Four prospective users of UNIVAC 1103A computers and Sperry-UNIVAC representatives met in Los Angeles in December 1955 to form UNIVAC Scientific Exchange (USE), a user's group for large scale UNIVAC scientific computers. Early in USE's history, the organization developed a USE compiler and distributed an extensive library of programs among its members.
USE adapted to the introduction of new computers in the Sperry-UNIVAC line by broadening its membership policies. In 1964, the term "UNIVAC Large-Scale Scientific Computers" was adopted to refer to a general type of computer rather than a specific model (the 1103A). In 1966, the word "Scientific" was removed from the phrase.
USE cooperated with the UNIVAC User's Association (UUA) [UUA later became America's UNIVAC User's Association] on several joint conferences in the mid-1960s. After 1968, each organization held separate conferences after a large membership growth in both groups. By 1980, USE (now USE, Inc.) had a membership of 375 organizations and held two conferences annually.
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Bibliography:
- M.M. Maynard. "USE." In Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Engineering. 2nd edition. Anthony Ralston, ed. New
York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1983. pp. 1552-1553.
From the guide to the USE, Inc. records, 1955-1987, (University of Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute. [cbi])
