The IBM 2741 communication terminal at the inauguration of the Computer Centre, 1973
Administrators , Faculty , Inaugurations
The IBM 2741 was a printing communication terminal, inspired by the IBM Selectric typewriter. According to Wikipedia, it offered up to 50% higher speed compared to the teletypewriter machines which were used as printing terminals at the time. It also offered top quality printing, interchangeable type fonts and also upper and lower case letters. It also operated without much noise. A news report in The New Indian Express provides details about parts of the 370 computer system. According to the report, there were three typewriter terminals at IIT Madras that could type 15.5 characters per second.
From left, Dr. Erhard Eppler (Minister for Economic Co-operation, Federal Republic of Germany and chief guest), Mr. C. Subramaniam (Union Minister for Industrial Development and Science and Technology), Prof. H. N. Mahabala (Professor-in-charge, Computer Centre) and Mr. K. T. Chandy (Chairman, Board of Governors).
Dr. Eppler was appointed as Minister for Economic Cooperation in 1968. He served this position until 1974. Mr. Subramaniam had visited IIT Madras previously in 1961 when he was chief guest at the Second Institute Day. At the time, he was the Minister of Education, Law and Finance for Madras State. Prof. Mahabala was a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras from 1972 to 1995. He mentored many students during the course of his career. Mr. Chandy was the Founder-Director of the first Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta for five years from 1961.
- Contribute
to the Centre -
Monetary
Support 
Digital
Material
