Computer pioneer and tea-shop-automator David Caminer dies at 92
In today's NYT, an obituary for David Caminer, "the first corporate electronic systems analyst." He worked for the Lyons chain of tea shops in the UK, and developed early ways to use computers for business purposes in the 1950s, "including standardizing flavorful, cost-effective cups of tea." He died June 19 in London, at age 92. Snip:
The death was announced by the Leo Computers Society, whose purpose is to keep alive the memory of LEO, the computer Mr. Caminer helped develop for J. Lyons & Company. It was the world’s first business computer, a distinction certified by Guinness World Records.David Caminer, a Pioneer in Computers, Dies at 92 [NYT]Lyons was the first company in the world to computerize its commercial operations, partly because it had so many of them: it had more than 200 teahouses in London and its suburbs, with each Lyons Corner House daily generating thousands of paper receipts and needing scores of fresh baked items.
In addition to running the tea shops, Lyons catered large events like tennis at Wimbledon and garden parties at Windsor Castle; it also operated hotels, laundries, and ice cream, candy and meat pie companies. And, of course, tea plantations.
As a result, the company required exceptionally efficient office support. So it was only natural it would look at the “electronic brains” that scientists in the United States were developing for scientific and military purposes as a way to streamline its own empire. Mr. Caminer’s role was finding ways to retain traditional clerical rigor while speeding up the company’s logistics and finances many times over.
See also: LEO Computers Website, "the LEO Computers Society, membership of which is open to all ex-employees of LEO Computers and its succeeding companies, and anyone who worked on a LEO computer."
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"including standardizing flavorful, cost-effective cups of tea."
Is that like "almost but not quite entirely unlike tea"?
I wonder if this was the origin of Douglas Adams' idea?
I have a book about him and the story of the computer that I bought in London several years ago - It's called "A Computer called LEO." Great book and fascinating story. Here it is on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Called-Leo-Georgina-Ferry/dp/1841151866/
The NYT seems to think the electronic computer is an American invention that Caminer had to look to the US for. From Charles Babbage to the Mark 1, the UK pioneered computing. Hell, Lyons Teashops invented Starbucks.
The NYT seems to think the electronic computer is an American invention that Caminer had to look to the US for. From Charles Babbage to the Mark 1, the UK pioneered computing
It isn't that simple. LEO was based on EDSAC, a British computer that was based on the American EDVAC design. However, it's true that EDSAC was the first practical computer based on the design.
Hell, Lyons Teashops invented Starbucks
Nah, Starbucks is too high end/overpriced. I'd say more that Lyons pioneered Tim Hortons (a Canadian chain)
Eutychus:
If you have enjoyed this beverage please share it with a friend. Share and Enjoy.
That was my first thought, too.
When working at AOL UK, I thought it was a marvellous omen that the offices on Hammersmith Road were on the site of the original Lyons buildings (Cadby Hall) where LEO was housed. The only hint of what used to be there is a little street-let called Lyons Walk, where homeless people hang out and drink.
Where Cadby Hall used to be, you have AOL Europe, the bits they sold to Carphone Warehouse, plus a Cable and Wireless office building - so there is still a tech presence.