How much does it cost to attend Stevenson University. What are the housing options available for students. Which meal plans are offered at Stevenson University. How do tuition and fees vary for different student categories.
Tuition and Fees Breakdown for Stevenson University
Stevenson University offers a comprehensive educational experience, but understanding the associated costs is crucial for prospective students. Let’s delve into the tuition and fees structure for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Full-Time Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
For full-time undergraduate students, the annual costs are as follows:
- Tuition: $36,940
- Fees: $2,708
- Accident Insurance: $60
Is there a credit limit for full-time students? Yes, students interested in taking 18 or more credits will need permission from the Academic Dean. The cost of tuition for additional credits over 18 is $475 per credit.
Part-Time Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
For students taking 11 credits or less per semester:
- Tuition: $923 per credit
- Fees: $77 per semester
Summer 2023 tuition is set at $450 per credit with no additional fees.
Housing Options and Costs at Stevenson University
Stevenson University offers various housing options to accommodate different student preferences and needs. The costs vary depending on the type of accommodation and location.
First-Year Student Housing
First-year students are typically housed in the First Year Suite Complex, which includes buildings such as 105 Herring Run, 106 Susquehanna Hall, and 107 Wakefield. The annual costs are:
- SU Suite – Double Room: $9,306
- SU Suite – Single Room Large: $10,946
- SU Suite – Single Room Small: $10,740
Upper-Class Student Housing
Upper-class students have access to apartment-style living in buildings such as 108 Long Green, 110 Greenspring, and others. The annual cost for these apartments is $11,070.
Additionally, upper-class students can choose to live in SU Suites (buildings 102 Western Run and 104 Patapsco) or Wooded Way Suites. The costs for these options are:
- SU Suite – Double Room: $9,306
- SU Suite – Single Room Large: $10,946
- SU Suite – Single Room Small: $10,740
- Wooded Way Suite – Double: $9,796
- Wooded Way Singles: $11,434
A security deposit of $150 is required, which is credited back at the end of the year if there is no damage to facilities.
Comprehensive Meal Plan Options for Stevenson Students
Stevenson University offers a variety of meal plans to cater to different student needs and preferences. These plans are designed to provide flexibility and value throughout the academic year.
Standard Meal Plan Options
The university offers five main meal plan options:
Meal Plan | Meals per Semester | Meals per Week | Flex Dollars | Cost per Semester | Cost per Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 225 | 14 | $75 | $2,836 | $5,672 |
B | 175 | 11 | $125 | $2,699 | $5,398 |
C | 135 | 8 | $200 | $2,755 | $5,510 |
D | 85 | 5 | $250 | $1,815 | $3,630 |
E | 60 | 3 | $175 | $1,277 | $2,554 |
Rechargeable Meal Plans
For students who need additional meals, Stevenson offers rechargeable meal plans. The 2023-2024 pricing for these plans is:
- 10 meal block: $77
- 25 meal block: $172
- 50 meal block: $314
Flex Dollars and Off-Campus Dining
Stevenson University, in collaboration with Sodexo, has introduced an exciting feature to their Dining Services. Flex Dollars allocated for each meal plan can now be used off-campus at local participating businesses. This adds value and flexibility to the meal plans, allowing students to enjoy a variety of dining options both on and off campus.
Meal Plan Requirements for Different Housing Options
Stevenson University has specific meal plan requirements based on a student’s housing situation and academic status. These requirements ensure that students have access to adequate nutrition throughout their academic journey.
