IBM announces the mid-range IBM System/38, a general purpose computer that
incorporates new semiconductor technology. The System/38 is the only commercial
computer with a built-in relational database.
IBM starts construction of a 43-story, five-sided office building at 590 Madison
Avenue in New York City.
IBM also announces the 8100 Information System; the 3730 Distributed Office
Communication System; the 3630 Plant Communications System; the Electronic
Typewriter Models 50 and 60, both using microprocessors to provide electronic
control of certain typing tasks; and the 5880 electrocardiograph system, as an aid
in the physician's diagnostic decisions. In addition, the 3033 Multiprocessor
Complex and the 3031 Attached Processor Complex are introduced.
The Research Division reports on experimental silicon microcircuit technology that
achieves a nearly tenfold increase in circuit density over existing silicon
circuits. Experiments show that 1/16 inch-square chips can contain up to 10,000
logic switches or 250,000 bits of memory.
