Three Rivers Computer Corporation
An American computer company that developed graphics systems, research peripherals, and the PERQ workstation.
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Overview
Three Rivers Computer Corporation, commonly abbreviated as 3RCC, was an American computer company established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May 1974. It originated as a spinoff from the Research Engineering Laboratory of the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University. The company was founded by Brian S. Rosen, James R. Teter, William H. Broadley, J. Stanley Kriz, D. Raj Reddy, and Paul G. Newbury, and was created to commercialize advanced computer-display, peripheral, and systems research. During its early years, Three Rivers pursued technically ambitious products for graphics, video, scientific research, music and speech research, and computer diagnostics. Its GDP/2A Graphics Display Processor incorporated a high-speed vector generator capable of drawing more than 50,000 vectors at a 60 Hz refresh rate. The CVD/2 Color Video Display System generated full-color raster-scanned images and used a data-compression approach intended to support full-frame animation. The company also developed the ADA-16, a set of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters designed for high-fidelity music and speech research, and the UMB-11 Unibus Monitor, a lower-cost diagnostic and test instrument for PDP-11 minicomputers. Three Rivers became best known for the PERQ, a family of single-user, high-performance workstation computers introduced as the company's principal product line in 1979. PERQ systems combined comparatively powerful processing capability for their period with advanced graphical display hardware. They were positioned for demanding technical and research applications rather than as ordinary consumer personal computers. The workstation represented a shift in the company's business from supplying specialized components and instruments toward delivering complete computer systems. In the summer of 1980, Three Rivers divested itself of activities unrelated to PERQ, concentrating its resources on the workstation business. Beginning in 1981, the company developed and produced PERQ systems jointly with International Computers Limited (ICL) in the United Kingdom. This relationship gave the PERQ line an international manufacturing and commercial dimension while maintaining Three Rivers' role in the underlying workstation business. The corporate identity subsequently changed as the company focused almost entirely on its flagship workstation. In 1984, Three Rivers Computer Corporation changed its name to PERQ Systems Corporation. The renamed company became insolvent in 1985, ending the business's independent corporate development. Three Rivers is therefore primarily remembered for its university-linked origins, its early graphics and research peripherals, and its role in the development of the PERQ workstation during the formative period of the technical-workstation industry.
History
Three Rivers Computer Corporation was founded in May 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a commercial spinoff from the Research Engineering Laboratory within Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Science Department. Its founders were Brian S. Rosen, James R. Teter, William H. Broadley, J. Stanley Kriz, D. Raj Reddy, and Paul G. Newbury. The company was formed to bring advanced university-oriented work in computer displays, peripherals, and systems into a manufacturing business. Its initial portfolio reflected the technical and experimental character of its origins. The GDP/2A Graphics Display Processor used a high-speed vector generator intended for demanding graphics workloads. The CVD/2 Color Video Display System produced full-color raster images and incorporated compression technology designed to permit full-frame animation. Three Rivers also made the ADA-16 analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters for high-fidelity music and speech research. The UMB-11 Unibus Monitor served as a relatively inexpensive test instrument for PDP-11 minicomputers. Together, these products placed the company across several specialized segments of computer graphics, audiovisual research, and technical instrumentation. The company's most important strategic development was the PERQ workstation. Introduced in 1979, PERQ systems were designed as single-user, high-performance computers with the capabilities associated with a medium-scale mainframe of the period and an advanced graphics display. Rather than competing primarily as general-purpose consumer computers, PERQ workstations addressed technical, scientific, research, and other professional users who required substantial computing and visualization performance at an individual workstation. In the summer of 1980, Three Rivers reorganized its activities by divesting operations that were not connected with PERQ. This decision made the workstation the central focus of the business and simplified the company's product strategy. From 1981 onward, Three Rivers developed and produced PERQ systems jointly with International Computers Limited in the United Kingdom. The collaboration extended the workstation's production and commercial reach beyond the United States and linked the company with one of Britain's established computer manufacturers. Three Rivers changed its corporate name to PERQ Systems Corporation in 1984. The name change reflected the extent to which PERQ had become the defining business and product identity of the company. The renamed organization was not financially sustainable, however, and became insolvent in 1985. The company's history consequently ended after roughly a decade of operation. Although its corporate life was brief, Three Rivers occupies a notable place in the history of early graphical workstations. It connected Carnegie Mellon research with commercial computer manufacturing, developed specialized graphics and research hardware, and helped establish the PERQ as an early high-performance single-user workstation. Its eventual insolvency also illustrates the commercial difficulty of sustaining advanced workstation businesses during a rapidly changing computer industry.
- 1985
Company becomes insolvent
[1]PERQ Systems Corporation became insolvent, ending the company's business history.
- 1984
Corporate name changed to PERQ Systems Corporation
[1]The company adopted a name centered on its principal workstation product family.
- 1981
Joint PERQ work with ICL begins
[1]Three Rivers began jointly developing and producing PERQ systems with International Computers Limited.
- 1980
Business narrowed to PERQ
[1]Three Rivers divested activities outside the PERQ business and concentrated on workstation development and production.
- 1979
PERQ workstation introduced
[1]The company launched PERQ, its principal line of high-performance single-user graphical workstations.
- 1974
Company founded in Pittsburgh
[1]Three Rivers Computer Corporation was founded as a spinoff from Carnegie Mellon's Computer Science Department research activities.
Products and positioning
A research-derived technology company focused on advanced computer graphics, specialized peripherals, and high-performance single-user workstations for technical and institutional users.
Graphics hardware
GDP/2A Graphics Display Processor
An early Three Rivers graphics processor equipped with a high-speed vector generator. It was specified as capable of drawing more than 50,000 vectors at a 60 Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for demanding technical and research visualization applications.
Video display system
CVD/2 Color Video Display System
A color video system that displayed full-color raster-scanned images. Its distinctive data-compression method was designed to support full-frame animation display, reflecting the company's emphasis on advanced computer graphics and visual research.
Research peripheral
ADA-16
A group of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters developed for high-fidelity music and speech research. The product extended Three Rivers' activities beyond graphics into specialized audio and signal-processing experimentation.
Diagnostic instrument
UMB-11 Unibus Monitor
A low-cost test instrument for PDP-11 series minicomputers. It provided a diagnostic and monitoring function for systems using the Unibus architecture.
Workstation computer · 1979
PERQ
Three Rivers' principal workstation family, introduced in 1979. PERQ computers were single-user, high-performance systems combining substantial contemporary computing power with versatile graphical displays. From 1981, the line was developed and produced jointly with International Computers Limited.
Brand decisions
1984
Corporate renaming as PERQ Systems CorporationStrategyBackground
The PERQ workstation had become the defining product and business activity of Three Rivers.
Action taken
Three Rivers Computer Corporation changed its name to PERQ Systems Corporation.
Aftermath
The renamed company became insolvent the following year.
1981
Joint development and production arrangement with ICLStrategyBackground
Three Rivers sought to advance the PERQ workstation business after making it the company's exclusive focus.
Action taken
Beginning in 1981, Three Rivers developed and produced PERQ systems jointly with International Computers Limited in the United Kingdom.
Aftermath
The arrangement expanded the PERQ program's international manufacturing and business connections.
1980
Concentration on the PERQ businessStrategyBackground
Three Rivers had developed several specialized displays, peripherals, and instruments, but PERQ became its principal commercial opportunity.
Action taken
In the summer of 1980, the company divested activities unrelated to PERQ and focused its operations on the workstation line.
Aftermath
The decision made PERQ the company's central business and preceded its development and production relationship with ICL.
Sources1 sources
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