Apartment Residents
Students living in apartments are subject to the following meal plan requirements:
- First and second semesters: Must choose either Plan A or Plan B
- Third and fourth full-time semesters: Can choose Plan A, B, or C
- After fourth full-time semester: Meal plan participation becomes optional
Suite and Wooded Way Residents
For students residing in suites and Wooded Way, the meal plan requirements are:
- First through fourth semesters: Must participate in Plan A
- After fourth full-time semester: Can choose either Plan A or Plan B
Transfer Student Meal Plan Requirements
Transfer students have specific meal plan requirements based on their housing and academic status:
- First and second semesters: All transfer students must participate in a meal plan
- Apartment residents: Must choose either Plan A or Plan B
- Suite residents: Must purchase Plan A
- Third semester onwards (for junior transfers): Apartment residents are not required to purchase a meal plan
Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities at Stevenson University
While Stevenson University’s tuition and fees may seem substantial, it’s important to note that many students receive financial aid to help offset these costs. The university offers a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to eligible students.
Types of Financial Aid Available
Stevenson University provides several forms of financial assistance:
- Merit-based scholarships
- Need-based grants
- Federal work-study programs
- Student loans
How can students apply for financial aid at Stevenson University? The primary method is by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form helps determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid.
Scholarship Opportunities
Stevenson University offers numerous scholarship opportunities for incoming and current students. These may include:
- Academic achievement scholarships
- Athletic scholarships
- Talent-based scholarships (e.g., for arts or music)
- Leadership and community service scholarships
It’s important to note that the average financial aid package at Stevenson University does not include Direct, PLUS, or alternative loans. Students are encouraged to explore all available options and consult with the university’s financial aid office for personalized guidance.
Additional Costs and Considerations for Stevenson University Students
Beyond tuition, fees, housing, and meal plans, there are other costs that students should consider when budgeting for their education at Stevenson University.
Textbooks and Course Materials
The cost of textbooks and other course materials can vary widely depending on a student’s major and course load. On average, students might expect to spend between $500 and $1,000 per year on books and supplies.
Transportation
Transportation costs will depend on whether a student lives on or off campus, and whether they bring a car to school. Parking permits are available for an additional fee.
Personal Expenses
Students should budget for personal expenses such as clothing, entertainment, and miscellaneous items. These costs can vary greatly from student to student.
Health Insurance
While accident insurance is included in the fees, students may need to purchase additional health insurance if they are not covered under a family plan.
Value Proposition of a Stevenson University Education
While the costs associated with attending Stevenson University may seem significant, it’s important to consider the value of the education and experience provided.
Career Preparation
Stevenson University is known for its strong focus on career preparation. The university offers numerous internship opportunities, career counseling services, and industry connections that can be invaluable for students as they enter the job market.
Small Class Sizes
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, Stevenson offers personalized attention and interactive learning experiences that may not be available at larger institutions.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The university continually invests in its facilities, ensuring that students have access to modern technology and resources in their fields of study.
Strong Alumni Network
Stevenson boasts a robust alumni network, which can be a valuable resource for networking and career opportunities after graduation.
Is a Stevenson University education worth the investment? While the answer to this question will vary for each individual, many students and alumni find that the combination of academic rigor, career preparation, and personal growth opportunities at Stevenson provides excellent value for their educational investment.
Tuition & Fees | Stevenson University
Tuition | $36,940 |
Fees | $2,708 |
Room – SU Suite (Double) | $9,306 |
Meal Plan A | $5,672 |
Accident Insurance | $60 |
*Average Financial Aid does not include Direct, PLUS, or alternative loans
Students interested in taking 18 or more credits will need permission from the Academic Dean.
Cost of tuition will be $475 per credit (over 18 credits).
View tuition and fees for graduate and adult undergraduate programs.
*Average Financial Aid does not include Direct, PLUS, or alternative loans
Students interested in taking 18 or more credits will need permission from the Academic Dean.
Cost of tuition will be $475 per credit (over 18 credits).
View tuition and fees for graduate and adult undergraduate programs.
