Name/Title
2000- From Whirlwind to Mitre- Thomas M. Smith, Kent C. RedmondTags
SageDescription
The R&D Story of The SAGE Air Defense Computer” by Kent C. Redmond and Thomas M. Smith, published in 2000, provides an organizational and social history of one of the foundational projects of the computer era: the development of the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) air defense system1.
The book details the wartime alliance of engineers, scientists, and the military, exemplified by MIT’s Radiation Lab, which helped to transform research and development practice in the United States through the end of the Cold War period1. It covers the project’s journey from its first test in Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1951, to the installation of the first unit of the New York Air Defense Sector of the SAGE system in 19581.
This work is significant as it presents a comprehensive view of the technological advancements and the collaborative efforts that led to the creation of a system that was crucial for national defense. It also sheds light on the broader implications of such a project on the development of computing technology