ENIAC

ENIAC

ENIAC, the world's first general-purpose electronic computer

The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was the world's first general-purpose electronic computer. It was developed by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering during World War II. ENIAC was designed to calculate artillery firing tables for the United States Army.

History

ENIAC's development began in 1943 and was completed in 1945. It was funded by the United States Army as a top-secret project. The need for a faster and more efficient way to calculate artillery firing tables led to the creation of ENIAC. Prior to ENIAC, such calculations were done manually, which was time-consuming and prone to errors.

Design and Features

ENIAC was a massive machine, occupying a space of about 1,800 square feet. It consisted of 40 panels, each measuring 9 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The computer used vacuum tubes for processing and had approximately 17,468 of them. ENIAC also utilized punched card readers and magnetic tape for input and output.

The computer had a clock speed of about 100,000 cycles per second, which was considered extremely fast for its time. It could perform calculations at a rate of about 5,000 additions or subtractions per second. ENIAC was programmed using a combination of switches, cables, and plugboards, which made programming a complex and time-consuming task.

Impact and Legacy

ENIAC revolutionized the field of computing and laid the foundation for modern computers. Its ability to perform complex calculations quickly and accurately paved the way for advancements in various fields, including scientific research, weather prediction, and cryptography. ENIAC's success also led to the development of other early computers, such as UNIVAC, which was the first commercially available computer.

See Also

• UNIVAC
• History of Computing
• Computing Technology