'A marvel of engineering'

The present omnipresence of computers is the result of an impressive history. During the first phase (1960-1980), mainframes dominated, with Swiss companies realizing groundbreaking applications. The first major commercial computers, which were introduced in Switzerland at the end of the 1950s and quickly spread thereafter, significantly contributed to the development of businesses with their substantial applications. The widespread automation influenced operations within companies, new professions emerged, daily business life changed, and various stakeholders were confronted with novel challenges. What challenges were at the forefront, what applications were created with which techniques? How did computers shape people and businesses, and what was their contribution to economic developments?.