Fifty Years Ago .... from the pages of Computer Weekly

27th February 1975 computing, compiled by TNMOC volunteer archivist, Brian Aldous.

A selection of stories from Computer Weekly from 27th February 1975. The full archive of Computer Weekly can be seen at TNMOC, where there are special rolling displays of front pages from 25 and 40 years ago.

PoS comes to the petrol pumps: Point-of-sale processing now looks like being extended to petrol service stations with the launching of an electronic pump system, the Avery-Hardoll Mark IV. This can be interfaced with digital data loggers and with data transmission modems linked to a remote computer, as part of an on-line PoS network. The Mark IV pump built by Avery-Hardoll of Havant, Hants, incorporates logic circuitry on LSI MOS chips supplied by Plessey. The logic is used to present the price and, if required, the volume of the grade of petrol selected by the customer using self-service buttons on the pump. More LSI logic is then used to multiply the amount of petrol drawn by the price to calculate the amount to be paid. This is shown on two 16-digit displays controlled by TTL logic which accepts binary coded digit signals from the LSI Logic. Up to eight pumps can be linked to serial interface located in the service station building, and via these to a range of equipment that can include a strip printer, a paper tape punch, a magnetic tape cassette unit, a data logging system or a modem. (CW 434 27/2/1975 p13)