Interdata

{{Infobox company

| name = Interdata

| logo = Interdata Corporation logo.png

| logo_size = 230px

| successor =

| fate = Purchased by Perkin-Elmer and later known as Concurrent Computer Corporation

| location = Oceanport, New Jersey

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1966}}

| defunct =

| key_people = Daniel Sinnott

| industry = Technology

| products = Interdata 7/32

| website =

}}

Image:Former manufacturing facility of Interdata Incorporated.jpg

Interdata, Inc., was a computer company, founded in 1966 by a former Electronic Associates engineer, Daniel Sinnott, and was based in Oceanport, New Jersey. The company produced a line of 16- and 32-bit minicomputers that were loosely based on the IBM 360 instruction set architecture but at a cheaper price.{{cite web|title=Interdata Reference Manual 29-004R02 – Computing History|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/28934/Interdata-Reference-Manual-29-004R02/|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk|accessdate=27 July 2016}} In 1974, it produced one of the first 32-bit minicomputers,{{cite web|title=About Concurrent – Concurrent|url=https://www.concurrent.com/about/about-concurrent/|website=Concurrent.com|accessdate=27 July 2016}} the Interdata 7/32. The company then used the parallel processing approach, which uses more than one computer processor simultaneously to perform work on a problem. This helped in making real-time computing a reality.{{cite web |title=Parallel Processing |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/science-and-technology/computers-and-electrical-engineering/computers-and-computing/parallel-processing |website=Enclicopedia.com |access-date=17 January 2024}}

Some real-time applications Interdata computers were used for included: Core Protection Calculator, used in some later Combustion Engineering designed nuclear power plants; lottery systems manufactured by GTech; the NexRad weather radar system. Many companies used them for internal high speed laboratory data capture, such as United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, Connecticut wind tunnel, General Electric R&D in Schenectady, New York, and Perkin-Elmer in Connecticut (which later acquired Interdata).

The operating system for the 16-bit computers was called OS/16, and for the 32-bit computers OS/32. The assembly language could generate series independent object code. Later, as with Gould, SEL, Modcomp and other real time competitors, they offered a 32-bit time sharing system called MTM (Multi Terminal Monitor).

Acquisitions

In 1973, Interdata was purchased by Perkin-Elmer Corporation,{{cite book|last1=Enterprise|first1=I. D. G.|title=Computerworld|publisher=IDG Enterprise|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xADOH_NYfZoC&q=concurrent+computer+corporation+history+and+interdata&pg=PA103|accessdate=27 July 2016|language=en|date=1990-12-10}} a Connecticut-based producer of scientific instruments for $63.6 million.{{cite web|title=Concurrent Computer Corporation – FREE Concurrent Computer Corporation information {{!}} Encyclopedia.com: Find Concurrent Computer Corporation research|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3445200037.html|website=www.encyclopedia.com|accessdate=27 July 2016}} Interdata was already making $19 million in annual sales but this merger made Perkin-Elmer's annual sales rise to over $200 million. Interdata then became the basis for Perkin-Elmer's Data Systems Group.{{cite book|last1=Trew|first1=Arthur|last2=Wilson|first2=Greg|title=Past, Present, Parallel: A Survey of Available Parallel Computer Systems|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9781447118428|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HZzeBwAAQBAJ&q=concurrent+computer+corporation+history+and+interdata&pg=PA76|accessdate=27 July 2016|language=en|date=2012-12-06}} In 1985, the computing division of Perkin-Elmer was spun off as Concurrent Computer Corporation.{{cite web|title=Concurrent Computer Corporation|url=http://www.new-npac.org/projects/cdroms/cewes-1999-06-vol1/nhse/hpccsurvey/orgs/concurrent/concurrent.html|website=www.new-npac.org|accessdate=27 July 2016|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331121428/http://www.new-npac.org/projects/cdroms/cewes-1999-06-vol1/nhse/hpccsurvey/orgs/concurrent/concurrent.html|url-status=dead}}

List of products

File:Living Computer Museum IMG 0002 (9636198071).jpg

Interdata Model 1 – 1970
Interdata Model 3 – 1967{{cite journal |title=Interdata Model 2, 3 and 4 |journal=Computers and Automation |date=Dec 1967 |volume=16 |issue=12 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_computersA_11280381/page/n2 3] (ad), 31 (Model 2), 36 (Model 4), 71 (Model 3) |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_computersA_11280381}}{{cite journal |title=Across the Editor's Desk: LOW-COST COMPUTER FOR ENGINEERING AND LAB RESEARCH |journal=Computers and Automation |date=Sep 1967 |volume=16 |issue=9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_computersA_7896122/page/n44 45] |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_computersA_7896122}}
Interdata 4 (autoload, floating point)
Interdata 5 (list processing, microcoded automatic I/O channel)
Interdata 70 (1971), 74 (1973), 80 (1971), 85 (Writable Control Store, 1973)
Interdata 50, 55 (Communications systems)
Interdata 5/16, 6/16, 7/16 (1974)
Interdata 8/16, 8/16e (double precision floating point, extended memory)
Interdata RD-800 and RD-850 – 1975
Interdata 7/32 – 1974
Interdata 8/32 – 1975{{cite book |title=Auerbach Guide to Minicomputers 1975 |date=1975 |publisher=Auerbach |page=[https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_auerbachAumputers1975_31095575/page/n12 5] (12) |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_auerbachAumputers1975_31095575}}
Perkin-Elmer 3205, 3210, 3220, 3230, 3240, 3250, 3280

A simulator is available: http://simh.trailing-edge.com/interdata.html

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090426181758/http://interdata.org.uk/ interdata.org.uk] – Site detailing the restoration of an Interdata Model 74 computer
[http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/28933/Interdata-Model-70-Users-Manual/ Model-70 User's Manual]. computinghistory.org.uk
{{cite web |title=Interdata computers documents |url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/interdata/ |website=www.bitsavers.org}}

Category:Companies based in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Category:Minicomputers

Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States

Category:Defunct computer hardware companies