TES 501/55 word processor
IBM’s vision for office word processing was usurped by the introduction of machines like the Olivetti TES (Text Editing System) word processor. The user was able to generate documents, correct and print them. The large drives on the right hand side could be used to save or load documents. The machine could be used within a larger system of Olivetti devices for the control of information.
Ettore Sottsass (1917 – 2007) was an Italian architect and designer whose profound impact on design practice and thinking spanned half a century. Sottsass’ design prowess moved effortlessly between designing complex information systems, such as Italy’s first mainframe computer (Elea 9000) in the late 1950s, to modern ceramics. Sottsass thought deeply about design and its role within society and industry; he was profoundly influenced by travels to India and the United States, and he published and spoke widely on the topic of design.
