HP 9100A programmable calculator (computer)
The Hewlett-Packard 9100A is a small computer with a sophisticated instruction set on the keyboard (‘software’ built in as hardware). It was developed from prototype to pilot run of final instruments in just 10 months by the HP Industrial Design group, with cabinet styling by Roy Ozaki and Don Aupperle. Those involved in the design project described it as exothermic – which implies the process was not driven but simply evolved without great effort.
In the late 1960s, small commercial computers had no real precedents in product styling. Designers often turned to science fiction for their inspiration where these futuristic devices did exist. The other major influence on the appearance of high technology products was the US space program. Author Arthur C Clarke attributes the inspiration for the name of the computer in Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968), the HAL 9000, to the HP 9000 series of computers.
Hewlett-Packard was ordered to pay about $900,000 in royalties to Olivetti for their imitation of the Programma 101 magnetic card feature and architecture.
