Before Photoshop: 1960s CIA Computerized Photo Processing

 

In the 1960s, computers were typically large, bulky machines used for the processing of text data or mathematical equations. Processing was typically performed using punchcards, or if you're really lucky, a terminal with a monochrome display. A pocket calculator typically contains more computing power than a 1960's computer, and a smartphone contains more computing power than the average 1960's data center.

It came to me as quite a surprise then, when I found documentation for a 1960's CIA computer system designed to process aerial photographs.

It's no secret that for decades the CIA has relied on aerial photography to collect foreign intelligence essential to our armed forces. However, the computerized capabilities which the CIA had available are absolutely remarkable.

According to declassified documents from the CIA's Freedom of Information Act Reading Room, the CIA possessed at least one computer in the 1960's capable of performing automated analysis of photography, including edge analysis and auto correlation. This computer would not only record to magnetic tape and print out analyzed versions of the photos, but even send the photo to a plotter for basically on-the-fly printing of a basic map/sketch of the photo.

One of the main goals of this system development was Automatic Target Recognition. For example, identifying the location of enemy aircraft in a photo, and automatically flagging the photo as containing aircraft.

If the CIA had this sort of technology in the 1960's, just imagine what their computer systems are able to do today.

This article is part of a series relating to my upcoming book Spy Machines, which explores technology used by the early CIA and other members of the intelligence community.