History of A-Systems Corporation

A-Systems Corporation was founded in 1978 by a creative genius named Michael D. Wise. Mike was a true pioneer in the computer industry. In 1975, he created and marketed a Personal Computer that he called "Sphere I." Byte Magazine researched the history of the microcomputer and concluded that Sphere I was the first true Personal Computer. (According to the now defunct Byte Magazine, the first microcomputer, though not a true Personal Computer, was a box with lights and switches, called the Altair 8800.)

Sphere I was distinctly qualified as a true Personal Computer because it included a keyboard, a number pad, and a monitor. Sphere I changed the way people thought about microcomputers. The actual term Personal Computer was subsequently coined to describe the power and functionality of these new machines. Mike's introduction of a monitor, number pad and keyboard changed the industry forever. Along with his many contributions to the industry, some of the "conventions" Mike used in Sphere I became industry standards. For example, pressing [Alt]-[Ctrl]-[Delete] to "soft boot" a computer started with Sphere I. Mike chose that key combination as one that would not likely be pressed by accident. In addition, Mike created an external power supply, which he called a "power brick" for his PC.

As a consequence of Mike's invention, he came to be recognized as an expert in the computer industry. In time, a contractor asked him to create an accounting package for his construction business. With constant input from the contractor and the contractor's CPA, Mike created a totally new Job Cost Accounting program for the PC. His original program was written in M-DOS. It was an instant hit and A-Systems began to grow very rapidly. Before long, technological advances made it necessary to convert his new program into a new language, CPM. It wasn't long before rapidly changing technology required the software to be created a third time, this time in BASIC and C.

Mike's creative genius showed itself in the highly sophisticated product he created. His new program included concepts that were previously unheard of in accounting software. In fact, some of those are not available today in certain high-priced accounting packages. The most remarkable capacity, which A-Systems' customers take for granted today, is the ability to have more than one accounting period open at the same time. In 1978, Mike's software allowed up to 18 open accounting periods simultaneously. This was unheard of at that time.

The Year 2000 created a lot of panic among software companies. Mike anticipated it in 1978, building it into his software. Subsequent programmers working on his program were not as forward looking. They did not know the program was Year 2000 compatible from the day it was created. They carefully built "error traps" which prevented users from accidentally entering a "00" year. As the year 2000 approached, it took A-Systems a matter of a few days to eliminate these error traps and make the software fully Year 2000 compatible, the way it was designed to be.

Several years later, Mike sold the copyright for the DOS software to one of his most successful dealers. A-Systems retained technical responsibility over the software and continued to focus its attention on adding a long list of new capabilities. As a result of ill health, Mike sold control of A-Systems to one of his business friends. The new (absentee) owner had his own successful business, so he left the daily operation of A-Systems to his programming staff.

The software, a powerful DOS application, was successfully used by many companies coast to coast, in all lines of construction. Many companies gratefully attributed their financial success to the control afforded them by the use of A-Systems' DOS software. It was a very powerful, easy to use program.

In late 1993, new management took control of A-Systems. They brought new life to the company. They were actively involved in every phase of the operation, from programming to marketing. It was obvious that a "windows" program needed to be created to meet changes in technology (and customer demand). While the DOS program was very powerful, it looked obsolete because it was only a DOS program.

After nineteen years of having only their DOS program, development of their windows program was started in 1997. Mike Wise was invited to add his insights as a consultant on the project. While his health did not permit him to be involved, his contributions were insightful.

The new program was "totally rewritten from the ground up", but included all of the power and "know-how" developed by A-Systems over its long history. Being "in Windows" allowed A-Systems to add functions that were only dreamed of in DOS. In fact, the development project almost got behind schedule several times as the long list of new functions continued to grow. Every time a new feature was added, it would trigger more potential new features. A long list of new features "to be added" was created which continue to be put into subsequent releases of A-Systems JobView. If history can be used to predict the future, each of these new features will, in turn, suggest more new features which will be added. Each of those new features will, in turn, suggest even more features which could be added in an endless upward spiral. The process of developing A-Systems JobView will not end as long as users have new ideas and continue to offer new suggestions.

The new program, trademarked as A-Systems JobView, represents the expression of literally years of technical expertise in job cost accounting software. This program flows from the original DOS program, the ideas and insights of A-Systems' staff and countless suggestions made by A-Systems' customers in every line of construction in every state in the union.

When A-Systems presented the accounting world with the concept of multiple open fiscal periods, it was considered "revolutionary." What revolutionary ideas have been included in A-Systems JobView? The most obvious are the Management Overview Tools. They promise to reshape accounting software again, the same as A-Systems' DOS program did in 1978 and Sphere I did to the personal computer industry in 1975.

A-Systems JobView will continue to be a dynamic software package, receiving new features, functions and reports as long as contractors have more good ideas. From A-Systems' experience, that will NEVER end! As a result, A-Systems JobView will continue to progress.