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When Computers Went to Sea: The Digitization of the United States Navy
When Computers Went to Sea explores the history of the United States Navy's secret development of code-breaking computers and their adaptation to solve a critical fleet radar data handling problem in the Navy's first seaborne digital computer system - that went to sea in 1962. This is the only book written on the United States Navy's initial application of shipboard digital computers to naval warfare.
Considered one of the most successful projects ever undertaken by the US Navy, the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) was the subject of numerous studies attempting to pinpoint the reason for the systems inordinate success in the face of seemingly impossible technical challenges and stiff resistance from some in the military. The system's success precipitated a digital revolution in naval warfare systems.
Dave Boslaugh details the innovations developed by the NTDS project managers project management techniques, modular digital hardware for ship systems, top-down modular computer programming techniques, innovative computer program documentation, and other novel real-time computer system concepts.
Automated military systems users and developers, real-time process control systems designers, automated system project managers, and digital technology history students will find this account of a United States military organization's initial foray into computerization interesting and thought provoking.
Considered one of the most successful projects ever undertaken by the US Navy, the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) was the subject of numerous studies attempting to pinpoint the reason for the systems inordinate success in the face of seemingly impossible technical challenges and stiff resistance from some in the military. The system's success precipitated a digital revolution in naval warfare systems.
Dave Boslaugh details the innovations developed by the NTDS project managers project management techniques, modular digital hardware for ship systems, top-down modular computer programming techniques, innovative computer program documentation, and other novel real-time computer system concepts.
Automated military systems users and developers, real-time process control systems designers, automated system project managers, and digital technology history students will find this account of a United States military organization's initial foray into computerization interesting and thought provoking.
492 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 14, 2016
Seems sort of rambly and digressive -- author wants to document the experiences and careers of his mentors in the navy. This is actually sort of fun -- you get a sense what sort of people were doing project management for the navy in the 50s and 60s.
But this includes a lot of invaluable material about the early history of radar, with yummy gooey technical details, so I can't complain. The material on the hardware is excellent, and the discussion of project management techniques was also interesting. I wish there were a bit more about the software side, though.
UC Berkeley Engineering library has a copy.
But this includes a lot of invaluable material about the early history of radar, with yummy gooey technical details, so I can't complain. The material on the hardware is excellent, and the discussion of project management techniques was also interesting. I wish there were a bit more about the software side, though.
UC Berkeley Engineering library has a copy.
January 26, 2010
How could you not like this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews