Jun 25,1997
Bernard L. Peuto
From Mainframes to Micros: Technical Lessons from Computer History

Speaker: Bernard L. Peuto

Title: From Mainframes to Micros: Technical Lessons from Computer History

Date: April 2, 1997

Abstract:

For most of the past 25 years, microprocessors have followed a development path strikingly similar to that taken by mainframe computers in their first 50 years. This should not be surprising, given that they were often trying to solve the same data-processing problems. After some early hesitation, the microprocessor designers copied essentially all the architectural concepts that had been invented for mainframes. There were lessons to be learned from history!

But as the microprocessor-based systems have expanded to include graphical user interfaces and multimedia applications, microprocessors are moving onto a different evolutionary path. Are there still lessons to be learned, or will everything be new from here on?

This talk will compare the development timelines for mainframes and microprocessors, and trace the transfer of architectural features from the one to the other. It will be illustrated with physical artifacts from The Computer Museum History Center, the new Silicon Valley division of The Computer Museum.

Biography:

Bernard Peuto is President of Concord Consulting (Portola Valley, California), which develops business strategies for microprocessor- based products in the fields of computer graphics, multi-media, networking, and computer architecture.

Previously, at Sun Microsystems he was the Vice President and General Manager of the Graphics Product Division. He was founder, Chairman and President of ViewTech, a computer publishing and graphics composition start-up. At Zilog he was Director of the Component Design Engineering Group and the architect for the Z8000, MMU, Z Bus and Z8. At Amdahl he was a Computer Architect for mainframe systems. He holds a Phd degree from the University of California, Berkeley; his research was in operating systems design.

Editorial Comment:

Bernard Peuto is a volunteer at the Computer History Project of the Computer Museum. Len Schustek, the director of the project, will say a few words about the project and how you could help. A number of dedicated volunteers are working to capture and document the rise of the computer in our society. The computer has a personal tool has only been around for a few decades, but already the history and artifacts are beginning to slip away. You can help. -dra

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