Eric Hankam at IBM
Watson Scientific Computing Laboratory at Columbia University
(1945-1959)
- Education:
- I taught one hundred eleven computer science classes. The majority of
courses were three weeks long, attended by scientifically oriented people
from IBM, industry, government, and universities. Among the classes taught
by me were one- and two-semester graduate-level Columbia University courses
given by the Electrical Engineering and Astronomy Departments. I had
responsibilities for the creation and organization of the course
material. Topics covered the then current machines, ranging from
wired-program calculators to stored-program computers. Over 1600 people from
20 countries came for instruction.
- Consultation:
- I advised visiting scientists on the use of the Laboratory's computing
facilities for their research projects. Machines were used to solve a wide
range of computational problems in all branches of science. Researchers came
to me for guidance on the application of computational techniques to the
solution of their problems. Projects included doctoral dissertations in the
fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, crystallography,
biology, etc.
- Publications:
- I published several technical articles in the IBM Technical Newsletter
series edited by the IBM Applied Science Department. I contributed to the
compilation of a bibliography on the use of IBM machines in science,
statistics and education (see Publication
List).
Mathematics and Application Department - The NY Scientific Center
(1960-1965)
- Programming:
- I participated in the development of a program for a weather forecasting
project.
- Research:
- I studied S/360 architecture (prior to its release), and instructed NY
Scientific Center scientists on the principles of operations of S/360
hardware.
- Education:
- I taught classes on S/360 architecture and assembler language at the
Systems Research Institute (SRI) and, for World Trade, in London and Paris.
- Publication;
- I co-authored a paper with Dr. Susan Hahn (for the IBM Systems Journal)
on "Kernel Analysis of Elliptical Partial Differential Equations"
(see Publication List)
New York Field Systems Center (1966-1967 and 1970-1972)
- Consultation:
- I provided technical assistance to the field on all aspects of the PL/I
high-level programming language, and conducted frequent on-site half-day
PL/I seminars.
- Education:
- I taught two-week PL/I courses periodically at customer locations, and
at various IBM Education Centers, including classes on advanced PL/I topics
in Amsterdam (two classes), Stockholm, and Milan.
Corporate Information Systems Education Department (1968-1969)
- Course development:
- I developed a PL/I course curriculum, which was the basis for, and
eventually evolved into a comprehensive two-week class covering the entire
PL/I language. Morning lectures were supplemented by afternoon laboratory
sessions.
- Course conduction:
- I taught PL/I classes for IBM programmers.
New York Advanced Education Center (1973-1980)
- PL/I Education:
- I taught two-week comprehensive PL/I classes on a monthly basis. I
developed and updated my own course material covering current PL/I
compilers, and trained students to make effective use of the PL/I language
using a structured programming style. Most classes were held in New York
City; classes were also given in San Francisco (3), Los Angeles (3), and one
each in Chicago, Houston, Washington, Boston, and Cambridge (at M.I.T.).
- PL/I Presentations:
- I scheduled and conducted numerous half-day PL/I seminars at customer
locations, and IBM branch offices on a nation-wide basis. Lecture topics
covered both elementary and advanced PL/I features.
- PL/I Consultation:
- I offered technical assistance to the field, principally by telephone
and conference calls, and occasional tutorials.
Corporate Information Systems Education Facility (1981-1985)
- PL/I Education:
- I taught two-week PL/I Programming classes for IBM programmers. Course
topics covered the entire PL/I language as implemented for the Optimizing
and Checkout Compilers. Lectures emphasized efficient use of language
features adopting a structured programming approach. The course included
laboratory workshops with machine time for running student exercises. The
course was developed and continuously updated by me. Students were assumed
to have a programming background. Most classes were held in New York City;
one course a year, in January, was given in Tucson.
- PL/I Seminars:
- I scheduled and conducted a variety of half-day PL/I seminars on
advanced PL/I topics. Classes were scheduled on request, and held on-site at
IBM and customer locations. Most popular lectures included subjects on
program checkout and program optimization.
- Hankam, Eric V., "A Card-Programmed 602-A Board",
IBM Watson Laboratory (25 Nov 1951).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Linear Equations and Matrix Inversion",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.3, Applied Science
Department (December 1951).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Matrix and Vector Algebra",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.3, Applied Science
Department (December 1951).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Notes on the IBM 604 Electronic Calculating Punch
and Type 602-A Calculating Punch",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.3, Applied Science
Department (December 1951).
- Franklin, Ann D., and Eric V. Hankam,
Bibliography on the Use of IBM Machines in Science, Statistics,
and Education, IBM Watson Laboratory (Jan 1952).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Boolean Notation for Selector Networks",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.5, Applied Science
Division (August 1953).
