CEO (Data General)
| Company type | Software suite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Office automation software |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Data General |
| Products | Word processing, email, spreadsheet, business graphics, desktop utilities |
| Owner | Data General |
Comprehensive Electronic Office (CEO) represented an office automation package developed by Data General and introduced in 1981. This suite incorporated functionalities such as word processing, email, spreadsheet capabilities, business graphics, and various desktop utilities, predominantly written in PL/I for use on the AOS and AOS/VS operating systems.
Overview
Designed to promote a paperless office, CEO functioned as a model for both executive information system and decision support system applications. At its foundation was the Control Program, which offered a menu-based interface compatible with terminals of that era and coordinated distinct services including Mail, Calendar, and File Servers. The suite encompassed a Word Processor alongside data management utilities accessible through the Control Program interface. In 1985, Data General released TEO (Technical Electronic Office), aimed at engineering users by providing advanced graphics, windowing features, and AI capabilities.
Later iterations of CEO extended connectivity to early personal computers through products like CEO Connection and CEO Object Office, the latter incorporating the object-oriented graphical environment of HP NewWave. The system was heavily dependent on the INFOS II database; however, it was never migrated to the AViiON platform because of prohibitive expenses.
CEO's main competition came from IBM's PROFS, while it supported integration with DISOSS, SNADS, and Data General's proprietary networking solution, Xodiac. In 1989, Data General introduced Communications Server, an email gateway that facilitated CEO's compatibility with X.400 messaging systems and X.500 directory services.
Among the earliest adopters was Deutsche Credit in Chicago, which had expanded to 80 users by 1986 following beta testing that began in 1980. Other notable implementations included the U.S. Forest Service, which deployed CEO in 1983 but encountered a security breach in 1984, as well as Health and Welfare Canada, which employed CEO for departmental email communications.