Happy Birthday Univac 1

A brief tribute to the grandfather of computers, UNIVAC 1.

The world's first commercially produced electronic digital computer, was unveiled on June 14, 1951.

56 years ago today as I upload this.

Music: The Man-Machine
Band: Kraftwerk
Album: The Man-Machine

Voice of HAL 9000,
Performed by Douglas Rain,
From, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick,
Written by Arthur C. Clarke.
Copyright 1968 MGM.

fnord

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[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?"

[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.

[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 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. ^_^

[StevenErnest]

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

[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.

[B00TLEGTV]

I have learnt something new today :)

Thanks for uploading my friend (Y)