Name/Title
1957/01- RADIO & TELEVISION NEWS MAGAZINE, "The Univac"Tags
Univac, Radio & Television NewsDescription
The article titled “The Univac” from the January 1957 issue of Radio & Television News Magazine discusses the impact of the Univac computer on business and industry. Here’s a summary:
The Univac, which stands for Universal Automatic Computer, was one of the first computers designed for business use. It gained fame for accurately predicting the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections. The article highlights how electronic computers, once seen as laboratory curiosities or science-fiction fantasies, had become practical tools for industry. Businesses turned to computers like the Univac for help with information management.
The Univac made headlines by forecasting an Eisenhower landslide in the 1956 election with less than half a percent of the votes counted. It predicted that Eisenhower would win with 100 to 1 odds and estimated his plurality very close to the actual result. The article emphasizes the growing use of computers in various business operations, from accounting to inventory management, due to a shortage of clerical help. At the time of the article, only a few Univac systems had been sold. However, the success of these systems led to an increase in the number of companies building large computers and components.Acquisition
Acquisition Method
EBayDate
May 25, 2022