~60's computing grew out of the field of telecommunications [0][1]. When ASCII was released in 1963[3], integrated circuits didn't exist. Computing hardware w

~60's computing grew out of the field of telecommunications [0][1]. When ASCII was released in 1963[3], integrated circuits didn't exist. Computing hardware was a build it from available, off the shelf parts endeavor. Easy to repurpose readily available 4-wire[2] to operate 4 wire relay. (2 relays -> 8 bits). ----- [0] http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/Reckoners-ch-4.html http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/Reckoners-ch-4.html [1] http://quadibloc.com/comp/cardint.htm http://quadibloc.com/comp/cardint.htm [2] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-wire_circuit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-wire_circuit [3] : https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=803 https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=803