Wicat Systems
{{Short description|Computer assisted learning company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Wicat Systems, Inc.
| logo =
| image = File:Wicat Systems headquarters crop.jpg
| image_caption = Headquarters in Orem, Utah
| type = Private
| industry = Computer
| founded = {{Start date and age|1980}}
| founder = Dustin H. Heuston
| defunct = {{End date and age|1992|04}}
| fate = Acquired by Jostens
| hq_location_country = United States
| products = {{Unbulleted list|Wicat 150}}
}}
Wicat Systems, Inc., was an American computer and software company founded in 1980 in Orem, Utah. Originally a branch of WICAT, the World Institute for Computer-Assisted Teaching (later the Wicat Education Institute), the company manufactured multi-user systems for educational institutions before focusing their efforts on educational software development in the early 1990s.{{sfn|Rogerson|1990}} The company was among the first to use the Motorola 68000 microprocessor in a computer with the introduction of the Wicat System 100 in 1980.{{sfnm|1a1=Hogan|1y=1981|1p=3|2a1=Staff writer|2y=1992b}} Both Wicat Systems and its parent institution were founded by Dustin H. Heuston, originally of New York.{{sfn|Rogerson|1990}}
History
At its peak in the mid-1980s, Wicat Systems employed 500 and had an annual budget of US$40 million.{{sfn|Fiske|1986|p=C1}} The company formed a joint venture with Control Data Corporation in early 1985. Named Plato/Wicat after Control Data's Plato educational software, the venture was intended to "address the entire educational process, including computer-based instructional courseware, testing and evaluation, and classroom management and administration".{{sfn|Staff writer|1985}}
In 1992, the company was acquired by Jostens in a stock swap valuated at roughly $111 million. Jostens, who had a rival educational software division Jostens Learning which was aimed at preschools, planned to use the Wicat Systems repertoire to increase their presence in high schools and higher education.{{sfn|Staff writer|1992a}}
During the period from the late 1980's to 1996, Wicat Systems also operated a UK branch in Camberley in Surrey. During this period, Wicat produced CBT (computer based training - the forerunner of eLearning), and partial cockpit simulations for aviation clients. These included many of the then-leading airlines and aircraft manufacturers and training covered pilot, cabin crew and ground crew training. Norfolk Southern Railway was another of many non-aviation clients.
Citations
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References
{{refbegin|colwidth=30em|indent=yes}}
- {{cite news|last=Fiske|first=Edward B.|date=April 15, 1986|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/15/science/education-computer-innovation-in-class.html|title=Computer Innovation in Class|work=The New York Times|page=C1|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129191049/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/15/science/education-computer-innovation-in-class.html|archivedate=January 29, 2021}}
- {{cite journal|last=Hogan|first=Thom|date=June 8, 1981|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zD0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3|title=68000 Systems Arrive|journal=InfoWorld|volume=3|number=11|page=3|via=Google Books}}
- {{cite journal|last=Rogerson|first=Kenneth S.|date=October 31, 1990|url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/10/31/18888818/wicat-systems-celebrates-10th-birthday-br|title=Wicat Systems Celebrates 10th Birthday|journal=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015074159/https://www.deseret.com/1990/10/31/18888818/wicat-systems-celebrates-10th-birthday-br|archivedate=October 15, 2021}}
- {{cite journal|author=Staff writer|date=May 22, 1985|url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/computers-column/1985/05|title=Computers Column|journal=EducationWeek|publisher=Editorial Projects in Education|page=C1|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015085218/https://www.edweek.org/technology/computers-column/1985/05|archivedate=October 15, 2021}}
- {{cite news|ref={{sfnRef|Staff writer|1992a}}|author=Staff writer|date=April 7, 1992|url=https://apnews.com/article/325c6e55758c898b9c85ccd015ada32c|title=Jostens to Buy Rival Wicat Systems|work=Associated Press News}}
- {{cite journal|ref={{sfnRef|Staff writer|1992b}}|author=Staff writer|date=April 7, 1992|url=https://techmonitor.ai/techonology/wicat_to_go_to_jostens_inc_for_100m_to_140m_in_shares|title=Wicat to Go to Jostens Inc. for $100m to $140m in Shares|journal=Computer Business Review|publisher=New Statesman Media Group|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015091138/https://techmonitor.ai/techonology/wicat_to_go_to_jostens_inc_for_100m_to_140m_in_shares|archivedate=October 15, 2021}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wicat Systems}}
Category:1980 establishments in Utah
Category:1992 disestablishments in Utah
Category:1992 mergers and acquisitions
Category:American companies established in 1980
Category:American companies disestablished in 1992
Category:Companies based in Orem, Utah
Category:Computer companies established in 1980
Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1992
Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States
Category:Defunct software companies of the United States
Category:Defunct computer hardware companies
Category:Defunct computer systems companies
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