IBM System 360 File Organization Tech Briefing Mainframe Computer 1964 Poughkeepsie NY Pearson Wood

Introduction of the IBM System/360 Mainframe in 1964 – Rare, Confidential TECH TALK about System 360 File Organization, Storage, Indexing and Benefits of the System/360 architecture, to Sales Personnel and Systems Engineers. Intro slides and vintage film of 360, followed by rare tech briefing by Pearson Wood 03:42 a long time IBM Engineer. 19 minute original IBM training film, preserved for educational value and historical comment. Background: The success of the System/360 was immediate and overwhelming. Orders far exceeded IBM's initial forecasts, and within a few years, it became the dominant force in the computer market. Its impact extended beyond just sales figures; the System/360 introduced several key concepts that became industry standards. IBM’s Solid Logic Technology (SLT), upward and downward compatibility, reliability and scalability are among the many benefits of the 360 family. The System/360's influence on computing moved the industry away from the notion of computers as specialized, incompatible machines towards the idea of a unified computing platform. This architectural concept laid the groundwork for future generations of computers and operating systems. Scale of the System/360 project, both in its technical ambition and its financial investment, demonstrated the transformative potential of computing and propelled the world into the information age. Its legacy continues to be felt even today, as many of the fundamental principles introduced with the System/360 remain relevant in modern computing architectures. The IBM System/360 was a groundbreaking product line with its manufacturing spread across several IBM facilities. The primary development and manufacturing hubs were located in the United States, notably in Poughkeepsie and Endicott, New York, and San Jose, California. 1 The Poughkeepsie site, in particular, was a key location for large computer systems, while Endicott focused on smaller systems within the 360 family. 1 Additionally, IBM's laboratory in Hursley, England, played a significant role in the development of control store technology used in the System/360. Manufacturing also occurred at other IBM sites outside the U.S IBM initially announced six models, but eventually delivered at least fourteen different models to meet a wide range of computing needs, indicating a substantial overall production volume that cemented its dominance in the mainframe market. Original System/360 film and photos © by IBM 1964-1969, with thanks to IBM Archives. Editing by Computer History Archives Project (CHAP)