History of Nordic Computing : IFIP WG9.7 First Working Conference on the History of Nordic Computing (HiNC1), June 16-18, 2003, Trondheim, Norway (IFIP ... Federation for Information Processing)

This book is an essential reference for both academic and professional researchers in the field of historical computing. It is the first book in English that covers the early era of Nordic computing from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Most of the contributors are themselves pioneers in the field. The book deals with many aspects of Nordic computing such as the development of early computer hardware, development of basic software and compilers, design and implementation of early applications in engineering as well as in organizations and developments in use of computers in education. Other aspects described include Nordic cooperation in terms of conferences and journals as well as the role of computers in social life and in politics. Paper topics include, among many others, themes such as the pioneering era in Norwegian scientific computing (1948 – 1962), the role of IBM in starting up computing in the Nordic countries, computers and politics, and Algol-Genius as an early success for high level language. Other topics include the birth of Simula, the Scandinavian school of information systems development, and the role of women in the pioneering years of Nordic computing. This book is indispensable for teachers in computing in that it gives them an extended perspective on the topics they are teaching. It is also valuable for those interested in and working with historical analyses of Nordic computing. It contains original contributions from many pioneers of Nordic computing. These contributions form an excellent beginning to further historical investigations and analyses. The book also contains articles written by computer historians that make significant conclusions about decisions made regarding development of a computing industry in the Nordic countries. Janis Bubenko, Jr. is professor emeritus of computer and systems science at the Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University, Sweden. John Impagliazzo is professor of computer science at Hofstra University in New York. Arne Sølvberg is professor of computer and information science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. International Federation For Information Processing The Ifip Series Publishes State-of-the-art Results In The Sciences And Technologies Of Information And Communication. The Scope Of The Series Includes: Foundations Of Computer Science; Software Theory And Practice; Education; Computer Applications In Technology; Communication Systems; Systems Modeling And Optimization; Information Systems; Computers And Society; Computer Systems Technology; Security And Protection In Information Processing Systems; Artificial Intelligence; And Human-computer Interaction. Proceedings And Post-proceedings Of Referred International Conferences In Computer Science And Interdisciplinary Fields Are Featured. These Results Often Precede Journal Publication And Represent The Most Current Research. The Principal Aim Of The Ifip Series Is To Encourage Education And The Dissemination And Exchange Of Information About All Aspects Of Computing. For More Information About The 300 Other Books In The Ifip Series, Please Visit Www.springeronline.com. For More Information About Ifip, Please Visit Www.ifip.or.at. Reflections, Thoughts, And Episodes -- An Interview With Börje Langefors -- The Pioneer Era In Norwegian Scientific Computing (1948–1962) -- The Role Of Ibm In Starting Up Computing In The Nordic Countries -- Computerisation Of The Icelandic State And Municipalities -- Technology Transfer, Modernization, And The Welfare State -- A Failure Revisited: The First Finnish Computer Construction Project -- On The Politics Of Failure -- Birth Of Computer Science Education And Research In Finland -- The Advent Of The First General-purpose Computer In Iceland -- Early Curricula In Computer Science At The University Of Iceland -- Research And Curricula Development At Norwegian Universities -- Introducing Information Technology At Norwegian Regional Colleges -- Nordic Cooperation Within The Field Of Computing -- Cooperation As A Driving Force In Nordic It -- History Of The Nordic Computer Industry -- The Datasaab Flexible Central Processing Unit --^ Of Computers In Norwegian School Mathematics -- From Programming To System Design -- The Birth Of It In Upper Secondary Education In Norway -- It For Learning: A Need For A New Approach? -- The Early Nordic Software Effort -- Algol-genius -- The Birth Of Simula -- Club Activity In The Early Phases Of Microcomputing In Finland -- Miproc -- From Binary Strings To Visual Programming -- Ferranti Mercury At The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment -- Making Computing Available -- Scip: A Scandinavian Project On Systems Analysis And Design -- Is Scandinavian Information System Development Becoming Passé? -- Significant Applications -- Applications And Technologies For Maritime And Offshore Industries -- Applications And Technologies For Maritime And Offshore Industries -- Nordunet: The Roots Of Nordic Networking -- Where Were The Women? -- When Computers Became Of Interest In Politics -- Development In The Growth Base Of The ‘oulu Phenomenon’ --^ The Norwegian Computing Center And The Univac 1107 (1963–1970) -- The Wegematic 1000 Computing Center, 1959–1964 -- Concluding Remarks. Edited By Janis