A Conversation for Early Electronic Computers
The Witch
Gilgamesh of Uruk Started conversation Feb 7, 2003
Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computation from Harwell. This used to occupy a largeish room at the then Poly. Decatron (10-state) valves. If nothing happened for 2 seconds, a bell rang...
Also met an English Electic Deuce (successor to the Ace) at Stafford C.A.T. Programmed in alpha-code (version of autocode). Had IIRC 400 words of storage (oh, and 50 additional words of twisted-wire delay-line storage)
There were loads of machines at the time, many one-offs. I agree that Bronze Goddess and LEO were giant steps - actually doing something useful.
The Witch
Who? Posted Feb 7, 2003
And people thought that the Yanks did it all!
We can blame the Official Secrets Act and the fact that the Brits don't feel the need to show off.
The Witch
Gilgamesh of Uruk Posted Feb 9, 2003
Well, I think the theoretical work done by the Atlas lab was another great British input. As you suggest, we do the groundwork, someone else reaps the rewards
Key: Complain about this post
More Conversations for Early Electronic Computers
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."