Inventor of First Business Computer Dies
What if the latest technology news came not out of Microsoft or Apple but instead from McDonald's or Pizza Hut? It would be surprising news, to say the least. Even so, it turns out that one of the biggest advances in computer tech for business was developed by an English food company back in 1951, and its principal designer, David Caminer, died on June 15 at the age of 92.
Caminer is credited by Guinness World Records with creating the world's first business computer on behalf of his employer, J. Lyons & Co, which operated a chain of bakeries and food shops. While other companies, such as IBM, soon overtook the British firm (due to what Caminer said was arrogance and a failure to appreciate the rapid pace of technology by his employer), it is Caminer who gets the credit for devising the business machine. Its first task was to calculate costs, prices and margins of that week's baked output.
Caminer's goal was to speed up the logistics and payroll process for Lyons, which besides running stores also served events at Wimbledon and Windsor Castle. While it took an accountant eight minutes to calculate an employee's pay, the computer, called LEO (short for Lyons Electronic Office), needed only 1.5 seconds. Although the LEO 1 has less than 100,000th the power of a current desktop personal computer it did have all those cool vacuum tubes. They hummed.
What was one thing Caminer did have in common with other great technology inventors? No college degree. (But to all you kids out there, Switched says "Be cool. Stay in school.")
The real innovation of Caminer's machine was that it could be loaded with different programs to work on different tasks. And thus modern business computing was born. [Source: The Seattle Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DukeofURL said 8:01AM on 7-02-2008
The name of Hewlett-Packard does not belong in this article. HP did not get involved in computing until much later.
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Anthony said 8:58AM on 7-02-2008
Exactly!! They are only what they are now in the computer world because they bought Compaq, then proceeded to rape it of all its knowledge and dump the employees.
stephendelong1 said 8:49AM on 7-02-2008
One of the Earths Great Minds has passed, thank you dear sir for your work.
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joe said 9:40AM on 7-02-2008
Anthony should research history a little before he makes sure stupid statements. HP was producing High quality scientific and business computers long before Compaq.
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Bill Love said 10:39AM on 7-02-2008
Good for him, but Switched is right about school: the days of spectacular success sans degree are history!
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Gonzo said 10:41AM on 7-02-2008
Principle designer? Your high school "principle" should've put you in remedial English class, Will.
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Rick said 11:09AM on 7-02-2008
It is not just funny coincidence that all of the great technology was invented by people with no college degree. Our educational system, by design, stifles creativity in favor of conformity. Conformists don't invent, they imitate.
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Rich said 11:52AM on 7-02-2008
Q: Why don't you see any British computers?
A: They never figured out how to make them leak oil.
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Rich said 11:54AM on 7-02-2008
Q: Why don't you see any British computers?
A: They never figured out how to make them leak oil.
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s. perry said 11:58AM on 7-02-2008
That is so sad! What a pioneer!
Why couldn't they re-boot him??
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B. A. Santos said 2:59PM on 7-02-2008
It's the first time I noticed someone has something good to say about a pioneer. Thank you.
JC Schulte said 1:07PM on 7-02-2008
It's a damn shame you didn't post the inventors pic. I guess the frame on the computer was 1st and foremost - Oh Wait ! Maybe it invented itself !
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DENNIS I. said 1:11PM on 7-02-2008
There is a war ragging, a presidential race being run, millions of Americans are without health care, this guy dies & it makes the news?
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DancingKokapelli said 1:47PM on 7-02-2008
I guess we should just obsess on the war, lack of health care, and the presidential election and not pay any attention to anything else happening in the world. I'm surprised you took a few seconds out of your busy schedule to even read this article. Way to stay informed!
DENNIS I. said 1:12PM on 7-02-2008
GEORGE BUSH CANNOT SPELL COMPUTER.
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DancingKokapelli said 1:54PM on 7-02-2008
Dennis I. can't spell 'RAGING'.
A.B.S. said 2:04PM on 7-02-2008
Who the hell compiled this list? Missed some of the great steps in the progression. Like, Cray and the worlds first Super Computer the CDC 6600, a 64 bit octal machine that is in the G. Book of Records as the worlds first Super Computer circa 1965. (beat IBM to market by 3+ years)
Also missing: IBM's dominant role in business systems like the 360 and most important to current PC users, IBM's adoption of Microsoft DOS that standardized the software platform for applications. This event was a far greater influence on use/evolution of PC's than the APPLE. Re: APPLE, the first MAC was the big departure from PC's, not the one shown, as it first used the Xerox think tank developed Graphical User Interface that was a true innovation. Jeez, this is how history gets mangled.
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Unlisted said 2:25PM on 7-02-2008
Misspelled words in this story-- don't know whether to blame Will Safer or the Seattle Times! No college degree, I suppose.
Inventor of First Business Computer Dies
by Will Safer, posted Jun 30th 2008 at 3:55PM
What if the latest technology news came not out of Microsoft or Apple but instead from McDonald's or Pizza Hut? It would be surprising news, to say the least. Even so, it turns out that one of the biggest advances in computer tech for business was developed by an English food company back in 1951, and its PRINCIPLE designer, David Caminer, died on June 15 at the age of 92.
Caminer is credited by Guinness World Records with creating the world's first business computer on behalf of his employer, J. Lyons & Co, which operated a chain of bakeries and food shops. While other companies, such as IBM, soon overtook the British firm (due to what Caminer said was arrogance and a failure to appreciate the rapid pace of technology by his employer), it is Caminer who gets the credit for devising the business machine. IT'S first task was to calculate costs, prices and margins of that week's baked output.
Caminer's goal was to speed up the logistics and payroll process for Lyons, which besides running stores also served events at Wimbledon and Windsor Castle. While it took an accountant eight minutes to calculate an employee's pay, the computer, called LEO (short for Lyons Electronic Office), needed only 1.5 seconds. Although the LEO 1 has less than 100,000th the power of a current desktop personal computer it did have all those cool vacuum tubes. They hummed.
What was one thing Caminer did have in common with other great technology inventors? No college degree. (But to all you kids out there, Switched says "Be cool. Stay in school.")
The real innovation of Caminer's machine was that it could be loaded with different programs to work on different tasks. And thus modern business computing was born. [Source: The Seattle Times]
Reply