SAGE: Computer-based air defense, 1958-1982

Collection of the Computer History Museum. The event was recorded May 19, 1998.
In 1963, the last of 22 SAGE command centers was completed by contractors IBM, Western Electric, The RAND Corporation, and Burroughs. At a cost of $8 billion (1964 dollars), this vastly complex technological system, an outgrowth of MIT Lincoln Labs' Whirlwind II computer, represented the state of the art in strategic doctrine and computer systems design. Each one of the 22 SAGE command centers used over 49,000 vacuum tubes, weighed 250 tons, and consumed 3,000,000 watts of power.
The SAGE system linked these command centers into a technopolitical "shield" against Soviet strategic bomber attack. From a stark social context of high Cold War tensions emerged impressive technical advances in hardware and software systems design, real-time control, and air traffic monitoring.
Advances such as the light gun, modems, duplex CPUs, multiprocessing, A/D and D/A conversion techniques, as well as networking arose as ancillary technologies of SAGE development. But did SAGE really work as advertised? Should we care? This lecture reflects on these questions, SAGE's context, and its technical spinoffs.
The lecture takes place in front of 400 square feet of actual SAGE hardware, including Weapons Director and Intercept Technician consoles! This equipment is from the last functioning SAGE center in North Bay, Ontario(Canada), decommissioned in 1982. The USAF SAGE Film "In Your Defense" will also be shown. "I like Ike" buttons optional.
Catalog number: 102695337
Lot number: X4818.2009

[@goldgeologist5320]

When I arrived at Malmstrom AFB for missile duty in 1984 the SAGE computer was being disassembled for salvage. I asked to see it. Truly a great experience to see that monster!

[@mdf58]

The monitors, or Situation Information Displays, did not "give off a blue light". The name Blue Room was because the overhead fluorescent lighting was literally tinted blue, to allow viewing of the SID without out washout or glare. The lights were above a ceiling grid that was composed of plastic "eggcrate" panels that also helped to reduce any glare. The computer painted the monochrome screen in yellow on black, like early mono terminals.

[@Mark_Ocain]

Now THIS is interesting...how they kept this monster going for so long is a testament to technological evolution

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

,,,or DOD waste. Your call.

[@mzk1489]

I believe I remember Whirlwind in the old Smithsonian computer exhibit, when its main virtue was that, as it was not changed, became more historic year-by-year.

[@Mark_Ocain]

"but...they'll see everything...they'll see the big board!!" LOL

[@PBeringer]

Haha! This comment goddamn killed me ... 😂

[@rockets4kids]

@@PBeringer Ronald Reagan famously asked to see the war room during his early days as president...

[@PBeringer]

@@rockets4kids Haha! That's simultaneously amazing and totally unsurprising. I feel like I may have heard that before when talking to someone about Stangelove; the only film I've ever named as my favourite film.

[@B1900pilot]

The SAGE blockhouse is still standing at Stewart! Many of the old blogs too as of 2015.

[@PBeringer]

Love this talk; SAGE was such a monumental project. There's only one thing I can't determine about Paul Edwards' presentation ... cocaine or methamphetamine. Les Earnest's anecdotes are the best. The funniest is the story about Markov analysis revealing that the random bit stream generated by amplified noise from a dead phone line would take only two minutes to send a "FIRE" command. Haha! 😂

[@ChrisAthanas]

2:48 yes but most of that power was consumed by the heating elements in the tubes, it’s comparing apple and oranges for modern digital electronics power consumption

[@youreale]

oh thank you!!!!!!

[@oneproofwonder]

I didn't know that Jim Carrey was a computer historian!

[@widescreennavel]

If we still had SAGE, it would have been easy for all the employees to take their bog 'ol screens home with them, work from home!

[@littlebull8881]

This comes to mind. Roger Ramjet and his Eagles Fighting for our freedom Fly through in and outer space Not to join 'em but to beat 'em. Roger Ramjet, he's our man, Hero of our nation. For his adventures, just be sure To stay tuned to this station. So come and join us, all you kids, For lots of fun and laughter As Roger Ramjet and his men Get all the crooks they're after. Roger Ramjet, he's our man, Hero of our nation. For his adventures, just be sure To stay tuned to this station When Ramjet takes a Proton Pill, The crooks begin to worry. They can't escape their awful fate From Proton's mighty fury. Roger Ramjet, he's our man, Hero of our nation. For his adventures, just be sure To stay tuned to this station.

[@joshuawilkes5888]

mircro systems charged by 250.000 watts one million watts mega watts eletrocal production project ....

[@mortarmopp3919]

For the future: For Q&A, make sure there's a mic for the audience so we know what question is being asked.

[@mzk1489]

The SDI didn't have to work to succeed. They actually faked a test by having the missile blow itself up. But it succeeded because the USSR thought it had to compete and the Reagan administration realized that the USSR did not have the economic capacity to do so. Which led to Gorbachev and the end of the USSR.

[@vsenderov]

Uhm, no.

[@divakarhosamani4798]

What's the space force doing. Plucking flowers from Jupiter.

[@joshuawilkes5888]

a nework each sector computer insalation key point combat center higher comand into a centeralize ..long range radrs information flashed calculation o nconsole tracking operaters quickly identify alram sounds senior directer size up scope basic information assigened to ..immedtanly intercep have been scrambled tracking is good one two a vector symbol rl15 code number thus have the information he need speed towards target eletronic impules now comes the test calcualtion correct slighest free to ...concsole display and joined .....lock..... one important task to gudie back .....

[@marklandrebe3521]

No need to BS for 4 1/2 minutes.

[@danielyoung6630]

SO WHAT HAPPEN WHEN 911 KICKED IN SAGE COMMAND TOOK A OWDER?