Computers and Commerce:A Study of Technology and Management at Eckert-Mauchly Computer Company,Engineering Research Associates,and Remington Rand

Description:

Between 1946 and 1957 computing went from a preliminary, developmental stage to more widespread use accompanied by the beginnings of the digital computer industry. During this crucial decade, spurred by rapid technological advances, the computer enterprise became a major phenomenon. In Computers and Commerce, Arthur Norberg explores the importance of these years in the history of computing by focusing on technical developments and business strategies at two important firms, both established in 1946, Engineering Research Associates (ERA) and Eckert-Mauchly Computer Company (EMCC), from their early activities through their acquisition by Remington Rand.

Both ERA and EMCC had their roots in World War II, and in postwar years both firms received major funding from the United States government. Norberg analyzes the interaction between the two companies and the government and examines the impact of this institutional context on technological innovation. He assesses the technical contributions of such key company figures as J. Presper Eckert, John Mauchly, Grace Hopper, and William Norris, analyzing the importance of engineering knowledge in converting theoretical designs into workable machines. Norberg looks at the two firms' operations after 1951 as independent subsidiaries of Remington Rand, and documents the management problems that began after Remington Rand merged with Sperry Gyroscope to form Sperry Rand in 1955.

Arthur L. Norberg is Director of the Charles Babbage Institute for the History of Information and Technology. He holds the ERA Land-Grant Chair in History of Technology and is a Professor in the Program in History of Science and Technology and in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Minnesota.

 

Table of Contents:

Preface	vii
	Introduction	1
1	The Founding of Engineering Research Associates, Incorporated	21
2	Research on the Commercial Frontier of Computer Machinery: The Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation	73
3	Research on the Commercial Frontier of Computing Machinery: Engineering Research Associates, Inc.	117
4	Always a Dollar Short and a Day Late	167
5	Remington Rand Computing: Integrating EMCC and ERA into the Parent Company	209
	Conclusion: A New View of EMCC and ERA and Their Contributions	267
	Notes	281
	Sources	329
	Index	339

描述：
在1946年至1957年之間，計算機從初步的開發階段發展到更廣泛的使用，並伴隨著數字計算機行業的起步。在這關鍵的十年中，受到快速技術進步的推動，計算機企業成為一個重要現象。在《計算機與商業》一書中，亞瑟·諾伯格通過關注兩家重要公司的技術發展和商業策略，探討了這些年份在計算機歷史中的重要性。這兩家公司分別是1946年成立的Engineering Research Associates（ERA）和Eckert-Mauchly Computer Company（EMCC），從它們的早期活動到它們被Remington Rand收購為止。ERA和EMCC都起源於第二次世界大戰，戰後這兩家公司都獲得了美國政府的大量資金支持。諾伯格分析了這兩家公司與政府之間的互動，並探討了這種制度背景對技術創新的影響。他評估了J. Presper Eckert、John Mauchly、Grace Hopper和William Norris等重要公司人物的技術貢獻，分析了工程知識在將理論設計轉化為可行機器方面的重要性。諾伯格還研究了這兩家公司在1951年之後作為Remington Rand的獨立子公司的運營情況，並記錄了Remington Rand在1955年與Sperry Gyroscope合併形成Sperry Rand之後出現的管理問題。亞瑟·L·諾伯格是查爾斯·巴比奇信息和技術歷史研究所的所長，他擔任技術歷史和計算機科學系的ERA土地授予講座教授，並在明尼蘇達大學的科學和技術歷史項目以及計算機科學系擔任教授。

目錄：
前言
引言
第一章 創立工程研究協會
第二章 在計算機機械的商業前沿進行研究：Eckert-Mauchly計算機公司