Information Control Systems
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer programming, data processing, industrial automation hardware and software |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
| Products | Astrotype word processing system, Astrocomp publishing system |
Information Control Systems was established in 1962 as a firm specializing in computer programming and data processing, catering primarily to clients located in the Midwestern United States.
Overview
Originating in the mid-1960s through the efforts of a graduate student from the University of Michigan, ICS initially concentrated on designing industrial automation hardware and software within the Detroit, Michigan region. The company capitalized on the advent of affordable general-purpose computers from manufacturers such as Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, and Data General. Moving beyond purely software services, ICS evolved into a comprehensive "system" provider, developing both hardware and software components.
By the end of the 1960s, ICS identified significant commercial opportunities in IBM’s magnetic tape/Selectric typewriter (MT/ST) automated typing system, which had been introduced in 1964 as a tool to enhance document production efficiency. Leveraging its background in hardware automation and real-time programming, ICS sought to enhance the MT/ST by incorporating the PDP-8 computer alongside Digital Equipment Corporation’s innovative DECtape drive. In 1967, the company pivoted towards product creation, launching one of the earliest stand-alone computer-controlled word processing systems.
ICS combined the PDP-8 with DECtape’s 4-inch reels capable of storing over 350,000 characters—substantially more than the MT/ST’s 25,000-character capacity—and provided random access storage. This design resulted in a more versatile and powerful word processing solution. Additionally, it offered cost benefits by supporting up to eight terminals at an approximate cost of $10,000 per station, comparable to MT/ST pricing but with enhanced capabilities.
Similar to the MT/ST, ICS’s ASTROTYPE system utilized the IBM Selectric typewriter, specifically IBM’s “terminal” model (the IBM 2741), which delivered superior typing quality and featured an electronic interface for straightforward computer connectivity.
In October 1968, during the Business Equipment Manufacturers Association trade show held in Chicago, ICS unveiled its inaugural proprietary product: Astrotype. This system employed PDP-8 mini computers paired with modified IBM Selectrics running text editing software developed by ICS. Astrotype enabled organizations of varying sizes to perform computer-based text editing internally—a service previously accessible only through mainframe time-sharing systems. Initial shipments commenced in April 1969, with pricing ranging from $36,000 for a single typing station up to $59,000 for a configuration with four stations.
At the National Printing Equipment show in June 1971, ICS launched Astrocomp, designed specifically for the printing and publishing sectors. Astrocomp allowed users to create and edit original text intended for typesetting on Linotype machines or photocomposition devices from companies such as AM/Varityper, Merganthaler, and Compugraphic. The system generated punched paper or magnetic tape containing both textual content and control codes necessary to operate these machines.
Customers
- RR Donnelley
- First National Bank (Chicago)
- Time/Life Books
- Chi Systems
- Ohio Bell Telephone
- Weaver Composition
- Foxboro Co.
- Curtiss-Wright
- Stone & Webster Engineering
- Western Electric
- Montgomery Ward
- Otis Elevator Company (NYC)