computer industry, particularly at IBM, where they were seen as American heroes driving progress. The IBM 650 computer's success, leading to IBM's dominance over competitors like Remington Rand's UNIVAC, is highlighted. The narrative then shifts to the British computer industry's struggle against the American giant, with the British Tabulator Company's efforts at a business efficiency exhibition. The paragraph concludes with the revelation of a significant issue in the 1950s: the high cost and complexity of software development, which threatened the growth of the entire computer industry. The challenge of programming in binary and the need for a more accessible language for computers are emphasized, setting the stage for the development of high-level programming languages.

05:00

💼 COBOL: A Programming Language for Business

The second paragraph delves into the development of COBOL, a programming language designed to be more accessible to business users by allowing them to write programs that resemble English. This language revolutionized programming by making it easier to use and debug, and with the help of compilers, it translated high-level code into the binary language that computers understand. The paragraph also explores the broader impact of computers on various sectors, such as law enforcement, agriculture, and administrative offices, where they began to replace human labor. The narrative touches on societal fears of job displacement due to automation and the contrasting views on computers as either a threat or a boon to progress. The perspective of computer manufacturers, like IBM's Tom Watson Jr., is also presented, arguing that computers are tools that upgrade human capabilities rather than replace them. The paragraph concludes with an example of how computers increased efficiency in the banking sector, specifically at Bank of America, where a computer system大幅提升了处理账户的速度。

Keywords

💡Salesman

A salesman is a person who sells goods or services. In the context of the video, the salesman is portrayed as a pivotal figure in the United States' business landscape, responsible for driving the economy by creating demand and facilitating the sale of products, such as IBM's 650 computer. The video emphasizes the importance of salesmen as 'heroes' who make things happen by generating orders, which in turn leads to manufacturing, delivery, and usage of products.

💡IBM 650

The IBM 650 is an early computer model produced by IBM. It was one of the first mass-produced computers and played a significant role in the growth of the computer industry. The video mentions how the IBM 650 was sold in large quantities, propelling IBM to become the largest computer company in the world, highlighting the impact of effective sales strategies on the success of technological products.

💡Software Development

Software development refers to the process of creating and maintaining computer programs and applications. The video script underscores the challenges faced in the late 1950s due to the high costs and complexities of software development. It was a major issue that threatened the growth of the computer industry, as the cost of writing software was often two to four times more than the cost of the hardware itself.

💡Binary Code

Binary code is a system of numerical representation that uses only two symbols: 0 and 1. It is the language that computers understand at their most basic level. The video explains that programming in binary is incredibly difficult and tedious, which led to the development of higher-level programming languages to simplify the process of creating software.

💡Fortran

Fortran, which stands for Formula Translation, is one of the first high-level programming languages. It was developed to make it easier for scientists and mathematicians to write programs. The video mentions Fortran as a significant step towards more accessible programming languages, allowing users to write equations in a way that was more familiar to them.

💡COBOL

COBOL, or Common Business-Oriented Language, is another early high-level programming language designed specifically for business applications. The video highlights COBOL as a language that was more English-oriented, making it easier for programmers to write and understand code, which was a revelation at the time and helped to advance the adoption of computers in various industries.

💡Compiler

A compiler is a special software that translates high-level programming languages into machine code that a computer can execute. The video script explains that with the help of compilers, high-level programs could be automatically translated back into binary code, which the computer understands, thus solving the programming problem and enabling a wider range of applications for computers.

💡Automation

Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks that would otherwise be done by humans. The video discusses the fears and concerns raised by the increased use of automation in the workplace, suggesting that it could lead to job losses. However, it also presents the perspective that automation is necessary for industries to remain competitive.

💡Computer Industry

The computer industry encompasses the businesses involved in the design, development, manufacturing, and sale of computer hardware and software. The video script highlights the growth and challenges of the computer industry, particularly in the 1950s, as it transitioned from a period of rapid sales to grappling with the complexities and costs associated with software development.

💡Programming Languages

Programming languages are formal languages that instruct computers to perform specific tasks. The video emphasizes the evolution of programming languages from binary code to higher-level languages like Fortran and COBOL, which made it easier for humans to communicate with computers and thus facilitated the development and use of software.

