One of the First Computer-Generated Films, from 1963 - AT&T Archives

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This film was a specific project to define how a particular type of satellite would move through space. Edward E. Zajac made, and narrated, the film, which is considered to be possibly the very first computer graphics film ever. Zajac programmed the calculations in FORTRAN, then used a program written by Zajac's colleague, Frank Sinden, called ORBIT. The original computations were fed into the computer via punch cards, then the output was printed onto microfilm using the General Dynamics Electronics Stromberg-Carlson 4020 microfilm recorder. All computer processing was done on an IBM 7090 or 7094 series computer.

Zajac didn't make the film to demonstrate computer graphics, however. Instead, he was interested in real-time modeling of a certain theoretical construct. At the time, The Bell System was still deeply engaged in satellite research, having launched Telstar the previous year, with plans to continue developing communications satellites. Zajac's model is of a box ("satellite"), with two gyroscopes within. In the film, he was trying to create a simulation of movement — the pitch, roll, and yaw within that system. He gives these particulars in an article in the Bell System Technical Journal, from 1964.

Zajac worked at Bell Labs from 1954 to 1983. He passed away in 2011; his last appointment was as part of the Economics faculty at the University of Arizona. For the latter part of his career, he specialized in the economics of communications and telecommunications.

Footage Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ

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  Science & Technology

[gleaming999]

It's a trap!

[chargersfan1111]

Sweet

[Wilhelm Beck]

because Russia made it to the moon around this time right? Tell me how Russia was superior. And if you're going to go an an Anti-Apple crusade, the you obviously don't know anything about the history of computing.

[jika12]

apple seriously ? didnt say russia invented everything, but speaking at that time russia was superior over america.

[Wilhelm Beck]

YEAH! Those f*cking Americans don't know shit about computing! IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Intel and all never made any innovations. Everything they made is stolen from Mother Russia. Down with the American pigs.

[jika12]

study history;p

[Alex Palmer]

And you know this how?

[PatchesRips]

No, then the satellite would have been kerosene-powered. :)

[RandomPrussian1871]

Looks better than an Atari.

[jika12]

why because the whole world knows america is the dumb student in the class who steals from the smart student russia and actually does something with it u dont know?

[Jason Gunning]

you are needing to go back to grade school.

[CapitanoGUC]

well - they can have it back now ...:-D