IBM announces the mid-range IBM System/38, a general purpose computer that incorporates new semiconductor technology. The System/38 is the only commercial computer with a built-in relational database.
IBM starts construction of a 43-story, five-sided office building at 590 Madison Avenue in New York City.
IBM also announces the 8100 Information System; the 3730 Distributed Office Communication System; the 3630 Plant Communications System; the Electronic Typewriter Models 50 and 60, both using microprocessors to provide electronic control of certain typing tasks; and the 5880 electrocardiograph system, as an aid in the physician's diagnostic decisions. In addition, the 3033 Multiprocessor Complex and the 3031 Attached Processor Complex are introduced.
The Research Division reports on experimental silicon microcircuit technology that achieves a nearly tenfold increase in circuit density over existing silicon circuits. Experiments show that 1/16 inch-square chips can contain up to 10,000 logic switches or 250,000 bits of memory.
