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Information Control Systems

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Anupmehra (talk | contribs) at 23:27, 30 August 2013 (Thought it should be written like this. Though,You're free to make roll-back to previous one, if you want to.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
  • Comment: Please include references. FoCuSandLeArN (talk) 03:18, 13 August 2013 (UTC)
Information Control Systems
IndustryWord Processing
Founded1962
Headquarters
Ann Arbor, Michigan
,
United States
Number of locations
Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Boston, MA; Detroit, MI
Key people
Charles Newman, David Carlson, Charles Schaldenbrand, Ken Burkhalter
ProductsAstrotype, Astrocomp
Number of employees
105

Information Control Systems (founded in 1962) is a computer programming and data processing service for a variety of clients in the Michigan and the Midwest.

Overview

It has been a computer programming and data processing service from 1968 through 1986 for a variety of clients in the Michigan and the Midwest. In October, 1968, at the Business Equipment Manufacturers Association trade show at McCormick Place in Chicago, the company announced its first propriety product, a typing automation product called Astrotype.[1] Astrotype used Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8 mini computers and modified IBM Selectric typewriters to run text editing software developed by Information Control Systems. Before the Astrotype product, software-based typing automation was available only as a service from time sharing companies using large mainframe computers.[2] Astrotype allowed organizations of any size to make use of computer based text editing in house. First shipments of the Astrotype product began in April, 1969. Prices ranged from $36,000 for a single typing station model, to $59,000 for a model with four typing stations.

In June, 1971, again at McCormick Place in Chicago, the company announced a variation of the Astrotype product at the National Printing Equipment show.[3] The new product, called Astrocomp, was directed at the printing and publishing industry. Its primary function was the original typing and subsequent editing of text intended to be set into type, either on a Linotype machine or on photocomposition equipment from manufacturers such as AM/Varityper, Merganthaler, and the Compugraphic Corporation. The Astrocomp product produced punched paper tape or magnetic tape that contained both the text and codes needed to drive these devices.

Customers

File:Astrotype.jpg
A 4-user Astrotype system using a DEC PDP minicomputer and IBM Selectric terminals.

References

  1. ^ http://oldnews.aadl.org/aa_news_19681101-local_firm_automates
  2. ^ http://oldnews.aadl.org/aa_news_19690321-breakthrough_achieved
  3. ^ http://oldnews.aadl.org/aa_news_19710625-text_editing_system
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