The impact of the IBM ® System/360 was felt the world over. The machine not only handled the workloads of hundreds of disparate industries, but also sparked innovation everywhere it was used. It enabled banks to complete online transactions in real time; it guided mankind to the moon; and its innovative emulator capability allowed the new mainframe to run programs from earlier systems. Upon its release, the IBM System/360 was one of the most advanced, powerful and widely sought-after computing systems in the world.
IBM System/360 at NASA
The System/360 Model 75 processed data for the first lunar landing 240,000 miles away from the moon, at NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. It was one of five System/360 machines used by NASA for the Apollo 11 mission and the same computer that later calculated liftoff data needed by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin for the flight back to Earth.
IBM System/360 in Japan
At Tokai Bank in Japan, all operations were performed manually, forcing employees to run calculations on abacuses into the late hours of the night. The arrival of the System/360 enabled the company to do away with abacuses and, in doing so, send employees home to spend more time with their families, drastically improving morale. Meanwhile, more work was completed in a shorter time frame, and customer satisfaction soared.
IBM System/360 peripherals
A standard interface made it easy for businesses to attach peripheral products to the System/360 processors. Third-party suppliers and manufacturers soon offered plug-compatible peripheral products. Thanks in part to the System/360, entrepreneurs and small businesses flourished.