Electronic data processing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:15, 20 April 2005

Revision as of 12:09, 6 August 2005

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== History ==

The first commercial business computer was developed in the [[United Kingdom]] in [[1951]], by [[English Electric]] for the [[Joe Lyons]] catering organisation. This was known as the '[[LEO computer|Lyons Electronic Office]]' - or LEO for short. It was developed further and used widely during the 1960s and early 1970s. (Joe Lyons formed a separate company to develop the LEO computers and this subsequently merged to form English Electric Leo Marconi and then International Computers Ltd.)

Early commercial systems were installed exclusively by large organisations. These could afford to invest the time and capital necessary to purchase hardware, hire specialist staff to develop bespoke [[software]] and work through the consequent (and often unexpected) organisational and cultural changes.