Access for Everyone: Computing at Drexel, 1946-1984

Computer use at Drexel continued to grow and diversify throughout the 1970s. A 1969 survey of Drexel departments revealed interest in computing across schools and disciplines, including library science and home economics. Computer usage and research had also spread beyond the centralized Computing Center. A special section of the Lexerd in 1972 described two student research projects that incorporated computers: adapting a special purpose computer for more general electrical engineering research, and building a computer that played a perfect game of tic-tac-toe. In June 1979, Jerry Kenig, assistant to President Hagerty, completed a report of the computer technology available at that time, which included main-frame computers, supercomputers, and mini-computers (personal computers). Despite the cover image of a giant computer system, the report noted the rise of mini-computers and recommended that Drexel allow their use.