Computers and National Security

The digital computer was spawned by World War II. Military requirements have continued to pace computer development. Computer technology and weapon system sophistication have marched in tandem. Neither has dominated, but current weapon systems, operations, and management are impossible without the computer. Almost 90 percent of the Government's current stock of 5000 plus computers are devoted to defense and space activities, reversing the civilian use pattern of at least ten times that number of machines.