Monday, January 24, 2011

Imperial twilight Lyons King dream computer dining space

 Gunfire, killing the sound of soldiers dying groans, filled in the June 6, 1944 over Omaha Beach. Night hours, the Allied beachhead was finally set up their own command post. News reached the headquarters of the allied forces across the strait, we sigh of relief, including the manipulation of the

At this point, the computer field on behalf of the British Empire, the highest level of However, the British secrecy laws are too strict to allow the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory and eager to use computer technology in the United Kingdom Lyons company, missed the contact with After the war, they quickly set their sights on the U.S. computer technology to decrypt.



history of Lyons LEO old photos

the same thing the study

1946 年 5 a month late, In the dim light, Cambridge University, Professor Maurice Wilkes was tension and excitement of a handwritten manuscript, as it is in the U.S. atomic bomb research and development Zengyi known mathematician John von Neumann's report: Who brought the report only to Wilkes a night time, we should take away the next day.

Wilkes stay up late to read the report of a grasp the essence of the night, dialysis of the United States was the most advanced computer research and development principles. Von Neumann was being presided over the development of a new generation of computers with storage Aidafake (EDVAC), but because of the conflict between the early developers, long overdue progress. Wilkes determined to seize the opportunity, on behalf of the University of Cambridge develop this new computer.

then rushed to the United States to participate in Wilkes Mawr College computer training courses organized and fully developed with the design staff Aidafake contacts, discussions, research and development not wary of Aidafake Wilkes introduced engineers to design ideas and technical details. Back to the University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory has been appointed director of Wilkes, the computer began to organize their own R & D team, the product name Aidasaike (EDSAC).

flowers two, with each one. R & D in Wilkes Aidasaike the same time, Britain was the most famous manufacturer of food service and food Lyons, is in a transition mode to explore the post-war anxiety. During the war, wartime With its After the war, management believes the company needs the power of technology to improve management, enhance production and sales of close contact, control and reduce the increasingly heavy document processing and improve efficiency.

later became general manager of Lyons, John Simmons said: have no meaning. The way they are rich in gold, once the mining is completed, it will become ruins. sector, mainly in the military had on the computer to show a strong computing power. As the guests from the World War II allies, survey team is basically all the way to the green, only to visit the Aberdeen Ballistics Laboratory that sets the famous Ainiyake computer there is some trouble. They initially by the British Embassy received a special permit, but in the last minute to visit the laboratory to inform them license to be canceled, without explanation, only said that because of confidentiality reasons.

but they did not care too much about this, because they saw Ainiyake (ENIAC) was developed by Eckert. At that time, Eckert was pleased to receive them. At this point is to start their own company Eckert may treat them as a potential commercial customers. Shortly after the end of World War II may in fact was, Lyons company can not get enough from the bank to buy the U.S. dollar foreign exchange equipment.

Simmons very concerned about IBM's progress in the computer. October 1925, he was an inspection tour of the United States, IBM. At that time, IBM CEO Thomas Watson's forge ahead to the Simmons left a deep impression.

He quickly read the inspection report submitted under the report on the IBM R & D performance in the computer description, there is no surprise to Simmons to bring the impression that the company seems to get ambitious conservative and old-fashioned,

field, because if (commercial computer), if successful, it will phase out all of the punch device.

IBM as Simmons was the idol of the eyes, its performance may make him a bit disappointed, but in the dim room that seems eager to transition Lyons gave the company a chance.

this opportunity is it?

University of Cambridge, under the leadership of Professor Wilkes has been the progress in computer research and development at this time, but he faces a fatal problem: money. Decimated by World War II, the British government did not like to commit more money before the war to carry out research and development of computer technology. Private capital are also dying because of war, Wilkes helpless, Aidasaike project faces collapse.

Lyons visit the company's U.S. R & D personnel from the mouth of U.S. computer several times to hear the University of Cambridge Professor Wilkes accomplished on the computer of high praise. This is really a bit

Lyons company tentatively and Wilkes Aidasaike contact with the project team found that indeed. Lyons company then generously Aidasaike a sum of capital projects, and allocation of high-level technicians to assist research and development company.

Lyons as a commercial company, overwhelmed by timely, meaningful. Lyons Company, said: computer broad application prospects. Although this computer does not generate a social level as the United States as of 1946, released Ainiyake sensation, but the impact of computer research and development as much as the former. Because this computer has a memory function really, but the principle of von Neumann proposed sponsored project to the same type of success after 3 years, Eckert - Mo Qili company Younifake also in 3 years produced, IBM computer at this time carried out in local R & D work, but also fully involved in more than 1 year later.

