Monday, 28 November 2011

The federal government's secret 1966 cloud computing plan

Even as far back as 45 years ago, the US federal government was debating and struggling with ways to consolidate its data centers and become more service-oriented across its agency silos. At the time, though, it looked like the cost would have been $2 million a year to start ? a bargain compared to today?s $80 billion-a-year IT budget.

From The Lewiston Daily, June 14, 1966:

?WASHINGTON ? A special White House Task Force is recommending the creation of a federal data center which would eventually have a comprehensive file on every man, woman and child in the country. Now under study in inner administration circles, the still-secret report advocates the gradual transfer of all government records and statistics to magnetic computer tape, which would be turned over to a newly created agency that would function as a general data center. The computerized information would be available, at the touch of a button, to a wide range of government authorities. Estimated cost of the proposed center (which would have to be approved by Congress before becoming a reality) is $2 million the first few years, around $12 million when in full operation.

?A vast accumulation of government records already is on computer tape and could be turned over to the proposed general data center immediately. Listed among those available files are [records maintained by the Internal Revenue Service, Defense Department, Civil Service Commission, FBI, Social Security Administration, Census Bureau, Labor and Agricultural Departments, Office of Education].?

My, how times change. And apparently, the plan to get rid of all those silos did not work back then

Joe McKendrick is an author, consultant and speaker specializing in trends and developments shaping the technology industry.

Disclosure

Joe McKendrick

Joe McKendrick is an independent consultant, editor and speaker.

Joe has performed project work (white papers, articles, blogs, research and presentations) for the following companies in the IT marketspace:

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Joe has also performed research work for the following sponsoring organizations in partnership with Unisphere Research, a division of Information Today, Inc.

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Biography

Joe McKendrick

Joe McKendrick is an author and independent analyst who tracks the impact of information technology on management and markets. Joe is co-author, along with 16 leading industry leaders and thinkers, of the SOA Manifesto, which outlines the values and guiding principles of service orientation. He also speaks frequently on Enterprise 2.0 and SOA topics at industry events and Webcasts. As an independent analyst, he has also authored numerous research reports in partnership with Unisphere Research, a division of Information Today, Inc. for user groups such as SHARE, Oracle Applications Users Group, and International DB2 Users Group. Joe is also an active SOA contributor for ebizQ/TechTarget. In a previous life, Joe served as director of the Administrative Management Society (AMS), an international professional association dedicated to advancing knowledge within the IT and business management fields.

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