Minicomputers employed large reels of tape to store information.
Minicomputer is a relative term. These antiquated machines were developed in the 1960's, and used heavily into the 1980's, at which point they were replaced by personal computers. Minicomputers were compact alternatives to the large, room-sized computers of the same era. Costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000 through the 60's and 70's, minicomputers had a limited range of functionality, and were used for three primary purposes: process control, data management, and communications.
Process Control
Minicomputers were often used in manufacturing sectors for process control. A minicomputer used for process control has two primary functions. The first function of a process control minicomputer is data acquisition. The second function of a process control minicomputer is feedback, or, controlling a process. A concrete example: a manufacturing plant uses a minicomputer. The minicomputer monitors the manufacturing process. If an element of the process slows, stops, or accelerates, the computer takes note (data acquisition) and makes the necessary adjustments to the system (feedback).
Data Management
Minicomputers used for data management can be employed to acquire data, as in process control, generate data, or simply as a storage system for information. An example of a minicomputer used for data management can be found in the case of a PDP-8 computer purchased by the Wesson Memorial Hospital of Springfield, Massachusetts, in the early 1970's. The computer was used to both generate and store radiation treatment plans for patients, and as a tumor registry system, through which the hospital create a database of all patient tumors and related information.
Communications
Minicomputers can be used as a communications tool in a larger system. For instance, if an operation is using both a minicomputer and a larger, central computer or processor, a minicomputer can be used as a portal of communication between the human element and central processor of the system. Operations like error checking, polling, and line buffering can be run through a minicomputer. A person can then check this information on the screen of other minicomputer, and use the minicomputer to communicate and necessary system adjustments to the central computer or processor.
Tags: process control, control minicomputer, data management, minicomputer used, process control minicomputer, central computer
