EDV-Pionierleistungen bei komplexen Anwendungen

The book aims to take readers back to the early days of electronic data processing (EDP), specifically the 1950s, 60s, and 70s of the last century, a time that many former EDP employees fondly remember as pioneers. How can we describe this period? It was a unique and innovative phase that sparked a tremendous sense of new beginnings due to significant technological advancements. The project 'Automation of the Postal Check and Postal Savings Service' presents the complex developments involved. At that time, it was the EDP project with the largest business potential for a single customer in Germany. Electronic data processing (EDP) was initially characterized by mainframes that solved mathematical tasks for major research institutions and universities as computing servants. Commercial applications were hindered by slow input/output units. Post Minister Richard Stücklen developed the idea of utilizing an automated solution for his Postal Check and Postal Savings Service as well. The book describes the exploratory phase, the shift from punch cards to document processing, as well as the general situation regarding training and the construction of data centers. From the development phase until around 1972, the application solutions and system solutions are presented and commented on. Pioneering achievements included the swift automation of the Postal Savings Service, the first Europe-wide account management with document processing in the Postal Check Service, and the only mass test of document readers with magnetic scripts in Germany.