Happy Birthday Univac 1

[SammiChengHK]

Guinness World Records have accepted the evidence provided by Frank Land that LEO I was the first ever business computer - and there is a certificate to prove it!

In the spring of 1951 the first British commercial LEO computer, derived from EDSAC, was running demonstrations. By the autumn it was installed and running commercial work.

The first operational run of LEO I took place on 5th September 1951 when an application known as Bakeries Valuations was performed.

[StevenErnest]

@SammiChengHK Did you remove your comment re LEO...? I was going to look into it...

[StevenErnest]

@SammiChengHK According to WIKI: "The LEO I (Lyons Electronic Office I) was the first computer used for commercial business applications."

And: "The UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I) was the first commercial computer produced in the United States."

They both became operational in 1951... so it is very close.

Maybe next time I will celebrate LEO's birthday, too. ^_^

[B00TLEGTV]

I have learnt something new today :)

Thanks for uploading my friend (Y)

[Boucrate]

Univac! My computer lost great great etc..Granfather!It's 480 live memorie's are rejoycing.LoL! And thank you for this nice happy birthday reminder.Cheer for Univac!55 Hey! whe're the same age?

[paulbrockenhagen]

5000 vactubes...cost, energy....I STILL WANT ONE!!

[StevenErnest]

I don't blame you! ^_^ Someone like Bill Gates or Paul Allen could probably put one ol' gal together, via their resources -- and eBay...

Colossus: The Forbin Project, "Never?"

[daniel1982]

@paulbrockenhagen Easy 'nuff. Get a hold of its official documentation, learn to code C and ASM (probaby just ASM would do) and write an emulator. Ding, dong, dynamo-fart. Geek supreme, if you can do it.

[QuarksAreStrange]

Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer!! He was so scary!

"...I can't let you do that Frank." ooooo, a nightmare.

---

Have you heard about quantic computers?

---

I saw a show recently at BBC, "Human version 2.0" It talked about: understanding the brain enough to build brain-like computers and exchanging information from a brain to a computer and vice versa. Serious subject, a bit troubling.

[StevenErnest]

You mean, Quantum computers, right?

Yes, I've read about them. "Qubits" for quantum bits.

I think eventually we'll have AI equal to, if not beyond, the human mind.

[QuarksAreStrange]

Quantum computers, yes. (in French: "Quantique", sorry). A little revolution. Maybe not as a home computer - some say they won't be polyvalent enough - but for other usage (industrial, research & development, sciences (especially mathematics), etc).

Conventional computers will never match the capabilities of a Quantum computer. Crazy algorithms that can do multiple tasks at once using the Quantum "entanglement" and "superposition" phenomenon.

[QuarksAreStrange]

Recently, a new quantum computer was presented: 16 qubits. A new record. It can do any sudoku - they built a program to do so - in the blink of an eye. (no, actually it's much (much!) faster. : ) QM is fantastic!

[bubonicnate]

sorry Steven - I would have responded ot this a lot sooner if it would have shown up on my subscription list - I'm gunna try and friend add you. Great vid!

[bubonicnate]

love the Kraftwerk btw :) there new live double album out is awesome - I think theres soem vids for it on youtube as well!

[StevenErnest]

That's ok, this vid is response challenged. ^_^

Thanks!

[likenfreude]

"I'm sorry, Dave, but I can't do that."

Human chess-players fell to Deep Blue in the 90's...

Only the very good players of Go still hold a (shaky) advantage on behalf of carbon-based life. Soon our only real champions will be the painters.

[StevenErnest]

There's an old classic SF story: They ask the newly built super-computer, "Is there a God?" And it answers, "There is now."

[QuarksAreStrange]

hahahaha, very good quote! --- Deep Thought Computer (DT): "The Answer to the great question of Life, the Universe, and Everything..." Philosophers (Ph):"Yes...!" (DT):"is..." (Ph)[slightly higher]:"Yes...!" (DT): "IS..." (Ph)[really high]:"Yes...!!!...?" (DT): "Forty-two". [pause] (Ph):"We're going to get lynched, aren't we?" (DT):"Once you know what the question actually is, you'll know what the answer means" : )