Historical contribution
What McCarthy contributed
John McCarthy and others argued in the late 1950s that rapid computer switching could give many users interactive access.
Why it mattered
Replaces long batch turnaround and exclusive machine access with concurrent interactive sessions on a shared computer service.
Connected topics
Where this fits in ITEM
Evidence
Sources and further reading
- The Compatible Time-Sharing System (1961-1973): Fiftieth Anniversary Commemorative Overview
David Walden and Tom Van Vleck, eds · 2011