I actually had a part-time job where you clocked in / out using ink-based punchards. But if I'm honest, it felt very antique already then (early 2000s).
Also, "Supervisors of the Census"? Looks like Marvel is finally running out of ideas. 2/10, would not watch.
Plus when I started in IT in 1979 we had a punch room to punch our COBOL onto cards, we just did the control cards. Paper tape was still being used too.
We had simple punch machines in the office to correct any cards with errors. Getting a program coded error-free took ages as every turn around was a day.
People really don't understand how incredible computers are today. Like, really, truly astoundingly simple to use, and you can do damn near anything with them.
What's the latest date y'all were still using punch cards (not the clocking in type, of course)?
I didn't know that! My college job working for UPS I had to badge in and out, not really the same. Other than that I don't think I've used punch cards. Fascinating stuff.
We were developing database software for mini computers, the precursor to personal computers.
The NCR system (a mainframe) used something called the boot deck which was comprised of punch cards. The cards were placed in a specific order, into a sleeve that looked something like what a dealer uses in Las Vegas. The cards instructed how the machine would start up. If the order was off, the machine wouldn’t boot (start) up. One office prank was to take an old deck place it in the sleeve and then let it tumble to the ground scattering them all over the floor, saying oops.
All machine language instructions (assembler language) fed to the IBM systems (also mainframes) used punch cards. Most IBM machines were programmed with assembler language, the database we were developing was coded in assembly. I was fluent in assembly and punched many cards in my day. IBM went kicking and screaming into modern times when it was clear mini computers were the next path forward. Sun microsystems and Bell Labs were refining something called UNIX OS which is where your C compilers came from. I left the database environment and moved into MCAE (Mechanical Computer Aided Engineering) where the next time I saw an IBM computer it was sporting a UNIX O.S. with no punch cards.
Yes, indeed! My mom was trained on punch cards and plug boards but got married and never went any further. Maybe this is why I became a programmer/analyst?
That's an interesting read!!! Inventions are amazing. I can't say that I've ever worked with punch cards. No job that I had ever required them but I know that many jobs DO infact require them. It's very interesting to me. How things change so much over time, yet they don't really change 100%.
I actually had a part-time job where you clocked in / out using ink-based punchards. But if I'm honest, it felt very antique already then (early 2000s).
Also, "Supervisors of the Census"? Looks like Marvel is finally running out of ideas. 2/10, would not watch.
It's right up there with the Elders of the Internet!
https://goatfury.substack.com/p/the-elders-of-the-internet
Shameless rip-off, if ever I saw one!
But is it AI-ink?`!
Yep. I punched into work.
Plus when I started in IT in 1979 we had a punch room to punch our COBOL onto cards, we just did the control cards. Paper tape was still being used too.
We had simple punch machines in the office to correct any cards with errors. Getting a program coded error-free took ages as every turn around was a day.
Grinding! Tedious!
People really don't understand how incredible computers are today. Like, really, truly astoundingly simple to use, and you can do damn near anything with them.
What's the latest date y'all were still using punch cards (not the clocking in type, of course)?
Yes did - to get off of them.
To get off of college campuses, you used punch cards?
I work as a consultant in industry.
I didn't know that! My college job working for UPS I had to badge in and out, not really the same. Other than that I don't think I've used punch cards. Fascinating stuff.
We used punch cards in a business environment.
We were developing database software for mini computers, the precursor to personal computers.
The NCR system (a mainframe) used something called the boot deck which was comprised of punch cards. The cards were placed in a specific order, into a sleeve that looked something like what a dealer uses in Las Vegas. The cards instructed how the machine would start up. If the order was off, the machine wouldn’t boot (start) up. One office prank was to take an old deck place it in the sleeve and then let it tumble to the ground scattering them all over the floor, saying oops.
All machine language instructions (assembler language) fed to the IBM systems (also mainframes) used punch cards. Most IBM machines were programmed with assembler language, the database we were developing was coded in assembly. I was fluent in assembly and punched many cards in my day. IBM went kicking and screaming into modern times when it was clear mini computers were the next path forward. Sun microsystems and Bell Labs were refining something called UNIX OS which is where your C compilers came from. I left the database environment and moved into MCAE (Mechanical Computer Aided Engineering) where the next time I saw an IBM computer it was sporting a UNIX O.S. with no punch cards.
Collette, I get the sense that you got to work on a little bit of history there.
I registered for college classes using punch cards in 1983. One had to go to the professor to "get a card" for that class. This was hi-tech!
Oh wow! How did the actual cards get punched? I can't believe I never asked my folks about this!
Good question, one I never thought to ask at the time. All I know is if the professor ran out of cards you were SOL. :-)
Dang, I was hoping you had punched some holes yourself. Maybe someone will read this who did that, and we can hear from them!
Yes, indeed! My mom was trained on punch cards and plug boards but got married and never went any further. Maybe this is why I became a programmer/analyst?
My parents were both teachers, and I don't seem to be able to get away from teaching!
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
That's an interesting read!!! Inventions are amazing. I can't say that I've ever worked with punch cards. No job that I had ever required them but I know that many jobs DO infact require them. It's very interesting to me. How things change so much over time, yet they don't really change 100%.
They've seen a lot of highs and lows.
The punch-card stuff was before my time. But I have heard of IBM, of course, and now I know a bit more about their past.
David, you're probably very familiar with their battles with Apple over the decades. That is my era too.