IBM is as synonymous with computing as micro-processors and Commodore 64s.

A venerable behemoth in an age of sleek start-ups, today we're delving into the dizzying world of the International Business Machine.

Machine men

IBM actually predates the First World War.

In 1911 the Computer-Tabulating Recording Company (CTR) was launched, changing its name to IBM in 1924.

These days IBM is commonly referred to as Big Blue – a reference to its size, branding, and logo.

Innovators

While it might best be known for its microchips, IBM has been responsible for a range of inventions over the past century.

Some of these include the ATM, the floppy disk, magnetic stripe card, airline reservations systems and Watson – the artificial intelligence computer best known for winning $1 million on Jeopardy. 

Cogs and wheels

IBM maintains a vast network of labs worldwide under the arm of IBM research. And these centres are busy bees.

In 2013 IBM held the record for the most patents held by a business over 22 consecutive years. 

If that wasn't enough, over the years its employees have been awarded five Nobel Prizes, six Turing Awards, and a host of other gongs.

Big business

While Google and Apple might be trendier brands, IBM remains one of the biggest. IBM is the second largest US firm in terms of employees (435,000), and the ninth most profitable.

Globally, IBM is the 31st largest company measured by revenue.