💡Electronic Data Processing

Electronic data processing (EDP) refers to the use of computers to process and store data. The video gives an example of the Bank of America using an electronic recording method of accounting (ERMA) to automate the sorting and posting of checks, which dramatically increased efficiency and reduced the need for manual labor in bookkeeping.

Highlights

The expectation from salesmen was high, as they were seen as pivotal in driving business growth and were considered American heroes.

IBM's 650 computer was a significant success, with nearly a thousand units sold within a year, surpassing Remington Rand's UNIVAC.

The British computer industry felt threatened by IBM's dominance and sought to compete through innovation rather than production scale.

The British Tabulator Company, akin to IBM in the UK, showcased its sole computer at a business efficiency exhibition.

The merging of major British companies was a strategic move to challenge IBM's market presence.

The 1950s saw a surge in computer advertisements that were overly optimistic, leading to unfulfilled promises.

Software development emerged as a significant challenge, with costs spiraling two to four times the hardware itself.

The difficulty of programming in binary was a major hurdle, as it required a tedious and error-prone process.

The development of high-level programming languages like FORTRAN and COBOL revolutionized the field by making coding more accessible.

COBOL was particularly influential for business applications, as it allowed for English-like syntax in programming.

Compilers played a crucial role in translating high-level languages back into binary, making computers more user-friendly.

The advent of computers in administrative offices led to a reduction in clerical staff, as single computers replaced multiple clerks.

Computers began to appear in factories, controlling processes that previously required significant manual labor.

The term 'automation' was introduced, carrying both promise and concern about job displacement due to technological advancements.

Hollywood's portrayal of computers in films like 'Desk Set' reflected the mixed societal emotions towards automation.

IBM's Tom Watson Jr. was a vocal advocate for computers, arguing they were tools to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.

The Bank of America's adoption of IBM's computer system for processing checks was a significant milestone in automating financial tasks.

