“Much of the early engineering development of digital computers was done in universities. A few years ago, the view was commonly expressed that universities had played their part in computer design, and that the matter could now safely be left to industry. [...] Apart from the obvious functions of keeping in the public domain material that might otherwise be hidden, universities can make a special contribution by reason of their freedom from commercial considerations, including freedom from the need to follow the fashion.” NeedsYearsMatterReasonDoneMightLeftViewsSpecialFashionDesignMaterialsDevelopmentIndustryComputerYears AgoFunctionIncludingUniversityObviousContributionConsiderationDigitalEngineeringDomainPublic Domain Author:Maurice Wilkes
“In the judgment of design engineers, the ordinary means of communicating with a computer are entirely inadequate. [...] Graphical communication in some form or other is of vital importance in engineering as that subject is now conducted; we must either provide the capability in our computer systems, or take on the impossible task of training up a future race of engineers conditioned to think in a different way.” ThinkingWayMeanDifferentFormRaceImpossibleSubjectsDesignCommunicationJudgmentComputerTrainingOrdinaryTasksImportanceCommunicateDifferent WaysCapabilityEngineeringEngineersInadequateComputer Systems Author:Maurice Wilkes
