SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment), arsTECHNICA article, 1/4/2022, by Frank O'Brien

[UpForce]

Here's a somewhat thorough article about SAGE, the "Semi-Automatic Ground Environment" system co-ordinating air defense over North America from 1958, parts of it surviving operational up until the early 1980s.

The most important computer you’ve never heard of

How SAGE jumpstarted today’s technology and built IBM into a powerhouse.

arstechnica.com

I searched the forum but could not find a dedicated thread on the subject. Still, I decided to post the link here (in this section) as there are numerous mentions of SAGE in this forum but scattered all over different discussions. I don't know if there's enough there to pull it all together yet, my impression being that it's unlikely as the context of the references varied widely.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

I've been inside the ex-SAGE building on Luke AFB many times now. It has been converted into an office building that contains many of the base's administrative functions. It's still a windowless concrete bunker however. The people that work there refer to it variously as "The Big Ugly" or "The Blockhouse."


The building today


SAGE electronics back when it was operational

SAGE Documents

IBM100 - SAGE

 

[Dilandu]

Extremely interesting! Thanks for the link!