Editing Logica (section)

===Logica VTS===
[[Image:Blue Posts pub corner Eastcastle Street & Newman Street.jpg|thumb|right|84, Newman Street, first silver-grey building on the left, housed Logica VTS (here seen in 2017)]]

In 1975, Logica developed the first electronic [[typing pool]] – Unicom – for [[Unilever]].<ref name=inde/><ref name=CCS-unicom>{{cite journal|url=http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/CCS/res/res19.htm#d|title=The Unicom Project|author-first=Peter |author-last=Hall|journal=Resurrection|issn=0958-7403|issue=19|date=Spring 1998|publisher=[[Computer Conservation Society]]|access-date=2 July 2010}}</ref> This development allowed the functions of a typing pool to be automated into a single system supporting about 50 workstations.<ref name=CCS-unicom/>

With the support of the UK's [[National Enterprise Board]], in January 1979 the company established a new subsidiary to exploit this technology, Logica VTS.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5198142 | title=NEB in office systems venture | magazine=Electronics & Power | date=February 1979 | page=92| doi=10.1049/ep.1979.0069 }}</ref>  A range of standalone word processors, the VTS 100, the VTS 2200 ("Whirlwind") and, finally, the VTS 2300 ("Kennet"), were developed and were manufactured at a purpose built factory in [[Swindon]].  These machines were sold internationally by [[BT Group|BT]] and by [[International Computers Ltd]], and were amongst the first word processors to achieve mass sales.<ref name=CCS-unicom/>

The advent of the [[personal computer]], and software such as [[WordPerfect]], led to the decline of this business and its ultimate closure.<ref name=CCS-unicom/>

In connection with office automation, Logica VTS also engaged in product work related to [[local area networking]], putting out a product called Polynet in 1981 which was based upon the [[Cambridge Ring (computer network)|Cambridge Ring]] idea rather than [[Ethernet]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SvlMGPgi_GAC&pg=PA65 | title=Local Net System Out to Rival Ethernet | author-first=Brad | author-last=Shultz | newspaper=Computerworld | date=23 March 1981 | page=65}}</ref>  This aspect of business was still going in 1984,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=siZ1j_5wdqwC&pg=PA28 | title=Second chance for high-speed communication | magazine=New Scientist | date=15 November 1984 | page=28}}</ref> with Logica founder Pat Coen as managing director of Logica VTS.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UMfyArhBmUoC&pg=PA23 | title=Computer rivals see eye to eye | magazine=New Scientist | date=1 July 1982 | page=23}}</ref>

By the end of 1985, Logica had decided to exit the office automation business, and Logica VTS was shut down over the course of 1986.<ref name="ar-1986">{{cite book | url=https://archivesit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Logica-Annual-Report-1986.pdf | title=Logica Annual Review 1986 | publisher=Logica | date=1986 | pages=3, 8 }}</ref>