Professor Wilkes to the academic research was a great honor, so he does not mind the company involved in research and development of the Lyons copy a Aidasaike technician, back to the Lyons Company do commercial applications.

the end of World War II, the international patent system has been implemented for hundreds of years, the patent network has been very strong, but the computer that the fish had given a statement from the mesh. May seem strange, in fact, because the invention of the computer is a continuous dynamic process, there are numerous scientific and technical personnel absorb the hard work and achievements, to argue who is the inventor of the first computer seems to make sense. Professor Wilkes seems to have followed this rule, a copy of the Lyons company and the subsequent mass production to take a detached attitude.

into the Lyons company in the history of the machine to become the first commercial computer, and were previously used as military and scientific computing applications. This machine has just moved to Lyons company, formed in a panic within the company, many employees rumors this machine will replace a lot of people, many people will lose their jobs. Simmons, general manager of that take a long time to complete the office complex software programming work, full automation will be a long process, there is no need for direct layoffs.

result, Simmons points out, some fear of the employees told,

copy of the hope of success

optimistic about the situation of external circumstances to set up a computer service to business customers rent time on the machine.

copied to the computer from the University of Cambridge, and soon known, joined the company soon, the United Kingdom Ordnance Division came to the door, hoping to compensation for the use machine, the ballistic trajectory calculations. Bureau of Meteorology has to come to for help in meteorological data analysis.

these areas also are calculated, and business applications is reflected in the company's operations on the payroll, this is the stack of dishes, but in the early 50s of last century, this device successfully completed Leon Sri Lanka thousands of people payroll services company in the United Kingdom caused a great sensation, and even alerted the then British Princess Elizabeth, she also come to visit.

followed by restaurants catering projects. As application requirements increase, according to Lyons company has copied the original one machine, but in the replication process, the company's technical staff has made some amendments to the equipment.

Sisuizhiwei, Lyons company began preparing production machines. November 1954, as the Lyons, a subsidiary of the LEO was established and began production of large computer LEO license.

However, the U.S. computer makers the potential threat of potential competition, still coiled Lyons executives mind. They re-sent to the U.S. study, the scope of this study is very broad applications, including computer manufacturers and customers in two ways. As a former Lyons application client companies seem more concerned about the situation the U.S. computer applications, they are, after visiting the Pentagon, the Pentagon in the report ridicule spend money, buy a lot of Younifake mainframe, but do not know how to better to use them up.

from the application point of view is a feature of Lyons Company, and the U.S. computer company that is quite different. Lyons, the company born out of traditional industries, the technology used to the machine, business, digging through the application potential, ie technical updates slower. The U.S. computer company from birth, in a fierce competition to carry out radical renewal and upgrading of technology, and later evolved even over-upgrade, that customers often do not tap the potential of device applications through the old models in the business point of view to been eliminated. Lyons Company Once you enter this competition, it will be difficult to adapt to their rhythm.

but all the mid 50s in the last century is not a problem. LEO card company computer in the successful application of Lyons, the company attracted a lot of old customers, of course, enjoy the old users before the Lyons cakes and drinks. Ford UK to come to the same requirements as the Lyons computer operation launched payroll system, then the Wills tobacco companies and Lloyd Steel.

Green Mills Bank LEO license for the computer to go look to the eyes cast, this is one for the British army Faxiang bank. LEO in joy at the same time, and soon taste the slightly bitter taste, because the government under the auspices of salaries for departments to spend heavily in the British Army ordered a IBM mainframe, the prior may not be bidding. LEO was informed that, the efforts to fight but without result.

LEO, but this time on the market is still relatively smooth, it quickly won orders for a stock, then selling to the government responsible for the pension, a business unit. Then, LEO began to expand overseas markets, products sold to the South African Rand gold mine.

gradual recovery after the war the British market, the demand for computers was beginning to increase, in the nourishment of the LEO, but also attracted the attention of IBM.

whirlwind ride from the Blue

said. Precisely, the context of the Cold War the military's

early as 1943, during World War II, U.S. Navy commissioned the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to design the task of flight simulation training device is aimed at training pilots during the war accelerated the ability of new aircraft. In the development process, gradually created a not directly related to scientific and engineering problems.

after World War II, the U.S. military on this project mixed, some people think that this project is a However, this project brings together a group of then-powerful figure in the computer field, including the DEC later became the founder and president Kenneth Olsen, he said: ! and we did. technology. So

grandson, who said: Immediately after World War II, the U.S. government and IBM had monopoly power had a concern, the first of many computer programs to its competitors. And indeed, like Lyons, IBM general manager of Simmons analyzed, relying on punch card machines larger profits, progress in the computer unhappy.

shadow of the Cold War the Americans put on the IBM monopoly concerns put aside, because the implementation of the scheme can only choose the most cyclone strength or potential vendors, IBM was the best choice no doubt. So a lot of projects, funding to the IBM tilt, the peak of man-made IBM a 7000-8000 work for the project. U.S. Yingcai cyclone plan developed set of computer technology, but also commissioned the production, gradually transferred to IBM. IBM in the processor-intensive real-time systems, storage devices and a leading position quickly, IBM will soon apply these new technologies, production of goods.

technical and financial access to the full protection of the case, IBM is not only gaining ground in the U.S. computer market, and its edge quickly point to the British Isles, LEO by the local rivals soon companies evolved into IBM.

