Caught between historical experience and high hopes: automation at the Dutch Postal Cheque and Clearing Service, 1950-1965

Author

Wit, Dirk De

Author_Institution

Center for Bus. History, Erasmus Univ., Rotterdam, Netherlands

Volume

17

Issue

2

fYear

1995

Firstpage

9

Lastpage

21

Abstract

Since the Netherlands lacks an indigenous computer industry, the article concentrates on the use of computing technologies. It deals specifically with the Dutch giro system, the country´s initial step toward automation in the early 1950s. Automation was achieved in 1965. Several organizational processes and the development of computer technology throughout the fifties contributed to the delay of automation and the ultimate choice and implementation of more than 20 IBM 1401 computer systems. The paper sheds light on the importance of studying how computer technology is used as well as how the technologies are developed

Keywords

IBM computers; banking; cheque processing; credit transactions; financial data processing; history; postal services; 1950-1965; Dutch Postal Cheque and Clearing Service; Dutch giro system; IBM 1401 computer systems; automation; computing technologies; delayed automation; historical experience; organizational processes; Automation; Computer industry; Data processing; Delay; Failure analysis; Hardware; History; Optical computing; Technological innovation; Telephony;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1058-6180

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/85.380268

Filename

380268