Tuition (per credit, for students taking 11 credits or less per semester) | $923 |
Fees (per semester) | $77 |
Tuition – Summer 2023 (per credit – no fee) | $450 |
Housing
First Year Suite Complex (Buildings: 105 Herring Run, 106 Susquehanna Hall, 107 Wakefield) | |
SU Suite – Double Room | $9,306 |
SU Suite – Single Room Large** | $10,946 |
SU Suite – Single Room Small** | $10,740 |
Upper-Class Buildings | |
Apartments (Apartment Buildings: 108 Long Green, 110 Greenspring, 112 Dulaney, 114 Belfast, 116 Shawn, 118 Worthington Hall, 120 Cromwell) | $11,070 |
SU Suite – Double Room (Buildings: 102 Western Run, 104 Patapsco) | $9,306 |
SU Suite – Single Room Large** | $10,946 |
SU Suite – Single Room Small** | $10,740 |
Wooded Way Suite – Double | $9,796 |
Wooded Way Singles** | $11,434 |
Security Deposit (end-of-year credit, without damage to facilities) | $150 |
** Subject to availability. For more information regarding housing please visit Living on Campus.
Meal Plans
Meal Plan | Number of Meals (per semester) | Meals per Week (rounded based on 16-week semester) | Flex Dollars (per semester) | Cost (per semester) | Cost (per year) |
A | 225 | 14 | $75 | $2,836 | $5,672 |
B | 175 | 11 | $125 | $2,699 | $5,398 |
C | 135 | 8 | $200 | $2,755 | $5,510 |
D | 85 | 5 | $250 | $1,815 | $3,630 |
E | 60 | 3 | $175 | $1,277 | $2,554 |
Rechargeable Meal Plans
Rechargeable meal plans are available to students as a supplement to the assigned plan. If a student exhausts all of their meals, additional blocks of 10, 25, or 50 meals can be purchased at a discounted cost.
2023-2024 Pricing | 2022-2023 Pricing |
10 meal block – $77 | 10 meal block – $73 |
25 meal block – $172 | 25 meal block – $164 |
50 meal block – $314 | 50 meal block – $299 |
Flex Dollars
Stevenson University and Sodexo have collaborated to incorporate a new feature to Dining Services that adds excitement and value to the meal plan. All Flex Dollars allocated for each meal plan can now be used off campus at local participating businesses. For an updated list of participants, as well as guidelines for the new program, please visit the Dining Services website. If you have any questions, please contact Dining Services at 443-352-4010 or Auxiliary Services at 443-334-2240.
Students Living in Apartments
All students residing in the apartments are required to participate in either the A or B block plan during their first and second semesters at the University. Students in their third and fourth full-time semesters at SU can choose either the A, B, or C block plan. After the fourth full-time semester, participation in a meal plan is optional for students living in the apartments. All block plans include 10 guest meals so students can treat visitors to several meals per semester. Guest meals can also be used by the student for themselves. Flex dollars can be used to purchase meals for family and friends if all guest meals are used. If a student uses all of their meals and would like more, meal plans can be recharged by purchasing additional blocks of 10 or 25 meals.
Students Living in Suites and Wooded Way
All students living in the suites and Wooded Way must participate in the A block plan during their first through fourth semesters at SU. After the fourth full-time semester, students can choose either the A or B block plan. All block plans include 10 guest meals so students can treat visitors to several meals per semester. Guest meals can also be used by the student for themselves. Flex dollars can be used to purchase meals for family and friends if all guest meals are used. If a student uses all of their meals and would like more, meal plans can be recharged by purchasing additional blocks of 10 or 25 meals.
Transfer Students
All transfer students are required to participate in a meal plan during their first and second semester at the University. Students living in the apartments must choose either the A or B block plan. Students living in the suites must purchase the A block plan.
Beginning with their third semester at the University, transfer students who joined the college as a junior (defined as 60 credits at the time of transfer) and live in an apartment will not be required to purchase a meal plan.
Beginning with their third semester at the University, transfer students who joined the college as a junior (defined as 60 credits at the time of transfer) and live in a suite must purchase a meal plan and may choose from the A or B block plan.
Commuter Students
Students who do not live on campus can choose to participate in any of the University’s meal plans by contacting the Student Accounts Office. If a student uses all of their meals and would like more, meal plans can be recharged by purchasing additional blocks of 10 or 25 meals.
