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Computing Evolution: From 1964 to Today

Explore the history, impact, and future of computing from the Class of 1965 to modern times. Discover the size, speed, usage, and influence of technology on various aspects of life. Learn about early computing systems, including Dartmouth Time-Sharing and BASIC, and the transition to today's advanced technologies. Reflect on personal experiences and insights into the evolving technological landscape.

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Computing Evolution: From 1964 to Today

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  1. Class of 1965 50th Anniversary Computing from 1964 to today Size & Speed, Usage, Impact John S. McGeachie D’65 T’75 P’88

  2. What computing was like before 1964

  3. Dartmouth Time-Sharing and BASIC Size and Speed, 1965 • What is Time-Sharing? • Many users share one computer system • Input, output, thinking occupy most of a user’s time • Computer usually idle • Why? • Typical computer system 1963 ~ $ 1 million • Equivalent to $ 6.9 million in 2015 • Not your average PC.

  4. DN-30 (40 users) Size and Speed, 1965 Dartmouth Time-Sharing System (DTSS)- Data: 14 million bytes ... for ALL users- Speed: ~ 65,000 instructions per second GE-235 DISC

  5. Time-line – we beat the estimates! • 1963 Fall – learn to program, grasp strategy • 1964: • Winter – code execs, debug Basic • Spring – success! Three teletypes. • Summer – 20 teletypes, Algol • Fall – background; system replicated at GE • 1965: • Summer – GE begins commercial service in Phoenix & NYC • Fall – 40 teletypes

  6. Suddenly, a large user population (Dartmouth Time-Sharing, Kemeny and Kurtz, Science, 11 Oct 1968. Volume 162, pp. 223-228)

  7. Size and Speed ... Then and Now • Dartmouth Time-Sharing System • 14 million bytes ... for ALL users • ~ 65,000 instructions per second • Apple Watch • 8 billion bytes ... on your wrist! • > 10,000 times faster

  8. Use and Impact of Technology From mostly engineering and economics ... to everyday life: • Your car • Your home (tv, thermostat, fridge, stereo …) • Your books (the Kindle reader) • Your doctor • Your finances • Your pills ... (!) • Your communications (the Internet) • Your social life • Your privacy! • Exploration: Robotic, space, hazardous environments • Easy of use …

  9. The early players • Kemeny & Kurtz – select hardware, develop strategy, create Basic • Busch ’66 (DN-30) & McGeachie ’65 (GE-235) – design and code execs, devise overall tactics, be impatient • Bellairs ’65 – Basic (JGK on sabbatical) • Moore ’65 – Symmaint, Fortran • Froehbose ’65 – Edit • Garland ’63, O’Gorman ’64 – Algol • Jim Brackett (GE) – keep hardware running, get modifications approved

  10. How did it affect me? Citation by Kemeny page 4, paragraph 2

  11. How did it affect me? Computer technology career ... • 1965-1977: Programmer, IT consultant, manager. • Computer consulting firm startup. • Helped Dartmouth with next generation DTSS. Became head of computing at Dartmouth. • Attended Tuck School, graduated in 1975. • 1977-1997: Technology consulting US and abroad. • Intelligent thermostat company startup. • 1998-2005: “Retired”– back to hands-on … • Involved in our kids’high-tech startups. • Person-to-person connection-finding startup with two Tuck classmates. Company sold to WSJ. • 2006 - ? software engineering, now at Oracle.

  12. Going forward - some thoughts • “Big Data”– enormous amounts of data being collected across the board – ethical issues. • “Cloud” computing replacing local PCs. • Combination of computing power and data have potential to make huge changes in healthcare, including genetically engineered medications. • Internet a concern as it is now becoming increasingly vulnerable to hackers.

  13. YouTube Video • Search for “Birth of Basic” – a 30-minute video created for the 50th anniversary of BASIC in May 2014.

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