Flowmatic (1957) [pdf]
archive.computerhistory.org
archive.computerhistory.org
FLOW-MATIC, originally known as B-0 (Business Language version 0), was the first English-like data processing language. It was developed for the UNIVAC I at Remington Rand under Grace Hopper during the period from 1955 until 1959. It had a strong influence on the development of COBOL.
So, paradoxically perhaps, the older you are the older this kind of design looks. I'm of the age where it reminds me of old magazines and ads and stuff, so I see where you're coming from. But, I've also noticed that this kind of design has seen a massive resurgence in many areas of design. Mid-century modern furniture, interior design, etc. is all the rage these days. Many very modern companies and projects (the already mentioned Atom project being an obvious one) are using these kinds of design elements. Atomic and space iconography, subdued warm solid colors, non-traditional quirky (but simple and still quite readable) typefaces, etc.
Of course, that didn't happen, but it gets me thinking about what we imagine won't be far off from today. For myself, I imagine ubiquitous implanted health monitors and advanced computer/brain direct interfaces.
What do you imagine we will see "just around the corner"?
Needless to say, none of the positive predictions turned out as expected.
For example, do you think the whole Web 2.0 with JavaScript everywhere would ever taken off if it wasn't for companies with the engineering resources of Microsoft, Google, Apple and Mozilla into fighting for JIT performance?
Without it, JavaScript would still be used for form validations and dummy page animations.
Or Java on Android, with Google's goal of making it succeed whatever it takes.
It is all a matter how much money a company is willing to spend into making something become reality.
I am not convinced.
The drum stored 288MB.
Edit: under "Some Applications", the first item listed is "Missiles". That shows where the money was.
Where did you get that number? It seems awfully high for 1957.
I remember reading an article/blog post from a programer of that time detailing how he optimized some code by taking into account the physics of the drum (such as mechanical inertia, angular momentum, etc.). I don't know how to locate it now but it was amazingly low-level.
And yes, the result should have made me wonder.
Thanks!