Fifty Years Ago .... from the pages of Computer Weekly
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3rd October 1974 computing, compiled by TNMOC volunteer archivist, Brian Aldous.
A selection of stories from Computer Weekly from 3rd October 1974. 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.
Thermal printer from DACE: A compact thermal printer aimed at the communications terminal, programmable calculator, process control and automatic test system markets has been announced by DACE, part of the Muirhead group of companies. Known as Dataprint, the new thermal printer costs £198 for a single unit with discounts available for OEM quantities. Dataprint is said to be capable of printing 10 columns from a 54 character repertoire at a speed of 37.5 chps. In addition, the print head comprises 10 groups of printing elements, thus avoiding the use of a moving-head unit and reducing the number of moving parts. The unit, which was developed by DACE, Data Acquisition and Control Equipment, at its offices in Beckenham, Kent, requires a panel space of only 110 mm square. (CW 413 3/10/1974 p12)
Player award for NPL man. Donald Davies, superintendent of the Computer Science Division at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, has won the 1974-John Player Computer Award for his work in proposing and developing the packet switching technique for transmitting data within a computer network. The technique, which allows "packets" of data, including the destination for which the data is intended, to be routed through a network, has been adopted by a number of organisations and communications authorities throughout the world. The technique enables computers to communicate with one another, the network controlling the flow and routing of the packets, using intermediate processors for queue control and checking. (CW 413 3/10/1974 p14)
Chieftain simulator launched: Already established as one of the world’s leading suppliers of flight emulation systems, the Link Miles Division of Singer has introduced a complete computer-controlled simulator for tanks and other armoured military vehicles. The prototype system now in operation at Link Miles is designed to simulate the Chieftain tank and is controlled by a Digital Equipment PDP-11/05 for which Link Miles has developed a completely new range of software. The trainee sits inside a completely enclosed reproduction of the Chieftain driver’s cab which is mounted on a three-axis motion system. The terrain over which the tank is moving is simulated by a 1:300 scale model over which a gantry moves with a shoe assembly that actually touches the model ground and picks up the unevenness of the surface. Signals from the shoe are accepted by the computer which, in turn, causes the cab to move up and down in the appropriate manner. The computer by itself can also recreate the effects of driving in soft sand or over marshy terrain by modifying the traction of the vehicle, its manoeuvreability and the handling of its controls. (CW 413 3/10/1974 p40)
