SAGE Air Defense System Operational

The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system used massive 19-inch CRT displays with light pens for air traffic controllers, representing one of the earliest large-scale uses of interactive, somewhat graphical displays.

Significance

Demonstrated the utility of real-time graphical interaction for complex tasks, setting a precedent for future display technologies.

Key facts

Date
1958-07-01
Type
milestone
Location
Norad Cheyenne Mountain Complex, USA