Institute of Computer Science

The Institute of Computer Science (ICS) was a University of London institute based in London, England. It was established to support academic research, postgraduate teaching, computing services and network services for the University of London and its wider academic community. The institute appears to have originated as the University of London Computer Unit during the 1950s, although the precise foundation date has not been established. By 1962 it was operating under the name Institute of Computer Science, reflecting the rapid development of computing as an academic discipline and as an institutional service. ICS combined several functions that are now commonly distributed among separate university departments and information-technology organizations. In teaching, it offered postgraduate education in computer science, including one of the early Master of Science courses in the subject, as well as PhD supervision. Its staff and supervisors included researchers and practitioners in software, hardware and computer science. The institute also offered less formal instruction connected with emerging applications of computing. One documented example involved courses explaining computer typesetting to officials associated with printing-industry trade unions, illustrating the institute's role in helping professional communities understand new digital production methods. The institute's computing-services work centered on an Atlas computer operated as the University of London Atlas Computing Service. The Atlas was an early transistorized computer, and only three machines of this type were built. Programs and research associated with the service included a CPL1 compiler, a general Fourier synthesis program, an optimization technique for determining transmission-line tower sites and heights, and computing work related to English change ringing. These activities placed ICS at the intersection of academic research, technical support and practical computational problem-solving. ICS also had an important place in the early history of computer networking. It provided batch and interactive communication services, including remote job entry to the IBM 360/195 at the Rutherford Laboratory in Oxfordshire. Its network activities included the first United Kingdom ARPANET node and, according to the institute's historical account, the first ARPANET node in Europe. This made the institute an early European location at which the network that later developed into the Internet could be accessed. The remote-job-entry service used a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-9 configured to emulate an IBM 1130 and was described as the first remote user of the Rutherford Laboratory's IBM system. Richard Buckingham served as director of first the Computer Unit and later the Institute of Computer Science from 1957 until 1973. The institute was dissolved in 1974. After its closure, its computing services were transferred to the University of London Computer Centre, although the University of London Atlas service and the computer centre initially operated in parallel. The institute's director moved to Birkbeck College. Its educational and technical legacy continued through alumni, transferred services and the historical development of university computing and networking in Britain.

The Institute of Computer Science was a former University of London institution whose work spanned education, research, computing operations and networking. Its exact foundation date is uncertain, but historical accounts indicate that it already existed during the 1950s as the University of London Computer Unit. The unit was established during a period when universities were beginning to acquire large electronic computers and were creating centralized facilities to make those machines available to researchers and academic departments. Richard Buckingham became its director in 1957 and remained in leadership through the transition to the institute's later form. By 1962 the organization was known as the Institute of Computer Science. The change reflected the emergence of computer science as a formal field of study rather than solely a technical support activity. ICS developed postgraduate teaching and research, including an early Master of Science in Computer Science and doctoral supervision. Its staff and supervisors worked across software, hardware and applied computing. The institute also provided informal teaching outside conventional degree programs. Courses associated with computer typesetting were delivered for officials linked to printing-industry trade unions, helping explain how computers could transform typesetting and printing processes. The institute operated an Atlas computer as the University of London Atlas Computing Service. The Atlas was an early transistor computer, and only three examples were constructed. The service supported university computing and was also associated with a range of pioneering programs and research projects. These included work on a CPL1 compiler, Fourier synthesis, optimization of transmission-line tower locations and heights, and an application connected with English change ringing. The combination of teaching, research and production computing made the institute an important part of the University of London's early digital infrastructure. Networking became another defining area of activity. ICS supported both batch and interactive communications. It provided remote job entry to the Rutherford Laboratory's IBM 360/195 in Oxfordshire through a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-9 configured to emulate an IBM 1130. The arrangement was identified as the first remote user of that IBM system. More significantly, the institute hosted the first ARPANET node in the United Kingdom and, according to the available account, the first ARPANET node in Europe. This gave the institute a notable position in the early history of European access to the network that later evolved into the Internet. The Institute of Computer Science was dissolved in 1974. Its director moved to Birkbeck College, while its computing services were taken over by the University of London Computer Centre. The Atlas service and the computer centre initially operated in parallel during the transition. The institute's historical importance therefore lies not only in its academic programs but also in its role as an early shared-computing facility and a pioneering node in international computer networking. Alumni and former academic staff later held senior academic and research positions, extending the institute's influence beyond its period of operation.

• 1974

  Institute dissolved

  [1]Institute of Computer Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  The Institute of Computer Science was closed, and its computing services were transferred to the University of London Computer Centre.

• 1962

  Institute of Computer Science name in use

  [1]Institute of Computer Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was operating under the name Institute of Computer Science by 1962, when John Buxton was listed among its lecturers.

• 1957

  Richard Buckingham becomes director

  [1]Institute of Computer Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  Richard Buckingham became director of the Computer Unit and later continued as director of the Institute of Computer Science.

• University of London Computer Unit established

  [1]Institute of Computer Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  The organization appears to have begun as the University of London Computer Unit during the 1950s, although the precise foundation date is not established.

• Early European ARPANET node operates

  [1]Institute of Computer Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  The institute provided the first ARPANET node in the United Kingdom and, according to the historical account, the first such node in Europe.

A university-based center combining advanced computer-science education and research with practical computing and networking infrastructure.

• Postgraduate degree

  MSc in Computer Science

  The institute offered one of the early Master of Science courses in computer science. The program formed part of ICS's broader postgraduate teaching mission and was supported by staff working across software, hardware and applied computing.

• Postgraduate research

  PhD research supervision

  ICS supervised doctoral research in computer science and related technical fields. Its research environment included work associated with compilers, numerical methods, optimization, computing applications and computer systems.

• Mainframe computing service

  University of London Atlas Computing Service

  The institute operated an Atlas computer as a shared University of London computing service. It supported academic and applied programs, including compiler development, Fourier synthesis, transmission-line optimization and work related to English change ringing.

• Networking service

  ARPANET and remote job entry services

  ICS provided batch and interactive communications, including remote job entry to the Rutherford Laboratory's IBM 360/195. It also hosted the first United Kingdom ARPANET node and is described as having hosted the first ARPANET node in Europe.

• Professional education

  Computer-typesetting courses

  The institute supported informal courses explaining computer typesetting to officials connected with printing-industry trade unions. These courses addressed the practical effects of computing on the printing and publishing workflow.

1. 1Institute of Computer Scienceen.wikipedia.org