Stevenson University Costs& Find Out the Net Price
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by our College Data Analytics Team
Unbiased Factual Guarantee
How much does it cost to go to Stevenson?
On this page you’ll get a better understanding of what college costs you’ll actually have to pay out of pocket, which can vary widely based on where you live and your income level.
Why is Net Price Important?
Few students will pay the full advertised sticker price of Stevenson. The Net Price is an estimate of how much the average student actually pays to attend college for one year.
To calculate this number we take the total cost of attendance of Stevenson University including tuition, fees, room, board and other expenses. Then we subtract out the average amount of aid awarded per student.
What is the Average Net Price for All Stevenson Undergrads?
The average student will pay a total net price of $38,079.
$38,079 is the average net price across all students. Your price may differ depending on your family income level.
The average net price of $38,079 is based on estimates from 2020. This number represents the overall average net price of all undergraduate students, including those that did not receive any financial aid.
Average Net Price for First Year Students
Grant and scholarship aid was given to 97% of freshman students.
The average amount awarded was $23,153.
When subtracted from the total cost to attend Stevenson and live on campus, the average annual net price for freshmen receiving aid was $33,181.
The following table explores the likelihood that you too will receive some common price-reducing aid, based on percentages.
Net Price by Aid Group | On Campus | Off Campus | At Home |
---|---|---|---|
604 Total Freshmen | |||
18 (3%) did not receive any grants or scholarships. | $56,334 | $51,168 | $42,768 |
586 (97%) split a total of $13,567,658 for an average of $23,153 each | $33,181 | $28,015 | $19,615 |
The above refers to grants and scholarships from the college and/or the state, federal or local governments. Other sources of grant aid such as private scholarships are not included.
College Cost Estimator
Use the College Cost Estimator to get an idea of how much money you may have to spend out of pocket to attend Stevenson, and how many loans you may have to take on.
Select the factors that are true for you.
I Currently Live:
- in Maryland
- someplace else
I Plan to Live:
- on campus
- off campus
- at home
Grants and Scholarships:
- definitely
- maybe
- not likely
Loans:
- all sources
- federal only
- none
Estimated Cost for You This is what the college will likely charge you in this scenario. | $56,334 |
Aid (Grants and Scholarships) Money given to you to offset the cost of college. | $23,153 |
Estimated Net Price This is what you can expect to pay (or pay back). | $33,181 |
Loans Money you borrow to cover the cost of college. You will have to repay this eventually. | $8,533 |
Out of Pocket Money you need to come up with each year to attend college. | $24,648 |
How much will you be relying on loans to finance your education?
Research the average amount of loan debt students take on from this school.
Net College Cost Based on Income Level
Family income can have a large impact on the amount of aid you receive, and thus, your net price.
The table below shows the average net price freshmen paid based on income level. Note that if the school offers in-state tuition, the lower in-state tuition has been used in the calculation.
Net Price by Family Income Level | Net Price |
---|---|
0-30k | $18,252 |
30k-48k | $22,746 |
48k-75k | $28,111 |
75k-110k | $30,046 |
110k + | $32,295 |
The above table only includes the calculated net price for students that received some form of Title IV aid.
What is Title IV?
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 establishes general rules that apply to the student financial assistance programs covering grants and loans.
Net Price for Freshmen Receiving Aid
Over a period of six years, the average net price paid by all freshmen at Stevenson University has remained about the same, shifting by an average of only -0.0% per year.
Stevenson Net Price Compared to Average
An overall best case average net price of $33,181 puts Stevenson University well above the national average of $20,398.
Financial Aid Packages Vary From Year to Year
Many schools offer more aid to first year students (freshmen) than they do to other undergraduates. Is that the case with this school?
