| S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366147] |
Sat, 07 April 2018 16:13  |
Anne & Lynn Wheel
Messages: 3156
Registered: January 2012
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S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainfra me_PR360.html
.... and from 34yrs ago
we had regular Friday's after work and one of the discussions was that
most of middle management and executives were computer illiterate
.... and could we create something that would attract them to using
computers. We came up with the idea of doing online telephone books. Jim
Gray would write the lookup application and I would create the
collection and formating process ... but neither of us would use more
than 2weeks of our time (note this was later picked up by and shipped by
PROFs). One of the hardest problems were site security that believed
computer/soft copies of paper phone books violated security. From long
ago and far away:
Date: 04/07/80 09:33:19
From: wheeler
To: gray
TELE EXEC starts out with
* DIRECTRY
but I would like to be able to specify as parm on TELE a name
specification like
TELE wheeler ( s*
which would then search s* directry files. Default would start out being
all files and then somebody could override with just subset. People
could have thier own execs to invoke TELE, i.e. MYFONE
EXEC TELE &1 &2 &3 ( myfone
EXEC ELE &1 &2 &3 ( sanjose
--
'bout as easy to customize it this way as any.
.... snip ...
..... a few minutes earlier
Date 04/07/80 09:19:05
To: wheeler
From: gray
Lynn: the VMCF stuff sounds good.
I will combine the TELEX and PROBE (probably tonight). Another approach
would be to have a list of files to be searched called the TELE SEARCH
file. This could specify the order of the search and also which files
are to be searched. If this were done then TELE would have to change
also. Any thoughts?
.... snip ...
..... the day before,
Date: 04/06/80 13:02:12
From: wheeler
To: distribution
re: directries; following has gone out on stl's VMTOOLs disk. Gray is
working on PROB routine for use by TELE exec. If request is simple case
of last name then the PROB routine will be invoked to search the
files. Currently SCANFILE is taking almost .8 168 seconds to search all
directries we have so far. Hopefully the PROB code will cut that be
nearly an order of magniture.
DIRECTRY QMARK:
This file describes the NEWS files which have a CMS filetype of DIRECTRY
containing online telephone directory information. There may be many
files, usually representing different physical locations or entites.
The use of these files is intended to be location specific. At Santa
Teresa they are maintained on a "best effort" basis. Users are
encouraged to make use of the information contained within these files
but are also warned that they are convenience items only, THE ACCURRACY
OR CURRENCY OF THE DATA IS NOT GUARANTEED! The system of interchange and
use is still in development. The TELE EXEC searches these files (as of
the DIRECTRY scheme cutover date on TELE INDEX within NEWS contains
entries pertaining to the TELE/DIRECTRY files and access.
This file will be updated as changes warrant. 80 March 31.
.... snip ...
trivia: there had been application that did SCANFILE which was
sequential search of files (sort of like unix grep). PROBE was radix
partition search. Binary Search starts in middle of sorted file, 16k
entry file takes avg. 14 tries (i.e. 2**14). Radix partition used the
letter frequency distribution of sorted phone data, using first two
letters of last name, 16k file, calculated partition avgs 24 records,
first try is middle of that partition ... 2nd try includes correction
for "error" of 1st try. Typical logical record was 80bytes, typical
physical record was 4096bytes ... high probabilty 1st try will
at least be within the correct physical recrd.
--
virtualization experience starting Jan1968, online at home since Mar1970
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366167 is a reply to message #366147] |
Sun, 08 April 2018 12:52  |
Anne & Lynn Wheel
Messages: 3156
Registered: January 2012
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re:
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2018c.html#41 S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2018c.html#41 S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
a little more:
Some Key Dates in IBM's Operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
https://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/documents/pdf/emea.pdf
One of my hobbies after joining IBM was creating & supporting enhanced
operating systems for internal datacenters, including a long time
customer HONE.
When HONE started being cloned around the world, I would be asked to go
over for the installation, did one in (new) Tour Franklin, early 70s,
landscaping hadn't been completed, still brown dirt around the
bldg. Hard part was reading my email back in the states.
Late 70s and early 80s I was blamed for online computer conferencing
(precursor to social media) on the internal network (larger than
arpanet/internet from just about the beginning until sometime
mid-80s). Folklore is when the comporate executive committee was told
about online computer conferencing (and the internal network), 5of6
wanted to fire me.
