O'Regan Gerard. Pillars of Computing: A Compendium of Select, Pivotal Technology Firms

Publisher: Springer International Publishing, 2015. — 260 p. — ISBN 9783319214634, 9783319214641, 3319214640.This accessible compendium examines a collection of significant technology firms that have helped to shape the field of computing and its impact on society. Each company is introduced with a brief account of its history, followed by a concise account of its key contributions. The selection covers a diverse range of historical and contemporary organizations from pioneers of e-commerce to influential social media companies. Features: presents information on early computer manufacturers; reviews important mainframe and minicomputer companies; examines the contributions to the field of semiconductors made by certain companies; describes companies that have been active in developing home and personal computers; surveys notable research centers; discusses the impact of telecommunications companies and those involved in the area of enterprise software and business computing; considers the achievements of e-commerce companies; provides a review of social media companies.Background.
Introduction.
Digital Computers.
Hardware and Software.
Pillars of Computing.
Adobe Systems.
Printing and PostScript.
Portable Document Format.
Photoshop.
Amazon.com.
Amazon Web Services.
Kindle.
History of E-Commerce.
Amdahl Corporation.
Apple Inc.
Atari, Inc.
Atari Computers.
Bell Labs.
Statistical Process Control.
Information Theory and Cryptography.
Information Theory.
Cryptography.
The Transistor.
Hamming Codes.
Block Codes.
Hamming Distance.
Unix and C.
C Programming Language.
Unix.
C++ Programming Language.
Advanced Mobile Phone System.
Cisco Systems.
Cisco Products.
Cisco Acquisitions.
Commodore Business Machines.
Commodore PET.
Commodore 64.
Amiga.
The Demise of Commodore.
Dell, Inc..
Dell and Lean Manufacturing.
Dell Acquisitions.
Digital Equipment Corporation.
PDP-11.
VAX-11/780.
Digital Research Inc.
Licencing CP/M to IBM.
eBay Inc.
eBay Business Model.
Paypal.
EMCC, Sperry and Unisys.
ENIAC.
EDVAC.
UNIVAC and Early Computing.
Ericsson.
AXE System.
Mobile Phone Systems.
Facebook.
The Facebook Business Model.
Facebook Acquisitions.
The Facebook Revolution.
Google.
Google Search Engine.
Gmail.
Google Maps.
Google Docs.
Google+.
Android.
Youtube.
18 HP.
HP Way.
IBM.
Early IBM Computers.
IBM and SAGE.
The IBM System 360.
The 1970s.
The IBM Personal Computer Revolution.
The 1980s and 1990s.
Challenges for IBM.
Intel.
Development of the Microprocessor.
Intel and the IBM PC.
Intel and Continuous Innovation.
Moore’s Law.
LEO Computers Ltd.
LEO I Computer.
LEO II and LEO III Computers.
Microsoft.
Windows Operating System.
Internet Explorer.
Microsoft Office.
Xbox.
Skype.
Microsoft Mobile.
Microsoft Developer Tools.
Microsoft Windows and Apple GUI.
The Browser Wars.
Motorola.
Early Years.
Development of Mobile Phone Technology.
Six Sigma.
Semiconductor Sector.
Motorola and Iridium.
What Happened to Motorola?
Netscape Communications.
The Browser Wars.
Oracle Corporation.
The Relational Model.
What Is a Relational Database?
What Is an Oracle Database?
Structured Query Language (SQL).
Philips.
Audio Cassette.
Compact Disc.
Philips Today.
Rational Software.
Unified Modelling Language.
Rational Unified Process.
Rational Tools.
Samsung.
Samsung Smartphones.
Samsung Televisions.
SAP SE.
SAP CRM.
SAP ERP.
SAP HR.
SAP SCM.
SAP SRM.
SAP PLM.
Software Engineering Institute (SEI).
Software Process Improvement.
Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI).
SCAMPI Appraisal.
PSP and TSP.
Sinclair Research Ltd..
ZX Spectrum.
Texas Instruments.
Integrated Circuit.
Texas Instruments Education Technology.
Twitter.
Twitter Business Model.
Unimation.
George Devol.
Robotics.
Xerox PARC.
Xerox Alto Personal Computer.
Ethernet.
Smalltalk Programming Language.
Laser Printing.
Zuse KG.
Konrad Zuse.
Zuse’s Machines.
Zuse and Plankalkül.
Epilogue.
What Next in Computing?
Test Yourself (Quiz 1).
Test Yourself (Quiz 2).
Test Yourself (Quiz 3).
Glossary.
References.
Index.