Transcripts

well he expected uh at least the moon

and perhaps the Sun from his salesman he

wanted a a good sales job and he wanted

a lot of orders because we grew with

orders and he also used to say look the

salesman who is the man who makes things

happen in the United States nothing

happens until something is sold then

it's manufactured it's delivered it's

used but nothing happens so the salesman

in his mind was a sort of an American

hero and perhaps very high on the list

of American

Heroes it was these Heroes of IBM Who

convinced hundreds of ordinary

businessmen to buy IBM's 650 computer

orders started pouring in within a year

IBM had sold almost a thousand of them

and soared past Remington rand's univac

to become the largest computer company

in the

world

IBM's sudden new dominance threatened

the fledgling British industry too in

the early ' 50s a handful of

Manufacturers from fanti to Lions fought

over what few customers there were at

this business efficiency exhibition the

British tabulator company Britain's

equivalent of IBM was showing its Wares

the firm's one and only computer

salesman tried to attract attention by

programming it to play NS and Crossing

later all the major British companies

would merge to take on IBM we can't

expect to be able to outproduce uh a

large American company but there's no

reason why we can't outthink them and a

great deal of thought was needed back in

the ' 50s if manufacturers on both sides

of the Atlantic were to honor the

promise of their

advertisements computers the advertising

claimed were the key to the Future

but in their enthusiasm they failed to

mention one

thing in the late 1950s the computer

manufacturers advertisements and

proposals were Rosy and we who were

making those promises turned out to be

Liars we didn't know we were but we were

the problem was software software

development writing software the

programs that tell the computer what to

do turned out to cost two three even

four times the price of the machine

itself

in fact this problem of software

development grew so severe that it

really threatened the further growth of

the computer

industry computers costing thousands of

dollars a month would sit idle while

programmers struggle to talk the

computer's Arcane language we bpx to 10d

a 10 well this AO gets us into a

bsn1 don't we want a bsn1 12

instead unfortunately for programmers

computers cannot execute programs

written in English they require a

special language of their own the

computer only understands the language

of binary and it's really a code not a

language binary simply means zeros and

ones analogous to an electric light

switch which is either on or

off if one simply looks at an example of

what the binary code would have to be

for 5 * 7 + 3 one can see that it's

incredibly difficult to write that kind

of thing accurately in the first place

it's tedious to write it and in the

second place it's almost impossible to

do it

correctly programmers developed

alphabetic codes which were easier than

binary but still programming was

difficult and tedious and few people

were attracted to

it the shortage of programmers could in

the worst case have caused the growth of

the computer industry to come to a dead

halt because there were so few

programmers without programmers you

don't have programs that is to say

software and without software the

computer is useless you might just as

well have an automobile without a driver

it doesn't go anywhere it just sits

there this crisis could only be solved

by making programming easier to do if

people couldn't talk to computers in

binary perhaps computers could be made

to understand a language a bit closer to

normal

English the first so-called highlevel

language that became significantly used

was for Tran scientists and

mathematicians found it relatively easy

because it allowed them to write

equations in the way they were used

to businessmen who didn't often write

equations didn't find Fortran much

help they needed their own language one

that could handle letters as well as

numbers and could process files of

data for that you needed a different

kind of language and that led to the

development of cobal which stands for

common business-oriented language cobal

was very English oriented that is to say

you wrote the programs in a language

which was certainly not identical to

English but at least looked like English

when you read it and wrote it cobal was

a revelation easy to use and to find

errors and with the help of another

piece of software called a compiler the

high LEL program is automatically

translated back to the binary code that

the computer

understands with the programming problem

solved at least in principle the stage

was set for an endless variety of new

uses for computers in all walks of life

operating around the clock this

Communication Center receives and

processes all incoming requests for

Police

Service computers could now track police

cars or pedigree B fools in Kansas City

Missouri the American Herford

Association dedicated a new electronic

computer on hand to push the starting

switch America's Grand Champion Herford

bull HR silver image 70 this hoof switch

started a new IBM 1401 computer that

will keep track of all registered herds

silver image thus became the first

animal ever to trace his own ancestry

and appeared quite interested in the

results but most computers were found in

administrative offices where armies of

Clarks were beginning to disappear

replaced by a single

computer computers also started showing

up in factories controlling machines and

processes that once required hundreds of

human

hands as computers intruded more and

more into the workplace fears were

raised that increased automation might

make millions of workers

obsolete automation is a young new word

heavy with promise and with problems as

a matter of fact several people have

suggested to us that it's a little too

heavy for a Sunday afternoon in Dune

could be we shall see and it's true that

this plant will cause a layoff of some

of our loyal workers however it's a

necessity to do it to be competitive in

today's industry I thought you'd never

get back do you know what even Hollywood

took up the he's up on the roof feeding

the pigeons no do you know what he's

doing here what he's trying to replace

us all with mechanical brain he's under

special assignment to aai to see if Emir

can be adapted to this department that

means the end of us all Peg Peg calm

down no machine can do our job that's

what they said in

payroll movies like desk set revealed

the conflicting emotions computers

stirred up in society while many people

viewed them with fear and disdain others

thought they represented progress the

future a relief from tedious tasks good

girl

not surprisingly the staunchest

advocates for computers were the

computer manufacturers like IBM's Tom

Watson Jr a lot of people call these

machines giant brains and whenever I he

hear the term it makes me shudder

because they are giant giant tools

they're certainly not giant brains and

if you have good tools you're upgrading

man not downgrading

him that was a common argument that

computers replace based jobs nobody

wanted certainly it was true at the Bank

of America which employed almost 2,500

bookkeepers just to process personal

checking accounts every day they sorted

and recorded more than 9 million checks

the perfect job for a

computer this is Los Angeles and I'm

Ronald Reagan in 1961 in one of his

lesser roles Ronald Reagan was the

commercial spokesman for General

electric who made the bank's computer

the Bank of America has called this new

system electronic recording method of

accounting or by the more familiar and

friendlier term FMA a competent

experienced bookkeeper using

conventional mechanical equipment is

expected to do the sorting and posting

for about 250 accounts an hour Irma can

sort and post 550 accounts a minute