Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA logoLink to Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA
. 1994 Mar-Apr;1(2):91–107. doi: 10.1136/jamia.1994.95236152

The origins of informatics.

M F Collen 1
PMCID: PMC116189  PMID: 7719803

Abstract

This article summarizes the origins of informatics, which is based on the science, engineering, and technology of computer hardware, software, and communications. In just four decades, from the 1950s to the 1990s, computer technology has progressed from slow, first-generation vacuum tubes, through the invention of the transistor and its incorporation into microprocessor chips, and ultimately, to fast, fourth-generation very-large-scale-integrated silicon chips. Programming has undergone a parallel transformation, from cumbersome, first-generation, machine languages to efficient, fourth-generation application-oriented languages. Communication has evolved from simple copper wires to complex fiberoptic cables in computer-linked networks. The digital computer has profound implications for the development and practice of clinical medicine.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (2.1 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bacon G. Software. Science. 1982 Feb 12;215(4534):775–779. doi: 10.1126/science.215.4534.775. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bowie J. Methods of implementation of the MUMPS global data-base. Med Inform (Lond) 1979 Jul-Sep;4(3):151–164. doi: 10.3109/14639237909010910. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brazier M. A. From calculating machines to computers and their adoption by the medical sciences. Med Hist. 1973 Jul;17(3):235–243. doi: 10.1017/s002572730001872x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Buisseret P. D. Allergy. Sci Am. 1982 Aug;247(2):86–95. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican0882-86. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. CLARK W. A., MOLNAR C. E. THE LINC: A DESCRIPTION OF THE LABORATORY INSTRUMENT COMPUTER. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1964 Jul 31;115:653–668. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Crecine J. P. The next generation of personal computers. Science. 1986 Feb 28;231(4741):935–943. doi: 10.1126/science.231.4741.935. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Davis R. M. Evolution of computers and computing. Science. 1977 Mar 18;195(4283):1096–1102. doi: 10.1126/science.195.4283.1096. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Edelson B. I., Pollack L. Satellite communications. Science. 1977 Mar 18;195(4283):1125–1133. doi: 10.1126/science.195.4283.1125. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Greenes R. A. Medical computing in the 1980s. Operating system and programming language issues. J Med Syst. 1983 Jun;7(3):295–299. doi: 10.1007/BF00993292. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Greenes R. A., Pappalardo A. N., Marble C. W., Barnett G. O. Design and implementation of a clinical data management system. Comput Biomed Res. 1969 Oct;2(5):469–485. doi: 10.1016/0010-4809(69)90012-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Jennings D. M., Landweber L. H., Fuchs I. H., Farber D. J., Adrion W. R. Computer networking for scientists. Science. 1986 Feb 28;231(4741):943–950. doi: 10.1126/science.231.4741.943. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. LEDLEY R. S. Introduction to digital computers and automatic programming. Ire Trans Biomed Electron. 1961 Jul;8:158–167. doi: 10.1109/tbmel.1961.4322891. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Myer E. P. A time-sharing multi-unit computing system. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1966 Jan 31;128(3):738–745. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1965.tb11693.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Newell A., Sproull R. F. Computer networks: prospects for scientists. Science. 1982 Feb 12;215(4534):843–852. doi: 10.1126/science.215.4534.843. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Pierce J. R. Communication. Sci Am. 1972 Sep;227(3):31–41. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Pierce J. R. Electronics: past, present, and future. Science. 1977 Mar 18;195(4283):1092–1095. doi: 10.1126/science.195.4283.1092. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Rapp W. Fourth generation languages. Comput Healthc. 1985 Nov;6(12):38–40. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Shifman M., Jelovsek F. R. Prolog: a language for programming medical logic. MD Comput. 1988 Mar-Apr;5(2):36–40. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Simborg D. W. Local area networks: why? What? What if? MD Comput. 1984;1(4):10–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Stead W. W., Hammond W. E. Computer-based medical records: the centerpiece of TMR. MD Comput. 1988 Sep-Oct;5(5):48–62. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Walters R. F. File structures for database management systems. MD Comput. 1987 Sep-Oct;4(5):30–41. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Wiederhold G. Database technology in health care. J Med Syst. 1981;5(3):175–196. doi: 10.1007/BF02221994. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Yarchoan R., Mitsuya H., Broder S. AIDS therapies. Sci Am. 1988 Oct;259(4):110–119. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican1088-110. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

RESOURCES