History and Introduction
Human ability to interact with computers has gone through a number of quantum changes. input/output started with hard-wired circuit boards, evolved to punch card job decks read within the computer room, and the “modern” cathode ray tube (CRT) terminals equipped with keyboards. Such devices were called “dumb” monitors or terminals because the user could only type in predefined & proprietary commands which allowed you to interact cryptically with the mainframe host. At that time, dumb terminals were all proprietary hardware devices so you might see multiple CRT terminals on someone’s desk: one for Tandem, one for IBM, one for Burroughs, etc.
In 1982, IBM announced the first personal computer (PC) and, unlike the dumb terminals, PCs were created as multi-purpose or “smart” devices. Smart because along with this newly designed hardware came software which allowed for interactivity with the device. The first spreadsheet was announced along with word processing and games. For corporations, this new PC software added accuracy, productivity and efficiency to their workforce. Typewriters, carbon paper, and memorized cryptic computer mainframe codes became relics. For personal use in the home, it provided a new form of interactive entertainment as well as advanced personal finance tools.
Software applications became more sophisticated, varied and widely available, causing PC usage to grow past the original data entry and word processing activities. The new tools provided users with augmented power and productivity. This in turn increased their ability for analyzing, correcting and modeling the “what-ifs” to help navigate into the future.
Our Beginning
In 1986, personal computing was barely three years old, Pixar animation studios was started & a software company called Microsoft held its IPO. Many corporate employees now had both a PC and a matching piece of hardware, a mainframe terminal, on their desk. The PC was used for productivity and data crunching; the terminal was used to access the mainframe which held all the data they needed to crunch. Between the two, there wasn’t much desk left over!
Seeing a need and chance to increase efficiency, individual developers such as Crystal Point’s co-founder, Fred Stephens, began crafting new software which would eliminate the need for both the PC and the terminal. They created a PC application designed to emulate the work normally performed on a terminal. So began the era of terminal emulation software, the elimination of hardware mainframe terminals, and the genesis of Crystal Point.
After developing emulation software for over twenty individual terminals, Crystal Point chose to exclusively focus on the Tandem market. Three years later our product was privately labeled by the Tandem Corporation, who distributed it exclusively for the next four years.
Today
Crystal Point has had the honor of being #1 in our industry for over 26 years, due in part to keeping abreast of the latest computer trends and technology advancements such as network capability, file transfer protocols, macro languages, ease-of-use features, to name a few. We are always developing new products and refining current products while always remaining true to our passion of delivering top quality support and services . A current example of our drive to develop new solutions is that we now find ourselves studying the value of delivering mobile connectivity to our customers. Our focus is how we can offer the best product possible – easily, securely, and efficiently.
Some things just don’t change. Like the need for high performance service and support. While technology continues to evolve at a fast pace, the desire to offer responsive, timely and valued support and services has not. If anything, it is more important than ever. We are all having to work at a rapid pace and we all want to quickly and easily find an answer to our questions. Not via an automated system and not by answering a series of scripted questions which may not even apply to your issue. But by dialing a support phone number and having a live person answer your call with “how can I help you”? or by sending an email and receiving a timely email response
The Future
Some things change, some things remain the same. Our pledge is to know what needs to change and what does not in order to satisfy our valued customers.