Additional Information
- Stevenson University’s net price calculator
- Stevenson University’s financial aid website
Compare Your School Options
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The birth of the US computer industry (1945-1960s) / Analytics
Author: Maxim Blank
The first electronic computers (computers) appeared already during the Second World War due to the needs of the army in high-speed computing. The British Colossus (1943) and the American ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrator, Analyzer and Computer, 1945) should be considered the first computers. Colossus was created to decode German military ciphers and coped with the task so effectively that it largely changed the course of hostilities and predetermined the victory of the Allies.
The beginning of the US computer industry was laid in November 1945, when, by order of the US Army’s Ballistics Research Lab, the University of Pennsylvania completed a secret project – created the first programmable computer ENIAC. The contract was concluded in 1943, when the US Army landed in North Africa and faced a qualitatively new natural environment. New artillery ballistics tables were required, the calculation of which required computing power that existing devices simply could not provide. The result was the construction of ENIAC – the first computer, consisting of 17648 vacuum tubes, weighing 30 tons, occupying 1000 square feet and consuming 130-140 kilowatts of electricity. ENIAC was finished too late to be used for its original purpose. But, despite the fact that many military projects were interrupted at the end of the war, work on ENIAC continued. The interest of the military in high-speed computing and its use in the development of nuclear weapons ensured continued government support for the new technology.
To test the work of ENIAC, the task of calculating the possibility of creating a hydrogen bomb was chosen – this indicated that the role of the computer in the post-war years did not decrease, but rather increased. Representatives of the Los Alamos scientific laboratory were sent to Philadelphia to carry out calculations in the field of nuclear physics. These calculations continued until the transfer of ENIAC to scientific use in February 1946.
Soldiers and civilians alike began to realize that the value of computers was not limited to arms production and national security. The American government has been rethinking the role of the state in supporting scientific research. World War II was in many ways a battle of knowledge (the use of radar and the deciphering of German and Japanese ciphers contributed significantly to the Allied victory). It was necessary to preserve and increase the scientific potential accumulated during the war. W. Bush’s report “Science: An Endless Frontier” spoke of the need for government support for theoretical research unprofitable for private firms, and emphasized the need to transfer military technology to civilian industry. During the war, W. Bush headed the Office of Scientific Research and Development, his task was to organize the country’s technical resources for military purposes, de facto he was also President Roosevelt’s chief adviser on science and technology. His report served as a kind of ideological basis for the post-war government policy in the field of science support.
State support for the emerging industry was especially important in the first stage (40-50s). The government did not try to directly invest in firms that developed computers. Instead, the support came in the form of buying off-the-shelf computers from corporations. The government, acting as an “informed first user”, set goals and placed orders to achieve them. Moreover, this was done not through a single coordinated plan, but by providing money to various government organizations, each of which independently bid on their own contracts. The laboratories of the Atomic Energy Commission, large manufacturers of military aircraft working under government contracts, and other organizations were the first to place orders. In essence, the government created a market for powerful computers by creating informed users, each of whom had an impact on the creation of computers to suit their needs.
The post-war situation in the American market for information processing devices looked like this: there were two large companies with extensive experience in the development of electromechanical counting equipment (tabulators) – Remington Rand and IBM, the latter dominating the market (about 90% in 1952) thanks to technical superiority of products and successful marketing. In the late 40s, two new companies arose, focused exclusively on a new, promising, thanks to state orders, computer market – Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corp (EMCC), founded by the founders of ENIAC – P. Eckert and J. Mauchly and Engineering Research Associates ( ERA), created by a group of engineers who during the war carried out orders for the fleet to create special equipment for breaking ciphers.
EMCC was founded in 1947 by ENIAC founders J. Mauchly and P. Eckert with the goal of creating a universal computer for wide commercial use. The UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) machine they developed was an electronic device with programs stored in memory, which were entered there no longer from punched cards, but using a magnetic tape; this provided a high speed of reading and writing information, and consequently, a higher speed of the machine as a whole. With a small research grant from the National Bureau of Standards ($75,000), the firm set about building its first computer. However, the total costs of the project exceeded the available amount, and the company was forced to look for new sources of funds on the side.