- Beach, Ann F., Eric V. Hankam, and Kathleen M. Sweeney,
Bibliography on the Use of IBM Machines in Science, Statistics,
and Education, International Business Machines Corporation
(Jan 1954).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Notes on the CPC Model II and Component
Machines",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.7, Applied Science
Division (August 1954).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Notes on the 602-A and 604"
(Supplement to Technical Newsletter No.3),
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.7, Applied Science
Division (August 1954).
- Hankam, Eric V., "15×15 Multiplication on the 604",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.7, Applied Science
Division (August 1954).
- Hankam, Eric V., "16×16 Multiplication on the 604",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.7, Applied Science
Division (August 1954).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Calculation of High Order Differences on the
607 Electronic Calculator", IBM Technical Newsletter, No.7,
Applied Science Division (August 1954).
- Hankam, Eric V., "Illustrative Coding Techniques for the IBM 650",
IBM Watson Scientific Computing Laboratory, New York
(30 Sep 1954), 24pp.
- Hankam, Eric V., "Floating Point Subroutines for the 608 Transistorized
Calculator", IBM Watson Scientific Computing Laboratory, New York
(31 Dec 1955), 8pp.
- Hankam, Eric V., "An Approach to Stored Programming on the
607 Electronic Calculator",
IBM Technical Newsletter, No.12, Applied Science
Division (June 1956).
- Alsop, Joyce, Anne T. Flanagan, and Eric V. Hankam,
Bibliography on the Use of IBM Machines in Science, Statistics,
and Education, International Business Machines Corporation (Jan 1956).
- Hahn, S.G., and E.V. Hankam, "Kernel analysis of elliptic partial
differential equations", IBM Systems Journal, Vol.5 No.4
(1966).
- Hankam, Eric V., PL/I Teaching Outline for Optimizing and Checkout
Compilers, IBM Corporate I/S Education Facility, ZZ23-0266-0
(June 1983).
Appendix: Course statistics and other information
Based on available records and recollection.
- Comprehensive courses:
-
| Number of PL/I courses taught
| 173
| attended by 5107 students
|
| Total number of courses taught
| 293
| attended by 6907 students
|
(This includes 111 Computer Science classes given at the Watson Laboratory
at Columbia University, and 9 classes on S/360 architecture. Estimated
number of students in those classes is 1800.)
- PL/I Seminars:
-
| Number of PL/I seminars conducted on-site
| 399
|
|
| Number of PL/I seminars held at the NYAEC
| 44
|
|
| Total number of PL/I seminars conducted
| 443
|
|
- Post-retirement professional activities:
-
| Number of PL/I courses taught (after retirement)
| 7
| (4 in NYC, 3 in Tucson)
|
| Total number of PL/I courses taught (since 1966)
| 180
|
|
| Total number of courses taught (since 1945)
| 300
|
|
Breakdown of on-site PL/I seminars (approximate):
| Locality:
| Organization:
|
| Alabama...1
| Industry...257
|
| Arizona...25
| Government...49
|
| California...26
| Universities...22
|
| Colorado...27
| Columbia...2
|
| Connecticut...14
| Cornell...2
|
| Delaware...3
| Johns Hopkins-Applied Physics Lab.
|
| Distr. of Columbia...15
| MIT
|
| Florida...3
| NYU
|
| Georgia...3
| Penn State
|
| Illinois...5
| Princeton...3
|
| Indiana...3
| Rutgers...2
|
| Iowa...3
| Stanford
|
| Kansas...1
| SUNY (Binghamton)
|
| Kentucky...1
| University of California (Berkeley)
|
| Maryland...19
| University of California (Medical Center)
|
| Massachusetts...18
| University of Iowa
|
| Michigan...8
| University of Maryland
|
| Minnesota...2
| University of Syracuse
|
| Missouri...3
| Vassar
|
| Nebraska...2
| Yale
|
| New Jersey...47
| AT&T...11
|
| New York...126
| Bell Labs...9
|
| North Carolina...4
| Pacific Bell Tel...5
|
| Ohio...2
| NY Tel-Verizon...3
|
| Oklahoma...4
| Exxon-Mobil...6
|
| Oregon...1
| Union Carbide...6
|
| Pennsylvania...10
| CBS...5
|
| Puerto Rico...2
| Morgan Guaranty...5
|
| Texas...7
| J.P. Morgan Chase Bank...4
|
| Virginia...6
| Citibank...3
|
| Washington...2
| General Motors...4
|
| West Virginia...3
| American Airlines...3
|
| Wisconsin...3
| RAND Corporation...3
|
|
| Central Intelligence Agency...3
|
|
| National Security Agency...2
|
|
| Library of Congress...2
|
|
| Internal Revenue Service
|
|
| Geological Survey
|
|
| US Mint
|
|
| Strategic Air Command
|
|
| City of Los Angeles...2
|
Eric V. Hankam / New York, NY / January 1988 / Last Update:
11 Dec 2003