Age
of the Computer
From the May 1967 University of Omaha Alumni Newsletter
The computer age really came to the University of Omaha
this past month with the installation of the NCR (National Cash Register) 315
RMC (Rod Memory Computer).
The IBM 1620 which has been the main computer for the
Computer Center could only store 20,000 digits. The NCR 315 can store six times
as many—120,000. Besides that, the printer unit with the NCR 315 can print at
the rate of 1,000 lines a minute.
In addition to the basic memory banks which can store
120,000 digits there are also the CRAM (Card Random Access Memory) decks which
can store up to 8 million digits of information.
At the present time all alumni information just takes up a
small part of one CRAM deck.
In looking at the above picture we can briefly show you
how the alumni mailing list of approximately 15,000 names was printed this
time.
The machine at the extreme left has programmed information
on the magnetic tape which it fed into the next two CRAM units. At the rear,
where the student is holding a sheet of paper, is the printer unit which
printed the address labels.
Art Ashley, Computer Center Operations Manager, is in the
foreground, at the main console which checks the operation of the entire unit.