In 1948, a small BINAC computer was built for Northtrop Aircraft, but the cost of construction was higher than contracted, and this project further worsened the financial condition of the company. In addition, the company lost a number of potential military customers in connection with Mauchly’s accusation of sympathy for the communists. He was later acquitted, but time had already passed. Mauchly and Eckert’s computer became interested in the American Totalisator company, which produced equipment for automating the calculation of bets and winnings. The vice-president of the company, H. Straus, believed that the created computer could later be used in the company’s core business, and undertook to buy a 40% stake for $500,000. However, at 19In 1950 he died in a plane crash and the company pulled out of the deal. Being engineers and lacking in business talent, Mauchly and Eckert were forced to look for buyers for their company.
In early 1950, Mauchly met with T. Watson, Sr., president of IBM, with a proposal to sell the company. The head of IBM refused Mauchly’s offer for several reasons:
- Demand for IBM equipment was so high during this period that factories worked three shifts and there was no need to switch to a new type of product.
- IBM has made a huge investment and owns most of the patents related to tabs. The production of computers would render the already installed punch card technology obsolete, and IBM would lose its main source of income.
- Subjective factor. The head of the company, T. Watson Sr., was opposed to the diversification of the company’s products. He publicly stated that “IBM is a company that will continue to be based on punched cards.” Watson believed that punched cards were a more convenient means of storing information than the magnetic tape used in UNIVAC, because. most of the operations used in business, such as sorting data, are more conveniently performed using punched cards. However, he underestimated the prospects of the new technology, when data from a magnetic tape was read into RAM, in which sorting took place directly, after which the data was written back to the tape, which gave a big gain in speed.
- Fear of an antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice. For the same reason, a similar proposal by ERA management was later rejected.
Mauchly and Eckert soon sold EMCC to IBM’s competitor Remington Rand, enabling the company to become a leader in the early days of the computer industry.
The second pioneer of the new industry was ERA, founded in 1946 with the active assistance of the Navy. At 1947 ERA was commissioned to build a general purpose computer to perform encryption-breaking tasks that previously required special hardware. In 1950, the computer was completed and began to function successfully in Washington. A modified version of this computer, the ERA 1101, was allowed by the fleet to be put on the commercial market. However, no orders were received for this model, because this computer could not work with punched cards popular with customers, it did not come with an instruction manual, and no marketing efforts were made to promote it on the market. The situation was further aggravated by an article that appeared in the press at 1950, which shed light on the too close relationship between the company and the fleet. An investigation was carried out and the company’s accounts were temporarily frozen. In 1951, due to financial difficulties, the company was sold to Remington Rand.
Remington Rand was formed in 1927 by the merger of Remington Typewriter and Rand Kardex. In 1920, the Powers Accounting Machine Company, IBM’s only competitor in the tabulator market, was acquired, greatly expanding the company’s product range.
Remington Rand: Employee payroll Grunman Aircraft Engineering Corp
Like IBM, Remington Rand originally made office equipment: typewriters, adding machines, tabulators, and so on. The firm also attempted to compete with IBM in its traditional tabulator and punched card market by introducing its own standard 90-column punched card instead of IBM’s 80-column punched card, which increased punch card capacity. However, as a result, tabulators produced by the company were not compatible with IBM equipment and had worse technical characteristics, which ultimately led to a decrease in the company’s market share, and therefore its income. Therefore, the emergence of a new computer market gave the company a new chance to overtake its old competitor.
Table 1.1 Largest firms in the office automation market (1945)
Company name | Income (million dollars) | Profit (million dollars) |
IBM | 141.7 | 10.9 |
Remington Rand | 132.6 | 5.3 |
NCR | 68.4 | 2.2 |
Burroughs Adding Machine | 37. 6 | 2.3 |
Late 1940s the head of the company, D. Rand, set the goal of simultaneously creating three types of computers: computers for government organizations, scientific research and business, which would replace obsolete tabulators.
