Introduction to IBM Data Processing Systems provides a structured overview of the fundamental concepts, components, and operational principles of mid-20th-century electronic data processing. The manual explains the core functional units of a data processing system—input, storage, processing, and output—and describes how information is represented, stored, and manipulated using binary notation, coded character sets, and magnetic media. It outlines the operation of central processing units, input–output devices, and storage technologies such as magnetic tape, drums, and core memory, with an emphasis on how these elements interact within a stored-program architecture.
The manual also documents the historical development of data processing equipment, including punched-card systems, early electromechanical devices, and the transition to electronic and transistorized machines. It summarizes technological advances that shaped the field, such as automatic programming, magnetic character sensing, and random-access storage. In addition, it highlights anticipated future developments in automation, data communication, and information retrieval as understood at the time of publication. Designed for training and reference use, the book presents generalized explanations intended to support further study of specific IBM systems.