Old (archived) email from person given responsibility for doing EARN
(see EMEA 1983 above, had been former co-worker at science center)
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2001h.html#email840320
Note In Aug1976, TYMSHARE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tymshare
started offering its CMS-based online computer conferencing "free" to
(IBM user group) SHARE
https://www.share.org/
I created process to get monthly complete copy of all vmshare for
placing on internal systems (includine HONE systems) and making
available on the internal network. Biggest problem I had was with the
lawyers that were afraid customer information could contaminate IBM
employees. Archives here:
http://vm.marist.edu/~vmshare/
IBM email from somebody in Helsinki
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2007b.html#email830112
IBM email from somebody in Kuwait trying to get information about how
his customer can access TYMSHARE
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2007b.html#email830227
EARN (& BITNET posts), corporate sponsored UNIV network posts
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/subnetwork.html#bitnet
internal network posts
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/subnetwork.html#internalnet
online computer conferencing posts
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/subnetwork.html#cmc
HONE posts
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/subtopic.html#hone
--
virtualization experience starting Jan1968, online at home since Mar1970
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366194 is a reply to message #366147] |
Mon, 09 April 2018 15:21 |
hancock4
Messages: 6746
Registered: December 2011
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On Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 4:13:53 PM UTC-4, Lynn Wheeler wrote:
> S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
> http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainfra me_PR360.html
>
> ... and from 34yrs ago
>
> we had regular Friday's after work and one of the discussions was that
> most of middle management and executives were computer illiterate
> ... and could we create something that would attract them to using
> computers. We came up with the idea of doing online telephone books. Jim
> Gray would write the lookup application and I would create the
> collection and formating process ... but neither of us would use more
> than 2weeks of our time (note this was later picked up by and shipped by
> PROFs). One of the hardest problems were site security that believed
> computer/soft copies of paper phone books violated security. From long
> ago and far away:
[snip]
That is strange that something like an internal telephone
directory would be a security threat, especially years ago
when computer access was more tightly controlled than now.
Years ago my PPOE moved its internal phone book to the VM machine.
Was a lot easier to use. However, all it had was the alpha listing
of individuals; it did not have dialing instructions nor listings
by department.
Sadly, today, it's difficult to reach many companies by telephone,
even tiny ones, because everyone has a computer front end and the
caller is forced to wade through multiple menus.
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366196 is a reply to message #366167] |
Mon, 09 April 2018 15:33 |
hancock4
Messages: 6746
Registered: December 2011
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On Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 12:52:59 PM UTC-4, Lynn Wheeler wrote:
> Late 70s and early 80s I was blamed for online computer conferencing
> (precursor to social media) on the internal network (larger than
> arpanet/internet from just about the beginning until sometime
> mid-80s). Folklore is when the comporate executive committee was told
> about online computer conferencing (and the internal network), 5of6
> wanted to fire me.
That seems strange. Why would a computer company object to finding
a new application for computers, and one that improves communication
and efficiency?
Of course, over the years, being on "the wrong side" cost a number
of good IBM managers their position. Being IBM, the person did
keep his paycheck and employment, but they would be regulated to
a dumpy department and be obviously humiliated. Both Pugh books
and even Watson's memoir describe some of that. During S/360
development, Tom Watson had to demote his own brother, who wasn't
cutting it. That caused a permanent rift and may have contributed
to the brother's early passing. Ironically, the brother apparently
had been doing a great job at World Trade.
> I created process to get monthly complete copy of all vmshare for
> placing on internal systems (includine HONE systems) and making
> available on the internal network. Biggest problem I had was with the
> lawyers that were afraid customer information could contaminate IBM
> employees. Archives here:
> http://vm.marist.edu/~vmshare/
Sadly, I think an issue most working people face over their
careers is bureaucracy and lawyers interfering with progress.
It is a big contributor to burnout.
In my own career, I had one assignment to computerize a 'backwater'
office. The good thing was that no one cared about this department
and the project was under the radar--we could it as we pleased
without bureaucrats interfering.
