IBM announces the IBM System/36, a business computer with data and word
processing, business color graphics, and office management functions. Emphasizing
ease of use, the system was designed to be installed without IBM service
assistance and featured 2800 help screens. The System/36 becomes the industry's
most widely accepted mid-range computer.
A new IBM research technique, called scanning tunneling microscopy, produces for
the first time three-dimensional images of the atomic surfaces of silicon, gold,
nickel and other solids.
John R. Opel succeeds Frank T. Cary as chairman of the board, and John F. Akers
becomes president. Paul J. Rizzo becomes vice-chairman of the board.
The Corporate Management Board replaces the Corporate Office, and the Policy and
Business Operations Committees replace the Corporate Management Committee.
IBM announces the IBM Personal Computer XT, with more memory, dual-sided diskette
drive and high-performance fixed-disk drive; and two models of the PC jr, IBM's
smallest and lowest-priced computer.
Also introduced in 1983 are the 3430 magnetic tape subsystem; the 3290 gas panel
display station; the 5550 small business computer for Japan; the 4370 Personal
Banking Machine, which cashes checks, dispenses exact change, and accepts check
deposits without deposit slips or envelopes; two new models of the 4300 computer
series, the 4361 and 4381; and Database 2 (DB2), a versatile software system.
Customer deliveries begin of the 7350 Image Processor, a specialized terminal for
scientific and research applications.
IBM becomes an official sponsor of 1984 Olympic Games.
A minority interest in the ROLM Corporation is purchased, and plans are announced
for IBM-ROLM cooperative product development.
A scientific center is established in Caracas, Venezuela.
The new IBM office building at 590 Madison Avenue in New York City is dedicated.
