Thanks for sharing that, Ian! Your story is exactly what I was hoping to gather here.
Does our dissection of the LU0 make any sense to you? On Sun, May 8, 2016 at 3:54 PM, Ian S. King <[email protected]> wrote: > On Sun, May 8, 2016 at 1:31 AM, Microtech Dart <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Hi, all. It's been a while since I've discussed anything here. We've > made > > a lot of progress re-constructing a couple of Point 4 machines (as much > as > > one can without the actual hardware), yet still need some help from a few > > knowledgeable folks in this 35+ year old OS. It was built on the DG Nova > > foundation, but made by Educational Data Systems, which became Point 4, > for > > their Point 4 machines. So, it doesn't exactly "just run" on SimH Nova. > > > > We've been in regular contact with Bruce Ray, who is a true expert in all > > Data General and related systems. He has already helped us TREMENDOUSLY. > > http://NovasAreForever.org > > > > But other than Bruce Ray, are there any other folks here on this forum > who > > may have had any IRIS programming, either on the Point 4, or another > system > > of similarity in the late '70s to early '80s? > > > > I've hunted down a handful of people so far on LinkedIn and scouring the > > internet, and only a few of those have responded. But I just thought I'd > > make a shout out here. A small handful have kindly responded, with either > > limited recollection or availability, or both. > > > > In addition to Bruce, those who have contributed so far include David > > Takle, and one of the original Point 4 IRIS designers, Dan Paymar. > > > > We've added a LOT of new content and progress to our > > restoration/re-creation of what is turning out to be TWO distinct Point 4 > > IRIS systems. > > > > Stop by our site if you like, and especially review the directory page > > "Understranding IRIS": > > > > http://microtechm1.blogspot.com/p/understanding-iris.html > > > > Does anyone here have anything to add, or IRIS/Point 4 documentation that > > could be helpful here (other than what we have at > > http://microtechm1.blogspot.com/p/manuals.html ). > > > > Thanks all, I always appreciate the fantastic feedback here. > > > > -AJ > > http://MightyFrame.com > > http://MicrotechM1.blogspot.com > > > > Very cool! Yes, I programmed on one of these in the late '70s, and I've > casually Googled for info about it many times, with no success. So it's > great to hear that someone has dug up some info on it and I'm not just > hallucinating. > > I worked for a small company called Automated Funds Transfer Services > (AFTS) that specialized in devices to read MICR, the special typeface used > on checks (cheques), thus enabling automated reading. My big project was > to develop a system for creating check printing masters, which had > previously been done manually. Every time someone changed a phone number > or moved, a new master had to be created, but by keeping the information in > a database it was easy to make the edit and spit out a new master. > > I've often described IRIS as "BASIC with database extensions", and it was > interesting writing a fault-resistant system in, well, BASIC. At one point > in development, I asked our office manager to sit down at a terminal > (ADM-3A) and 'just start pushing buttons'. When she couldn't crash it or > get somewhere where she couldn't get back out, I said, 'Ship it!'. > > It was also a social experience: the system I had written replaced twelve > people with special typewriters, with four people with ADM-3A terminals. I > recall having some qualms about that, but recognized that 'progress' > (whatever that means) wasn't going to be halted by my philosophical > concerns, but my paycheck would. > > So there's my two cents' worth. Thanks for sharing this, it brings back > some interesting memories.... -- Ian > > -- > Ian S. King, MSIS, MSCS, Ph.D. Candidate > The Information School <http://ischool.uw.edu> > Dissertation: "Why the Conversation Mattered: Constructing a Sociotechnical > Narrative Through a Design Lens > > Archivist, Voices From the Rwanda Tribunal <http://tribunalvoices.org> > Value Sensitive Design Research Lab <http://vsdesign.org> > > University of Washington > > There is an old Vulcan saying: "Only Nixon could go to China." > -- Thanks, -AJ http://MicrotechM1.blogspot.com