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366197 is a reply to message #366194] |
Mon, 09 April 2018 16:01 |
scott
Messages: 4237
Registered: February 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com writes:
> On Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 4:13:53 PM UTC-4, Lynn Wheeler wrote:
>> S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
>> http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainfra me_PR360.html
>>
>> ... and from 34yrs ago
>>
>> we had regular Friday's after work and one of the discussions was that
>> most of middle management and executives were computer illiterate
>> ... and could we create something that would attract them to using
>> computers. We came up with the idea of doing online telephone books. Jim
>> Gray would write the lookup application and I would create the
>> collection and formating process ... but neither of us would use more
>> than 2weeks of our time (note this was later picked up by and shipped by
>> PROFs). One of the hardest problems were site security that believed
>> computer/soft copies of paper phone books violated security. From long
>> ago and far away:
> [snip]
>
> That is strange that something like an internal telephone
> directory would be a security threat, especially years ago
> when computer access was more tightly controlled than now.
Staff lists, phone books and org charts have been considered
proprietary information for many years - amongst other reasons
because they find their way into the hands of headhunters.
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366201 is a reply to message #366194] |
Mon, 09 April 2018 18:27 |
Peter Flass
Messages: 8375
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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<hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
> On Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 4:13:53 PM UTC-4, Lynn Wheeler wrote:
>> S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
>> http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainfra me_PR360.html
>>
>> ... and from 34yrs ago
>>
>> we had regular Friday's after work and one of the discussions was that
>> most of middle management and executives were computer illiterate
>> ... and could we create something that would attract them to using
>> computers. We came up with the idea of doing online telephone books. Jim
>> Gray would write the lookup application and I would create the
>> collection and formating process ... but neither of us would use more
>> than 2weeks of our time (note this was later picked up by and shipped by
>> PROFs). One of the hardest problems were site security that believed
>> computer/soft copies of paper phone books violated security. From long
>> ago and far away:
> [snip]
>
> That is strange that something like an internal telephone
> directory would be a security threat, especially years ago
> when computer access was more tightly controlled than now.
>
> Years ago my PPOE moved its internal phone book to the VM machine.
> Was a lot easier to use. However, all it had was the alpha listing
> of individuals; it did not have dialing instructions nor listings
> by department.
>
> Sadly, today, it's difficult to reach many companies by telephone,
> even tiny ones, because everyone has a computer front end and the
> caller is forced to wade through multiple menus.
>
That was the security problem - they were terrified you might call them!
--
Pete
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366203 is a reply to message #366194] |
Mon, 09 April 2018 19:01 |
Dan Espen
Messages: 3867
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com writes:
> On Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 4:13:53 PM UTC-4, Lynn Wheeler wrote:
>> S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
>> http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainfra me_PR360.html
>>
>> ... and from 34yrs ago
>>
>> we had regular Friday's after work and one of the discussions was that
>> most of middle management and executives were computer illiterate
>> ... and could we create something that would attract them to using
>> computers. We came up with the idea of doing online telephone books. Jim
>> Gray would write the lookup application and I would create the
>> collection and formating process ... but neither of us would use more
>> than 2weeks of our time (note this was later picked up by and shipped by
>> PROFs). One of the hardest problems were site security that believed
>> computer/soft copies of paper phone books violated security. From long
>> ago and far away:
> [snip]
>
> That is strange that something like an internal telephone
> directory would be a security threat, especially years ago
> when computer access was more tightly controlled than now.
>
> Years ago my PPOE moved its internal phone book to the VM machine.
> Was a lot easier to use. However, all it had was the alpha listing
> of individuals; it did not have dialing instructions nor listings
> by department.
At Bell Labs and it's descendants, we had the "dq" command.
(Directory Query).
The UNIX version had a nice phonetic search. You really only
had to approximate the name you were looking for.
You could get "dq" to return a full list of all employees.
A few employees used this to build a tool that would track
new hires and fires. You could get on a distribution list
and get weekly updates on changes within the company.
Sadly dq eventually died and we ended up with Microsoft
contact lists.
> Sadly, today, it's difficult to reach many companies by telephone,
> even tiny ones, because everyone has a computer front end and the
> caller is forced to wade through multiple menus.
My last 10 years of employment I never answered the phone.
Somewhere along the line I had forgotten my password to
voice mail and stopped caring. I felt if they didn't
send email, they really didn't want to contact me.
