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Wicat Systems

Wicat Systems, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryComputer
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
FounderDustin H. Heuston
DefunctApril 1992; 32 years ago (1992-04)
FateAcquired by Jostens
Headquarters
United States
Products
  • Wicat 150

Wicat Systems, Inc., was an American computer and software company founded in 1980 in Orem, Utah. Originally a branch of WICAT, the World Institute for Computer-Assisted Teaching (later the Wicat Education Institute), the company manufactured multi-user systems for educational institutions before focusing their efforts on educational software development in the early 1990s.[1] The company was among the first to use the Motorola 68000 microprocessor in a computer with the introduction of the Wicat System 100 in 1980.[2] Both Wicat Systems and its parent institution were founded by Dustin H. Heuston, originally of New York.[1]

History

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At its peak in the mid-1980s, Wicat Systems employed 500 and had an annual budget of US$40 million.[3] The company formed a joint venture with Control Data Corporation in early 1985. Named Plato/Wicat after Control Data's Plato educational software, the venture was intended to "address the entire educational process, including computer-based instructional courseware, testing and evaluation, and classroom management and administration".[4]

In 1992, the company was acquired by Jostens in a stock swap valuated at roughly $111 million. Jostens, who had a rival educational software division Jostens Learning which was aimed at preschools, planned to use the Wicat Systems repertoire to increase their presence in high schools and higher education.[5]

During the period from the late 1980's to 1996, Wicat Systems also operated a UK branch in Camberley in Surrey. During this period, Wicat produced CBT (computer based training - the forerunner of eLearning), and partial cockpit simulations for aviation clients. These included many of the then-leading airlines and aircraft manufacturers and training covered pilot, cabin crew and ground crew training. Norfolk Southern Railway was another of many non-aviation clients.

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Rogerson 1990.
  2. ^ Hogan 1981, p. 3; Staff writer 1992b.
  3. ^ Fiske 1986, p. C1.
  4. ^ Staff writer 1985.
  5. ^ Staff writer 1992a.

References

[edit]
  • Fiske, Edward B. (April 15, 1986). "Computer Innovation in Class". The New York Times. p. C1. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021.
  • Hogan, Thom (June 8, 1981). "68000 Systems Arrive". InfoWorld. 3 (11): 3 – via Google Books.
  • Rogerson, Kenneth S. (October 31, 1990). "Wicat Systems Celebrates 10th Birthday". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021.
  • Staff writer (May 22, 1985). "Computers Column". EducationWeek. Editorial Projects in Education: C1. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021.
  • Staff writer (April 7, 1992). "Jostens to Buy Rival Wicat Systems". Associated Press News.
  • Staff writer (April 7, 1992). "Wicat to Go to Jostens Inc. for $100m to $140m in Shares". Computer Business Review. New Statesman Media Group. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021.
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