I/O Selectric Typewriter

[Rick Bensene]

Billy Pettit wrote:

>Many of the computer systems of the 1960's and and early 70's used the
IBM
>Selectric typewriter as a console device.  A few even used it as a
>peripheral ...

Another source, although not exactly the same as a Selectric I/O, is the
Wang Model 611/711 Input/Output writer.  This was a rather standard IBM
Selectric 72 modified by Wang with solenoids and various switches, which
interfaced with a Wang 600 or 700-Series calculator, and provided full
input/output capabilities.  Like Selectric I/O's, these devices aren't
common, but they add to the search base.

The solenoids controlled the tilt/rotate action of the typeball, key
activation, index, carriage return, tab set, tab clear, tab, and
backspace.
The interface used Wang-proprietary character codes, but was a very
simple parallel interface.

Datasheet at http://oldcalculatormuseum.com/a-wang711.html

Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Web Museum
http://oldcalculatormuseum.com