history of CAD

Before 1970

The first graphic system was used in the mid 1950’s. The system was developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory.
The system involved the use of CTR displays to show computer-processed radar data and other information.

In 1960, Ivan Sutherland used the TX-2 computer to produce a project called SKETCHPAD, which is considered the first step to CAD industry.

Parallel projects were developed at ITEK and General Motors.
The ITEK project was called The Electronic Drafting Machine and used PDP-1 computer from Digital Equipment Corp. Inputs commands were done with an electronic light pen.
While at General Motors Research Laboratories in the 1960s, Dr. Hanratty was a co-designer of DAC (Design Automated by Computer), the first production interactive graphics manufacturing system.

In 1960 McDonnell Douglas Automation Company (McAuto) founded. It will play a major role on CAD developments with the introduction of CADD program.

The ...