IBM Hypertape drives (center) represented
the latest development in magnetic tape system technology
when introduced in 1961. The 7340 drives, with the
7640 control unit (left), could be linked with IBM
7074, 7080 and 7090 data processing systems. When
installed with the first two of these systems, Hypertape
achieved faster read and write speeds than tape
units used with any other commercially-available
data processing systems. When used with the 7090,
Hypertape nearly doubled the ability to send and
receive data on tape compared with units previously
used with that system. Hypertape could complement
IBM 729 tape units (right) in typical computer installations.