Project MAC (time-sharing computing project)

Author

Lee, J.A.N. ; Fano, Robert ; Scherr, Allan ; Corbato, Fernando ; Vyssotsky, V.A.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Comput. Sci., Virginia Tech., Blacksburg, VA, USA

Volume

14

Issue

2

fYear

1992

fDate

6/14/1905 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

9

Lastpage

13

Abstract

The history of Project MAC from its inception is reviewed. It is noted that the story of Project MAC is a continuation of that of CTSS (Compatible Time-Sharing System), marking the transfer of an experimental system into the practical academic field and thence into the commercial field. Two men were key to this recognition of the value of the work by Corbato et al.-J.C.R. Licklider and R.M. Fano. Licklider´s early concepts of man-computer symbiosis were identified as being supportive of the ideas which led to the development of CTSS, and his relocation to the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) puts him in a position to do something about his aspirations. Excerpts from reports dealing with Project MAC are presented.<>

Keywords

history; interactive systems; time-sharing programs; time-sharing systems; CTSS; Project MAC; history; man-computer symbiosis; time-sharing system; Computer aided manufacturing; Environmental economics; Hardware; Humans; Problem-solving; Proposals; Research and development; Springs; Symbiosis; Time sharing computer systems;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1058-6180

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/85.150016

Filename

150016