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Applied Logic Corporation

Applied Logic Corporation (AL/COM) was a time-sharing company in the 1960s and 70s.

Applied Logic Corporation
IndustryTime-sharing computers
Founded1962; 62 years ago (1962) in Princeton, New Jersey
Defunct1975 (1975)
FateBankruptcy
Key people
Richard M. Colgate (president)

Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, AL/COM started in 1962 working on "mathematical techniques and their applications to problem-solving."[1]

Seeing the need for in-house time sharing the company bought a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-6 and developed its time sharing service, which came on-line in 1966.[1][2] In 1968 the company began development of "Mathematics Park" in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, "designed to provide tenants with a computer-serviced and mathematically-oriented environment," adjacent to the Princeton Airport.[3] Also in 1968 the company registered AL/COM as a trademark for its service.[4]

The system involved both custom software and custom hardware, and the service was marketed nationally by a network of associates.[5]

Under the AL-COM Distributor Plan, local computer service firms such as service bureaus, programming, and software firms will be designated as the local AL-COM distributor. The AL-COM distributor will purchase AL-COM computing power at a discount from the Applied Logic Corp., and then in turn sell it at a mark-up.[6]

In the late 1960s, the company developed a system called SAM (Semi-Automated Mathematics) for proving mathematical theories without human intervention.[7] A theorem proved by the system, "SAM's lemma", was "widely hailed as the first contribution of automated reasoning systems to mathematics."[8] The SAM series was one of the first interactive theorem provers and had an influence on subsequent theorem provers.[9]

In 1965 Applied logic acquired a DEC PDP-6 computer system,[10] which became operation in January 1966.[1] By 1969 the company had four DEC PDP-10 dual systems with plans for a fifth, and had expanded nationwide with offices in San Jose, San Diego, and San Francisco.[11] The company also planned to market its time sharing systems in addition to providing services.[12] The company reported sales of $1,200,995, with an operational loss of $63,456.[13]

By 1972 AL/COM had local dial-up facilities in ten cities: Boston, Massachusetts, Buffalo, New York, Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana, Montclair, New Jersey, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Princeton, New Jersey, Washington, DC, and Wilmington, Delaware.[1] The computer center was located in Mathematics Park in Princeton.[12]

By late 1969 AL/COM had definite plans for CIT Leasing to leaseback $2.73 million USD of their equipment at Mathematics Park and was considering an additional $7.5 million more.[14] By 1970 the company was in financial difficulty and negotiated an agreement to defer $1,300,000 of debt.[15][16] Applied Logic filed for Chapter XI bankruptcy in 1975.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Auerbach Publishers (1972). Auerbach Guide to Time Sharing (PDF). Philadelphia, PA. p. 86.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "Center Offers Shared Use of Computer". The Central New Jersey Home News. 12 Jan 1966. Retrieved Dec 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "Construction Underway for Mathematics Park". The Central New Jersey Home News. 27 Jan 1969. Retrieved Dec 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "Legal Force Trademarkia". Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  5. ^ "Time Sharing Users: What's an AL/COM (advertisement)". Hartford Courant. 16 Mar 1969. Retrieved Dec 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "New Computer Plan Unveiled". The Central New Jersey Home News. 2 May 1968.
  7. ^ Krantz, Steven G. (2011). The Proof is in the Pudding: The Changing Nature of Mathematical Proof. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-387-48908-7. Retrieved Jan 9, 2020.
  8. ^ MacKenzie, Donald A. (2004). Mechanizing Proof: Computing, Risk, and Trust. MIT Press. p. 89. ISBN 0-262-13393-8. Retrieved Jan 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Harrison, John (2007). "A Short Survey of Automated Reasoning". Algebraic Biology. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Vol. LNCS 4545. Springer. pp. 334–349. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-73433-8_24. ISBN 978-3-540-73432-1. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Decuscope" (PDF). Decuscope. 4 (1). January 1965. Retrieved Jan 9, 2020.
  11. ^ "First Dual AL-10 Activated in AL/Com's T/S Network". ComputerWorld. September 10, 1969. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "APPLIED LOGIC EXPANDS". Town Topics. November 20, 1969. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  13. ^ "EARNINGS REPORTED". Town Topics. June 12, 1969. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  14. ^ "Lease Arrangement Set By C.I.T. and Applied Logic". Town Topics. November 13, 1969. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  15. ^ "Applied Logic Lays Off 40% of Workers, All in R&D". Computer World. May 13, 1970. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  16. ^ "In re APPLIED LOGIC CORPORATION, Bankrupt. NEW JERSEY NATIONAL BANK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Daniel GUTTERMAN, as Trustee of Applied Logic Corporation, Bankrupt, Defendant-Appellee". April 27, 1978. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
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