Episode 46: The punch card machine
The image of Técnico students reading on the steps of the Main Building marked the institution during the 1980s. But more than a passion for literature, it showed the wait for reports on their computer programming work. The process was analog, using cards that were punched so they could then be read by the IBM 360 computer. It could take hours, or days if errors were found, and all 1st year students at Técnico went through this. It is the opposite of the real-time programming that is done today, but not everything was a disadvantage. It was crucial to think before programming and it may be important to do other things [like reading and going to the movies] during the programming period. “While we’re doing it, the brain continues to program.”
- Acknowledgements:
Custódio Peixeiro
Mário Ramalho
Teresa Vazão
Episode only available in Portuguese in: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Anchor.fm
Further reading and additional audio in the Portuguese version of this webpage.