The minicomputer phenomenon-projections for the next five years

In 1946, when the first electronic digital computer was unveiled, predictions were made that two such computers, one located on the East Coast and one located on the West Coast, would provide all of the computing power the U.S. would ever need. This prediction has proved particularly embarrassing in view of the proliferation of minicomputers over the last ten years. Heedless of the failure of this earlier prognosticator, this paper is an attempt to predict minicomputer trends over the next five years. Luckily, we have substantially more history on which to base our projections.