Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
the
MCM
/70 was to burst out as that archetypal computer of
the future.
The flexibility, price and performance of the
MCM
/70 will
set new system standards in a variety of commercial and
scientific applications: office computers, satellite comput-
ers, small business or branch office information systems,
data entry, scientific computers, intelligent terminals, and
clusters of classroom computers.
The low cost and small size of new computer hardware could
be accomplished by following in the footsteps of the calcula-
tor industry, which achieved high-degree miniaturization by
using novel semiconductor devices. Furthermore,
MCM
was
convinced that programming languages such as
APL
provided
a solution to making computers easy to operate without sacri-
ficing computational power and versatility. With the
MCM
/70
operating under
APL
, claimed
MCM
,
complete novices will be able to begin effective comput-
ing within the first hour by following a simple “calculator
type” instruction booklet which makes mockery of trad-
itional complex programming. As a result of this simpli-
city, the
MCM
/70 will be directed at a massive market,
ranging from desk top applications in [the] business, en-
gineering, actuarial, chartered accountancy, and education
fields to small and medium sized business systems.
5
An
MCM
/70 owner was expected to be able to install his
or her computer without any need for assistance from
MCM
's
customer service department.
MCM
would supply a turnkey
system, some application software, and a user manual that
explained, in simple language, the principles of
APL
program-
ming and everything else needed for the computer's operation.