Rand accomplished his first two goals through acquisitions: EMCC in 1950, which he envisioned building computers for government organizations, and ERA in 1951 – computers for scientific and commercial organizations. These two acquisitions enabled Remington Rand to be the first to market the Model 409 commercial computer in 1951. The company later modified the Model 409 and sold it successfully under the brand name UNIVAC 60/120 until the late 1950s. However, the company received its main income from the sale of computers developed by EMCC-UNIVAC. The UNIVAC brand gained great popularity in the 1950s. On November 4, 1952, the night of the presidential election, CBC News used UNIVAC to predict the results early. According to the poll, E. Stevenson was in the lead, but computer analysis predicted a clear victory for D. Eisenhower. Not trusting the technology, the journalists published the results after the elections, but the UNIVAC brand remained in the memory of many. Moreover, in the mass consciousness, the name “univac” and the term “computer” have become synonymous. The first manufactured UNIVAC I was installed at the Census Bureau in 1951. In total, 46 such machines were produced and sold in the amount of more than 1 million dollars.
UNIVAC I used 5,200 vacuum tubes, weighed 13 tons, consumed 125 kW, and could perform approximately 1,905 operations per second at 2.25 MHz. The entire computer covered an area of 35.5 square meters. |
Remington Rand’s main competitor, IBM, was somewhat late in entering the new market due to a number of objective and subjective factors. Being the largest company on the market, IBM for a long time tried to create a computer on its own, without the help of government contracts, in order to retain exclusive patents for the developed technology. However, even such a large company (net income at the end of the 40s about 40 million dollars a year) could not take the risk of building a computer without a guaranteed purchase order. Market prospects at that time were quite uncertain, even experts expressed doubts about the future of electronic machines, which were not sufficiently reliable at that time. According to one of the experts in the field of computer technology, G. Aiken, “There will never be enough problems and work for more than one or two computers.” In addition, the creation of computers made the previous line of equipment obsolete.
The subjective factors that slowed down the company’s entry into the computer market include the role of T. Watson Sr., the company’s manager, who traditionally treated the company’s diversification conservatively.
IBM is the oldest company in the US information technology market. IBM’s roots go back to the Computer Tabulating and Recording Company (CTR), which was formed by the merger of three companies in 1911. The first two did not have much impact on the future of IBM, one of them was engaged in the production of time clocks, the other scales and food cutting machines . The third – Tabulating machine company was engaged in the production of tabulators. For the first time these machines were used to process the population census in 1890 g. Thanks to the use of tabulators, the processing of the census was three times faster. T. J. Watson Sr. took charge of the new combined company. He can rightly be called the founding father of IBM. It was during the Watson period that the principles that later became the core of IBM were laid down: focus on perfect products and services, attention to ethical issues (honesty, integrity, loyalty to the company). The company produced typewriters, desktop calculators, and tabulators. However, the main and most profitable business was the production of tabulators and punched cards. It was the punch cards, ordered by the millions, that drove IBM’s profits to enormous proportions.
During the war, the corporation supplied the army with tabulators that speeded up the processing of documents generated by the general mobilization. But the main contribution was the development under the guidance of the Harvard mathematician G. Aiken and the financial and technical support of IBM of the Mark I electromechanical computer. It reached 17 m in length and over 2.5 m in height, contained about 750 thousand parts connected by wires with a total length of about 800 km. The machine was transferred to the Navy and was used to perform complex ballistic calculations. Already in the course of creation, there were significant disagreements between T. Watson and G. Aiken, which resulted in the desire of the company to independently create equipment with higher speed.
