Computer Pioneers - Pioneer Computers Part 2

[Recorded: 1996]
Part 2 of 2 The First Computers, 1946 - 1950

Computer pioneer Gordon Bell hosts this two-part program on the evolution of electronic computing from its pre-World War II origins through the development of the first commercial computers. His narration traces the development of the stored program computer architecture which remains the foundation of todays modern computers.

In Part 1 The builders of the first five computer machines: the Bell Labs Model 1, the Zuse Z1-3, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, the Harvard Mark 1 and the IBM SSEC tell their stories.

In Part 2 Vintage films and first hand accounts enliven the stories of the ENIAC and the three lines of computing machines descended from it: the Eckert-Mauchly EDVAC, BINAC and UNIVAC; Maurice Wilkes EDSAC; and John Von Neumanns IAS machines and their clones, the ILLIAC, MANIAC, etc.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Computer
• History
• Museum
• Gordon
• Bell
• DEC
• IBM
• Digital
• computing
• ENIAC
• Zuse
• Atanasoff
• Harvard
• Eckert
• Mauchly
• EDVAC
• BINAC
• UNIVAC
• EDSAC
• SSEC
• technology
• pioneers
• ILLIAC
• Von
• Neumann
• Wilkes

[herbertsa]

Very interesting film.

But how can they not mention Konrad Zuse!

He build the first Computer! His Z3!

[ComputerHistory]

Thank you for your comment!

The Zuse Z3 is recognized as the first functional program-controlled Turing-complere computer. Konrad Zuse's work is presented in Part 1 of this two part video: Computer Pioneers - Pioneer Computers.

[akranis]

Did he sneak in a The Shining reference at 41:09?

"Heeeres JOHNNIAC!"

I might be imagining things...

Great documentary btw. Makes me want to make a calculation engine out of ICs.

[constructivist6]

I have more computing power in my phone than was used to send men to the moon and build the atom bomb. The thing that modern computing lacks is a better programming paradigm. Why are we still editing text files?!

[TheQuindecillion]

Hard to believe that what we have today came from such humble beginnings, and not that long ago.

[buddhafollower]

the magnetic drum was konrad zuse's idea :)

[buddhafollower]

@websuspect and look at the beggining when master eckert is talking from 7:19 to 8:28 he explains to u what was that circuit used for. so that circuit there described was used for holding a line of 9 numbers, then, the other circuit. i doubt that one big electron tube was used to hold a number...

[buddhafollower]

@websuspect how do you know that? and where can i download or buy MARK 1 book or ENIAC's book?

[websuspect]

@buddhafollower there used to hold a line of numbers. LIke an abucas.

[buddhafollower]

@websuspect at 12:58 is one panel with giant tubes. i was asking what were those tubes used for, as transmission diodes ? as gasotrons? as spark gaps? i don t know

[websuspect]

@buddhafollower Tubes are used as transistors.

[websuspect]

@ComputerHistory Zuse is mentioned in part one.