NEW YORK, NY December 27, 2005 —John Diebold, the visionary who preached computerization more than a half-century ago, has died. WNYC's Fred Mogul has more.

When Diebold penned the book Automation in 1952, computers were bulky academic and scientific behemoths. The idea of using them for everyday finance, accounting and management was only starting to emerge. In 1954, he formed John Diebold and Associates, which designed data systems that revolutionized hospital management, scientific research and banking, among other things paving the way for ATM networks.

He envisioned technology transforming modern life, and by the 1970s many economists and writers were already hailing him as a prophet.

Diebold was born in 1926 in Weehawken, New Jersey, and attended Swarthmore College and Harvard Business School. He served in the Merchant Marine during World War II, and said he got the idea for automation from observing anti-aircraft guns.

Diebold died Monday of cancer at age 79.