Bubenko, Jr., John Impagliazzo, Arne Sølvenberg. Includes Bibliographical References. Contents......Page 8 Dedication......Page 6 Preface......Page 12 Conference Organization......Page 16 Program Committee......Page 18 Acknowledgments......Page 20 Reflections, thoughts, and episodes......Page 22 An interview with Börje Langefors......Page 28 The pioneer era in Norwegian scientific computing (1948 -1962)......Page 44 The role of IBM in starting up computing in the Nordic countries......Page 54 Computerisation of the Icelandic state and municipalities......Page 66 Technology transfer, modernization, and the welfare state......Page 82 A failure revisited: The first Finnish computer construction project......Page 100 On the politics of failure......Page 116 Birth of computer science education and research in Finland......Page 132 The advent of the first general-purpose computer in Iceland......Page 144 Early curricula in computer science at the University of Iceland......Page 152 Research and curricula development at Norwegian universities......Page 158 Introducing information technology at Norwegian regional colleges......Page 176 Nordic cooperation within the field of computing......Page 182 Cooperation as a driving force in Nordic IT......Page 190 History of the Nordic computer industry......Page 200 The Datasaab flexible central processing unit......Page 212 Introduction of computers in Norwegian school mathematics......Page 218 From programming to system design......Page 224 The birth of IT in upper secondary education in Norway......Page 236 IT for learning: A need for a new approach?......Page 244 The early Nordic software effort......Page 260 Algol-genius......Page 272 The birth of Simula......Page 282 Club activity in the early phases of microcomputing in Finland......Page 298 MIPROC......Page 310 From binary strings to visual programming......Page 318 Ferranti Mercury at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment......Page 332 Making computing available......Page 338 SCIP: A Scandinavian project on systems analysis and design......Page 348 Is Scandinavian information systems development becoming passé?......Page 360 Significant applications......Page 378 Applications and technologies for maritime and offshore industries......Page 380 Applications and technologies for maritime and offshore industries......Page 390 NORDUNET: The roots of Nordic networking......Page 412 Where were the women?......Page 426 When computers became of interest in politics......Page 434 Development in the growth base of the ‘Oulu phenomenon’......Page 446 The Norwegian computing center and the Univac 1107 (1963-1970)......Page 470 The Wegematic 1000 computing centre, 1959-1964......Page 484 Concluding remarks......Page 508 Annotation This book is an essential reference for both academic and professional researchers in the field of historical computing. It is the first book in English that covers the early era of Nordic computing from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Most of the contributors are themselves pioneers in the field. The book deals with many aspects of Nordic computing such as the development of early computer hardware, development of basic software and compilers, design and implementation of early applications in engineering as well as in organizations and developments in use of computers in education. Other aspects described include Nordic cooperation in terms of conferences and journals as well as the role of computers in social life and in politics. Paper topics include, among many others, themes such as the pioneering era in Norwegian scientific computing (1948 1962), the role of IBM in starting up computing in the Nordic countries, computers and politics, and Algol-Genius as an early success for high level language. Other topics include the birth of Simula, the Scandinavian school of information systems development, and the role of women in the pioneering years of Nordic computing. This book is indispensable for teachers in computing in that it gives them an extended perspective on the topics they are teaching. It is also valuable for those interested in and working with historical analyses of Nordic computing. It contains original contributions from many pioneers of Nordic c Computing In The Nordic Countries Started In Late 1940s Mainly As An Engineering Activity To Build Computing Devices To Perform Mathematical Calculations And Assist Mathematicians And Engineers In Scientific Problem Solving. The Early Computers Of The Nordic Countries Emerged During The 1950s And Had Names Like Bark, Besk, Dask, Smil, Sara, Esko, And Nusse. Each Of Them Became A Nucleus In Institutes And Centres For Mathematical Computations Programmed And Used By Highly Qualified Professionals. However, One Should Not Forget The Punched-card Machine Technology At This Time That Had Existed For Several Decades. In Addition, We Have A Nordic Name, Namely Frederik Rosing Bull, Contributing To The Fundaments Of Punched Card Technology And Forming The French Company Bull. Commercial Products Such As Facit Edb And Saab D20-series Computers In Sweden, The Danish Gier Computer, The Nokia Mikko Computer In Finland, As Well As The Computers Of Norsk Data In Norway Followed The Early Computers. In Many Cases, However, Companies And Institutions Did Not Further Develop Or Exploit Nordic Computing Hardware, Even Though It Exhibited Technical Advantages. Consequently, In The 1970s, Us Computers, Primarily From Ibm, Flooded The Nordic Market.