Since the management of the company in the person of T. Watson, Sr. was against the rapid reorientation of the company to the production of computers, the company’s engineers persistently sought to arouse the administration’s interest in the ongoing computer revolution, and, finally, they managed to find an interested leader in the person of Thomas J. Watson, Jr. , vice president of the firm and son of the chairman of its board. His influence was subsequently expressed in the gradual transition of the company to the production of computers. In order to avoid a direct confrontation with his father, Watson Jr. issued an instruction that gave preference to people with a degree in mathematics, physics or electronics when applying for jobs at IBM – this created the basis for an emergency computer development program launched by at 1951
During the Korean War, the patriotic Watson Sr. provided IBM manufacturing resources to aid in the war. T. Watson, Jr. and his staff used this opportunity to develop computers for government organizations. Contracts were concluded with 18 government organizations for the supply of computers, which received the patriotic name Defense Calculator, using magnetic tape to store information. Subsequently, when this name served its purpose, the computer was renamed the Model 701, and under this name it was successfully sold on the commercial market. From 1955, shipments of the Model 702 began, and later its improved version, the Model 705, and later all models of the 700 line were equipped with memory based on ferrite rings. The tremendous success of the 700 series is also evidenced by the fact that this line has grown into a new line of 7000, when transistors have become a new basic element instead of vacuum tubes. Since 1955, the number of installed 700-series computers for the first time exceeded the number of computers manufactured by Remington Rand.
IBM, like Remington Rand, had two lines of computers – for government organizations and for large, small and medium businesses. The 700 line, produced at the Poughkeepsie factory, represented the first direction, and the second, older Endicot factory, from 1954 began producing the equally successful Model 650 for small and medium businesses, the rental price of which was only $ 3,250. per month. More than a thousand of these computers were sold, making the Model 650 the first mass-produced computer.
In the middle of the 50s. IBM achieved dominance in both segments of the nascent computer market. One measure of success was that, in 1956, IBM technology was already being used to predict election results.
Graph 1.1 Dynamics of IBM sales (million dollars)
The final break with the past – the company’s departure from the production of punch cards and tabulators began in 1956. Based on the results of the investigation of the Department of Justice, in order to avoid the antitrust process, IBM management signed a conciliatory resolution, according to which the company undertook not only to rent out tabulators, but also to sell them, to allow customers to buy parts of their systems from competitors. Such a decision, aimed at weakening the company as a manufacturer of punched cards and tabulators, did not have a big impact on the future of the company, which was no longer associated with punched cards, but with computers.
However, antitrust considerations at one time prevented IBM from acquiring EMCC and ERA, which resulted in the company’s “late start” in the computer field due to lack of experience in the new field. However, if IBM had not had such a strong competitor as Remington Rand has become, the company would continue to rely on obsolete electromechanical technology, because. even market research has shown that performing a number of tasks on older hardware is more economical, and therefore more efficient. It can be stated that in this case the government played a positive role by intensifying competition in the emerging market.
During the 1950s, defense programs, research and development of engineering, and the expansion of data processing applications laid the foundation for the civilian computer industry.
Remington Rand Corporation took the lead in the first phase with the acquisition of two industry pioneers, ERA and EMCC. IBM achieved a dominant position in the new market by the mid-1950s. The success of the company was predetermined by its previous development in the era of tabulators: qualified personnel specialized in sales of information processing devices were trained, a client base was created, and production facilities were built.
The main reason for Remington Rand’s failure was the lack of an acceptable model for small and medium businesses. Computers produced by ERA are not widely used due to poor technical support and lack of advertising. The scientific computer market had less potential capacity than the business computer market, so even the successful sales of the UNIVAC computer and its well-known brand could not improve the situation. The company needed a successful model for the expanding commercial market. As a result, at 1955, Remington Rand was bought by Sperry Gyroscope, a military contract equipment manufacturer. And in 1986, SperryRand merged with Burroughs and changed its name to Unisys, exited the mainframe market completely, and is now engaged in the provision of information technology services.
Additional Materials:
Chapter 8. The Great Confrontation: AMD vs. Intel
Chapter 7. Palm vs. Handspring
Chapter 6. NexGen: A Clean Processor
Chapter 5. AMD: 30 years of the race for the leader
Chapter 4. The story of how Intel got into toys.
Chapter 3. How “Palm” was tempered.
Chapter 2. The third element “Apple”.
Chapter 1. NSP – to be or not to be?
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