Research Catalog

Interesting times : the beginnings of computing in the New Zealand Ministry of Works and Development : celebrating the 40th anniversary of Computing Services, Jay Walton's arrival and the early years from 1961-1973. / [a collection of articles and reminiscences written by those involved ; editors, John Robinson & Kristin Hughes].

Title
Interesting times : the beginnings of computing in the New Zealand Ministry of Works and Development : celebrating the 40th anniversary of Computing Services, Jay Walton's arrival and the early years from 1961-1973. / [a collection of articles and reminiscences written by those involved ; editors, John Robinson & Kristin Hughes].
Publication
[Wellington, N.Z. : First Edition], 2007.

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Additional Authors
  • Robinson, John.
  • Hughes, Kristin.
Description
141 p. : ill.; 24 cm.
Subject
  • New Zealand. Ministry of Works and Development > History
  • New Zealand. Ministry of Works and Development > Data processing
  • New Zealand. Ministry of Works and Development > Automation
  • New Zealand. Ministry of Works and Development > Officials and employees
Genre/Form
  • History
  • History.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references (p. 108) and index.
Processing Action (note)
  • committed to retain
Contents
  • Trying the water (1961-1965). Data processing ( Data processing with the machine accounting section / John Foster ; Earthquake records paper tape to punched cards / Alison Gale ). The IBM 650 ( The first tentative steps / John Robinson ; The IBM 650 / Keith Morris ). Applications/uses ( Early experiences / John Robinson ; Applications / Keith Morris ; Geothermal borefield analysis -- a customer's perspective / Dick Bolton ; Note on matrices / Bruce Shephard ; Power division hydrology / George Trippner ). Next steps ( The Elliot and the IBM 40 / John Robinson ; The birth of ICES -- 1963-64 / John Robinson ) --^
  • Changing computers (1965-1967). The Elliot 503 ( Back at the MWD / John Robinson ; The Elliot 503 / Don Fisk ; Hydrology and canal waves / George Trippner ). Reviewing the need ( Changing to the IBM 360/40 / John Robinson ). Applications/uses ( Plant inventory / Don Fisk ; Setting up job management / Frank Sillay ; Offshore services / John Robinson ; Structural applications / Bruce Shephard ; Roading applications / John Foster ). Next steps ( Establishing a development path 1966 / John Robinson ) --^
  • Jay Walton and ICES (1967-1968). ICES and MIT ( Developing ICES at MIT / Dan Roos ; A year with Jay Walton / John Robinson ). The system ( Operations, operating systems and computer performance / Keith Morris ; Operating systems and ICES / Anthony Fletcher ; TSOS / Keith Morris ; TSOS / John Kliem ; TSOS / Anthony Fletcher ; TSOS final words / Keith Morris ). Applications/uses ( ICES applications / Peter Utting ; Proving ICES STRUDL and PROJECT / Bill Smith ; Wairakei Geothermal Field / Dick Bolton ; Roading / John Foster ; Power division's hydrology updated again / George Trippner ; Structural (buildings) engineering / Bruce Shephard ). Looking forward ( Jay Walton's legacy / John Robinson ) --^
  • Bedding in (1969-1970). The system ( The first in-house computer installation / John Robinson ; Operating systems and ICES / Anthony Fletcher ; TSOS/VDU interface / Anthony Fletcher ). Further development ( Application development and the systems approach / John Robinson ; A 2007 reflection on systems / David Elms ; The systems lab / Peter Utting ). Applications/uses ( Water rights / Alison Gale ; Rivers / Alison Gale ; A major user hurdle, Job Control Language / Bruce Shephard ; Structural applications / Bruce Shephard ; Inelastic structural design / Bruce Shephard ; Early application of a computer program in application / John Daish ). International links ( Tapping into ICES internationally, 1970 / John Robinson ) --^
  • This, the winter of our discontent (1970-1973). Rampant bureaucracy ( Machine overload / John Robinson ; A plotter arrives / Anthony Fletcher ; Fly-by graphics / Frank Sillay ; Applications developed by systems laboratory / Petter Utting ; River flow statistics (TIDEDA) / Alison Gale ; Reflections from 2007 / Alison Gale ; ICES in operation / John Foster ; Building industry planning / Bill Smith ; The value of a quick analysis / George Trippner ; Computer Services Application Group / Bruce Shephard ; Interactive computing / Bruce Shephard. Looking forward ( Choosing a replacement machine / John Robinson ) -- Epilogue -- ICES after 14 years --^
  • Reminiscences and recollections. Life after the Marines. A computer illiterate living with the mighy IBM 360/40. I met the table on my first day at work. Launching the Board Table. A good southern man. The social scene. A pleasant tradition. Struggles with computer technology. Who's to blame or the life and hard times of a system programmer. User info. no.50. The social life (amongst other things) of an operator. Vignettes from Vogel or a country girl in the big city. Days with Jay Walton. Friday, 1 November 1968 -- the earthquake -- three views. Murphy's Law and demonstrations. Visiting : traps for the unwary. My life and hard times. This and that. MWD memories. It was meant for the best. It just wasn't cricket!. And this is where interesting times began for me.
ISBN
  • 9781877479007 (pbk.)
  • 1877479004 (pbk.)
OCLC
183904146
Owning Institutions
Harvard Library