The document discusses how terminology used in the healthcare information systems (HIS) industry has evolved over the past 60 years, as the technology advanced. In the 1960s, computers were called "computers" and those who sold and serviced them were called "salesmen" and "system engineers." By the 1970s, terms like "electronic data processing," "marketing representatives," and "shared systems" became more commonly used. Through the 1980s and 1990s, terms grew more sophisticated, with "management information systems," "sales consultants," "implementation consultants," and "remote hosting." Today, the industry is called "information technology" and services are provided through the "cloud."

1. “H.I.S.-tory” by Vince Ciotti
© 2011 H.I.S. Professionals, LLC, All rights Reserved
Episode # 3:
Terminology
How even the words we used to describe
computer systems evolved over the 4
decades of HIS-tory.

2. Terminology Evolution
Industry Sales Service Sharing
60s Computers Salesman System
Engineer
Time
Sharing
The words used in the HIS industry evolved as
radically as the clothes we wore:
• Industry - In the 1960s, computers were called
exactly that – how quaint!
• Salesmen – were also called that directly, a
slimy word they avoid assiduously today…
• Service – IBM called the person who
followed the salesman a “system engineer”
• Sharing – was called that too: how simple!
No way to charge a lot for just one word…

3. Terminology in the 70s
Industry Sales Service Sharing
70s (Electronic)
Data
Processing
Marketing
Representative
Installer Shared
Systems
In the 1970s, semantics advance as fast as technology when
shared systems suddenly made data processing affordable:
• Industry – EDP or “Electronic Data Processing” was the
buzzword for our business; sure beat “ D.P.”!
• Salesmen – became “marketing reps,” far more
sophisticated and knowledgeable than mere salesmen!
• Service – When I joined SMS in 1969, I started out by
installing systems, hence was known as an “installer.”
• Sharing – Shared System companies included telecom
networks, terminals, programmers, sales & service reps,
as well as the mainframe “data center” itself.

4. Terminology in the 80s
Industry Sales Service Sharing
80s M.I.S. Sales
Consultant
Installation
Director (ID)
Remote
Hosting
In the 80s, words perversely got bigger, while CPUs shrunk
from room-sized mainframes to filing cabinet size minis:
• Industry – Was now known as MIS or “Management
Information Systems,” very sophisticated!
• Salesmen – were now “Sales Consultants” they didn’t
sell you minis, they advised you about them…
• Service – Installer became Installation Directors
(ID)who directed hospital users how to do the work
• Sharing – got a lot more sophisticated when Jim Carter
at SMS invented “RCO” for Remote Computing Option,
which Cerner later dubbed “remote hosting.”

5. 1990s & 2000’s Terminology
Industry Sales Service Sharing
90s I.S. Account
Executive
Implementation
Consultant
ASP
SaaS
2000 I.T. Territory/
Regional VP
Want Ads! “Cloud”
My, have we gotten sophisticated:
• Industry – MIS was first shortened to just “IS,” and then
became today’s “IT” – now we’re cooking!
• Salesmen – became account executives in the 90s,
gaining them entrée to the C-suite. Today, most are
territory managers or directors at a minimum…
• Service – IDs are now gone: they all have since become
“Implementation Consultants,” just giving advice
• Sharing – ASP, SaaS, cloud computing, wow, that sure
beats sending your data down a silly phone line…

6. H.I.S. Terminology Evolution
Industry Sales Service Sharing
60s Computers Salesman System
Engineer
Time
Sharing
70s (Electronic)
Data
Processing
Marketing
Representative
Installer Shared
Systems
80s M.I.S. Sales
Consultant
Installation
Director (ID)
Remote
Hosting
90s I.S. Account
Executive
Implementation
Consultant
ASP
SaaS
2000 I.T. Territory/
Regional VP
“Sir” “Cloud”
So here it is at a glance: how semantics has become as
complicated as the underlying information technology
(and looks so much better today too, no?)

7. H.I.S. Terminology Evolution
Industry Sales Service Sharing
60s Computers Salesman System
Engineer
Time
Sharing
70s (Electronic)
Data
Processing
Marketing
Representative
Installer Shared
Systems
80s M.I.S. Sales
Consultant
Installation
Director (ID)
Remote
Hosting
90s I.S. Account
Executive
Implementation
Consultant
ASP
SaaS
2000 I.T. Territory/
Regional VP
“Sir” “Cloud”
So here it is at a glance: how semantics has become as
complicated as the underlying information technology
(and looks so much better today too, no?)