1960 年 11 月, IBM, a magazine in the United States played an ad, Seeing himself had been left behind in the IBM, the U.S. government's policy of rapid support from more than their own, LEO was not without complaint, he claimed himself alone, without financial support from the British Government, even encouraged.

1963 年 2 months, Lyons Electric Company and the United Kingdom announced that it will own a computer company or department to form the British Electric LEO companies. Evaluation of the industry is under pressure in the IBM Baotuan heating. The combined company went through a frustrating period of cultural conflict, two sales teams fighting each other, R & D nor the formation of a joint force. During this time, IBM invested $ 5,000,000,000 to carry out the

At this point, the reason the Cold War, the West Eastern European countries to implement high-tech products for export restrictions, LEO outdated models are not in the restricted list, the markets in Eastern Europe had a supernatural-type results.

Moscow Farewell Dinner

1967 years, a LEO 326 model on display in Moscow on the computer, this model is eliminated in the Western society has models, LEO hope also the market can be found here. The lack of hard currency to local users, it seems do not want to spend money on such outdated products, machinery, after the exhibition had no choice but brought back to England.

the day in the home, the exhibition organizers held a grand farewell dinner, guest houses there during the exhibition staff. We frequently drank swill, do not want to say goodbye to this rare friendship during the Cold War. Gongchoujiaocuo room, LEO employees face smiling, but my heart sadly, they know the golden years of LEO's already gone, to say goodbye. (Jiang Hongjun)

Foreign records, From I The emphasis is on fish cooking techniques and the furnace, it will not char, rather than turn, shuffle the pieces of meat easily. Looking after World War II, British and American IT industry history, the lessons of which coincide with this.

in World War II, compared to the United States, Germany, Britain suffered a more direct military attack, so the scientists involved in military projects to head off a small bomb, R & D more powerful, so British scientists in the computer This important progress on military projects very quickly, the achievements of outstanding.

After the war, the British Government could seize the opportunity to promote computer technology in civilian and commercial, the result is shelved, forcing a do roll up their sleeves Lyons catering business, to develop their own computer to do business applications, thus interpretation of a legend. In the same period, the U.S. government to actively promote civilian wartime military computer project, master spy team of cutting-edge technology to commercial companies or collective.

Despite poor start, the British Government have a chance in the last century in the late 50's, a hand to help the UK computer industry was getting better but there are worries of the Lyons development of a very looking forward to the opportunity, but no. At this point, including the U.S. computer companies including IBM, in the Tornado project funding support, the rapid growth and began to expand the UK market. Financial and technical disadvantage of the British companies began to watch IBM into the hands of government projects.

1964 年 10 months, British Prime Minister Wilson campaign, its election platform to include support for the As his first priority task. It seems more than Americans for nearly 20 years later.

someone says 60s in the last century, the British government first two of a bunch of computer companies into die. But big does not mean that strong, that is a pile of small sampan together, but also can not become an aircraft carrier. And, this time to complete the first round of computer technology in the large-scale evolution, the positive evolution of miniaturization, the birth of Eve in the PC. Under such circumstances, there are innovative small companies should be the object of policy support. U.S. government in the late 60s, IBM once again on the Big Blue played the anti-monopoly magic spell, leaving a large number of small business survival and innovation space. In short, since the late 60s, the U.S. computer industry policy is to use Subsequently, Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Google, Facebook and other companies echelon sky.

in Britain, after the Lyons LEO short-lived and influential IT enterprises have been dating, years later there came an ARM. (Jiang Hongjun)

Editor's Note

In addition to the intensive news reporter was described, there is a power cut and polish the outside - time.

in the record since the mid-20th century, the vast wave of information technology change the text, there are some characteristics in the sparkling flashes that highlights the glory is not always successful, some through the detours, the failure of technology and brand, is also a glorious history of the practice of human development. Record their fleeting moment, the original intention was to open this column.

Let us review the history here, and learn from experience.

section Moderator: Jiang Hongjun

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