Title
IBM 801 Microprocessor oral history panelCatalog Number
102740048Type
DocumentDescription
This oral history brought together 5 of the key engineers on the IBM 801 RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) design team. This team was responsible for implementing the radical vision of their boss, John Cocke, to design a faster computer by making it simpler rather than more complex. Mr. Cocke was the primary originator of the idea to implement a computer with relatively few single-clock-cycle instructions rather than the myriad of complex instructions which the computers of the day needed to execute.The work was done at IBM between 1974 and 1978. The work was done in IBM’s research division and was not targeted at a specific product at the time. Although their work did not result directly in a product, the architectural ideas spread to many IBM divisions and layed the ground work for many future IBM products including PowerPC, RS/6000, and others. Their work also had a tremendous influence on non-IBM companies such as SUN, Acorn (UK), MIPs, Intel, and others.
Each of the panel members also emphasized the teamwork and cooperation of the design team – both hardware and software – and their pleasure in working for John Cocke.
Date
2014-10-27Contributor
| Carrubba, Frank, Panelist |
| Fairbairn, Douglas, Moderator |
| Freitas, Richard, Panelist |
| Garner, Robert, Moderator |
| Markstein, Peter, Panelist |
| Markstein, Vicky, Panelist |
| Oehler, Richard, Panelist |