--
Dan Espen
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366204 is a reply to message #366203] |
Mon, 09 April 2018 19:14 |
ted@loft.tnolan.com (
Messages: 161
Registered: August 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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In article <pagrbk$u6o$1@dont-email.me>,
Dan Espen <dan1espen@gmail.com> wrote:
> hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com writes:
>
>> On Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 4:13:53 PM UTC-4, Lynn Wheeler wrote:
>>> S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
>>> http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainfra me_PR360.html
>>>
>>> ... and from 34yrs ago
>>>
>>> we had regular Friday's after work and one of the discussions was that
>>> most of middle management and executives were computer illiterate
>>> ... and could we create something that would attract them to using
>>> computers. We came up with the idea of doing online telephone books. Jim
>>> Gray would write the lookup application and I would create the
>>> collection and formating process ... but neither of us would use more
>>> than 2weeks of our time (note this was later picked up by and shipped by
>>> PROFs). One of the hardest problems were site security that believed
>>> computer/soft copies of paper phone books violated security. From long
>>> ago and far away:
>> [snip]
>>
>> That is strange that something like an internal telephone
>> directory would be a security threat, especially years ago
>> when computer access was more tightly controlled than now.
>>
>> Years ago my PPOE moved its internal phone book to the VM machine.
>> Was a lot easier to use. However, all it had was the alpha listing
>> of individuals; it did not have dialing instructions nor listings
>> by department.
>
> At Bell Labs and it's descendants, we had the "dq" command.
> (Directory Query).
> The UNIX version had a nice phonetic search. You really only
> had to approximate the name you were looking for.
> You could get "dq" to return a full list of all employees.
> A few employees used this to build a tool that would track
> new hires and fires. You could get on a distribution list
> and get weekly updates on changes within the company.
>
> Sadly dq eventually died and we ended up with Microsoft
> contact lists.
>
>> Sadly, today, it's difficult to reach many companies by telephone,
>> even tiny ones, because everyone has a computer front end and the
>> caller is forced to wade through multiple menus.
>
> My last 10 years of employment I never answered the phone.
> Somewhere along the line I had forgotten my password to
> voice mail and stopped caring. I felt if they didn't
> send email, they really didn't want to contact me.
>
> --
> Dan Espen
"There's an old story about the person who wished his computer were as easy to
use as his telephone. That wish has come true, since I no longer know how to
use my telephone." -- B. Stroustrup, AT&T, (inventor of C++)
--
------
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..
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| Re: S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs [message #366205 is a reply to message #366203] |
Mon, 09 April 2018 19:59 |
Anne & Lynn Wheel
Messages: 3156
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Dan Espen <dan1espen@gmail.com> writes:
> At Bell Labs and it's descendants, we had the "dq" command.
> (Directory Query).
> The UNIX version had a nice phonetic search. You really only
> had to approximate the name you were looking for.
> You could get "dq" to return a full list of all employees.
> A few employees used this to build a tool that would track
> new hires and fires. You could get on a distribution list
> and get weekly updates on changes within the company.
re:
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2018c.html#41 S/360 announce 4/7/1964, 54yrs
somewhat later there was some effort made to get a copy of phonetic
search ... to add as option.
Late 70s, early 80s, I was blamed for online computer conferencing
on the internetl network (folklore when corporate executive committee
was told, 5of6 wanted to fire me).
One of the most "popular" was trip report I distributed after visiting
Jim at Tandem (not long after he left Research) ... which kicked off
what was called "Tandem memos" ... from IBMJARGON:
Tandem Memos - n. Something constructive but hard to control; a fresh of
breath air (sic). That's another Tandem Memos. A phrase to worry middle
management. It refers to the computer-based conference (widely
distributed in 1981) in which many technical personnel expressed
dissatisfaction with the tools available to them at that time, and also
constructively criticised the way products were are developed. The
memos are required reading for anyone with a serious interest in quality
products. If you have not seen the memos, try reading the November 1981
Datamation summary.
.... snip ...
.... which resulted in lots of corporate attention and investigations. A
series of investigations was to visit other research-like institutions
.... later there was a claim that these visits were in response to "MIP
Envy" that Jim at written as he left research (for tandem) ... old email
reference
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2007.html#email801006
and
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2007.html#email801016
copy here as well as URL for slightly later version at m'osft (gone
404 but lives on at wayback machine)
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2007d.html#17 Jim Gray Is Missing
i.e.
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2007d.html#email800920
visits were done summer of '81 as computer conferencing came to head
with corporate executive committee ... nearly year after Jim left
(and MIP Envy). part of trip reports including Bell Labs
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2006n.html#56
summary of machines at some of locations visited
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2001l.html#61
Part of Xerox trip report in this post
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2006t.html#37
CMU visit
http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2007d.html#14
--
virtualization experience starting Jan1968, online at home since Mar1970
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