Baked into History: How a Bakery Invented the First Business Computer

Explore the remarkable and often overlooked history of LEO, the world's first computer designed specifically for commercial applications. We'll examine the unique rationale behind J. Lyons & Co.'s decision to develop an electronic programmable computer between 1949 and 1951.

The talk will trace the influence of wartime computing breakthroughs, including Colossus and ENIAC, and John von Neumann's revolutionary computer architecture. Learn how these developments led to EDSAC at Cambridge University and ultimately to the creation of LEO I, initially used to streamline J. Lyons & Co.'s business operations, and later offered via bureau services to companies like Ford of Britain.

We'll then follow LEO's progression through LEO II, LEO III, and LEO 326, highlighting key customers and applications throughout the 1960s and 70s. Finally, we'll discuss the mergers with English Electric and ICL, the eventual end of the LEO line, and its enduring legacy in systems analysis and design, including the lesser-known LEO DME project for Post Office Telephone Billing.

A view of the LEO co-ordinator - Central Control Units.

Arrival of LEO III/1 at Hartree House, 1962.

About the speaker

Vince Bodsworth brings a wealth of experience to this talk, having worked in the Information Technology industry from 1967 to 2010. His career began as a Systems Engineer for ICT/ICL and culminated in his role as the global Industry lead in Metals and Mining for Oracle. Vince's extensive international experience includes assignments in Africa, the Caribbean, the USA, Eastern Europe, and the Far East and Australasia. Throughout his career, he held diverse roles within the IT industry, both on the supply and user sides. Notably, when ICT/ICL and English Electric LEO Marconi merged in 1968, Vince worked alongside the pioneers who developed and sold LEO computers, deeply influencing his understanding of solution-oriented approaches in technology.

All images courtesy of the LEO Computers Society.