There are old computers, and then there are historic computers. These 12 machines were so ahead of their time that they remain some of the most important devices in history. From the first computers to those used in space exploration, each of these machines had a unique impact on how we view and use technology. We decided to give these big old computers a proper presentation.
Why Were the Early Computers so Big?
The early computers of the 20th century were massive, clunky machines compared to today’s sleek and powerful devices.
At the time, there were many different factors that contributed to their size and complexity. One important factor was the technologies used for processing data; old computers relied on vacuum tubes and other bulky components that required a lot of space.
Additionally, early computers were often used for specialized tasks like scientific calculations or military operations, which required more powerful processors and other specialized components.
Despite their size and complexity, these archaic computers played a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology. From powering space exploration to helping businesses run more efficiently, these machines paved the way for the devices we use today.
The 12 Old Computers that Changed the Course of History
Now let’s take a look at some of the old computers that made history and paved the way for modern technology (in chronological order):
1. Differential Analyzer (1930)
Invented by Vannevar Bush in 1930 and completed in 1931, the differential analyzer was one of the first computers ever built. It was also one of the largest, weighing in at over 100 tons.
The machine was designed to solve differential equations, and it did so by using a series of rotating wheels and gears. Despite its size and complexity, the differential analyzer was surprisingly fast, able to complete calculations in just seconds.
Bush gifted the machine to MIT, where it was used for over two decades. In 1955, it was finally retired and replaced by a more modern computer.
However, the legacy of the differential analyzer lives on; it proved that large-scale computers were possible, laying the groundwork for the development of even more powerful machines.
2. Z3 (1941)
The Z3 was a German electromechanical computer designed by Konrad Zuse in 1941. It was the world’s first working programmable, fully automatic digital computer.
The Z3 was destroyed in the Allied bombing of Berlin in 1945. However, Zuse’s work was continued by his brother Kurt Zuse, who designed the Z4, the first commercial computer.
The Z3 was an important step in the development of digital computing, and its design served as the basis for many subsequent computers.
3. BOMBE (1941)
The Enigma machine was one of the most sophisticated devices used during World War II, and the BOMBE was one of the first computers designed to crack its code.
The Enigma machine used a complex system of gears and rotors to create a unique cipher for each message.
The BOMBE was designed by Alan Turing and his team at Bletchley Park in England. It used a similar system of gears and rotors to decipher Enigma messages. The BOMBE was an essential tool in cracking Enigma codes, and it played a vital role in Allied victory in World War II.
4. Atanasoff-Berry Computer (1942)
The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) was one of the first massive computers in history. It was conceived by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry in 1937, and construction began in 1939.
The ABC was designed to solve systems of linear equations, and it used a vacuum tube based electronic design. It was also one of the first computers to use binary code instead of decimal code.
The ABC was never completed, but its design was later used in the development of other computers, including the ENIAC. Today, the ABC is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
5. Mark I (1944)
The Mark I, one of the earliest massive computers in history, was developed at Harvard University in 1944. Initially intended for calculations related to the war effort, it soon became a valuable tool for research in fields ranging from meteorology to atomic energy.
The Mark I was an electromechanical computer that used punched paper tapes and 72 panels of switches and rotating shafts to perform calculations. It weighed 5 tons and measured 51 feet in length.
While it was impressive for its time, the Mark I’s technology soon became obsolete with the advent of newer, more advanced computers like ENIAC. Today, the old computer still stands on display at the Science Center at Harvard as a testament to the early innovations in computer technology.
6. Colossus (1944)
The Colossus was one of the earliest giant computers developed during World War II by British codebreakers such as Alan Turing.
Measuring over eight feet in height and weighing five tons, the Colossus was a monster of a machine. It also boasted impressive processing power for its time, capable of performing up to 1,500 calculations per second.
Despite its importance in cracking encrypted German communications, the British government kept the Colossus’s existence secret for nearly 30 years after the war’s end.
Today, only two original Colossus computers still exist, on display at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park and at The National Cryptologic Museum in Maryland. The Colossus serves as a reminder of how far computer technology has come since its humble beginnings.
7. ENIAC (1946)
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) is lauded as one of the most influential computers in history. It has long been known as the giant brain computer unveiled in 1946.
When the ENIAC computer was introduced in 1946, it was hailed as a revolutionary machine because of its massive size and capabilities. It might seem old and primitive now, but the ENIAC was one of the first computers ever made and holds an important place in history.
ENIAC was much faster than any other computer at the time because it used electronic, as opposed to electromechanical, technology. It occupied more than 1,000 square feet, used about 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighed 30 tons. I has been estimated that ENIAC did more calculation in the ten years it was operational than all of humanity combined up until that point.
ENIAC could perform up to 5,000 calculations per second and was initially used for calculating artillery firing tables for the military. However, it also laid the groundwork for modern computers by using programmable software and punch cards for inputting information.
Today, ENIAC is on display at the University of Pennsylvania as a testament to the progress made in computer technology over the past 70 years.
8. The Manchester Baby (1948)
The Manchester Baby, officially known as the Small-Scale Experimental Machine, was one of the earliest computers in history.
Developed at the University of Manchester in 1948, it is also sometimes referred to as the prototype for the first stored-program computer. Despite its rather unassuming name, the Baby was actually able to perform a variety of mathematical calculations and was considered a breakthrough in computing technology.
However, it didn’t remain in operation for very long – after just six weeks of use, a malfunction wiped out most of its memory and it was eventually decommissioned in 1949. Despite its brief lifespan, the Baby still holds a significant place in early computer history and remains on display at The National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park.
9. EDSAC (1949)
In 1949, the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC) was completed at the University of Cambridge.
EDSAC was one of the earliest computers, and it is considered to be the first practical electronic computer. The machine was built using vacuum tubes and mercury delay lines, and it could store up to 1024 words of data.
EDSAC was used for a variety of applications, including celestial mechanics calculations and weather forecasting. In 1951, EDSAC became the first computer to run a stored program.
EDSAC was in operation until 1958, when it was replaced by an updated version known as EDSAC 2. However, the original machine still exists and is on display at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park.
10. UNIVAC (1951)
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) is another example of early giant computers in history. It was originally built by J. Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly, the same team who created ENIAC – one of the first computers ever.
UNIVAC was very similar to ENIAC, but it was more compact and used vacuum tubes instead of relay switches. It was also much faster, able to perform up to 1,000 operations per second.
Despite its impressive speed, UNIVAC was only used for a short time. It was quickly replaced by newer and more powerful computers, such as the IBM 7090.
However, UNIVAC remains an important part of computing history, as it was one of the first computers to be mass-produced and used for commercial purposes, with customers including the United States Census Bureau and General Electric.
11. IBM 305 RAMAC (1956)
The RAMAC was one of the massive computers in computer history. It was developed by IBM in the 1956 and could store up to 5 megabytes of data on its hard drive.
RAMAC, standing for Random Access Method of Accounting and Control, was the first commercial computer to use a moving-head hard disk drive (magnetic disk storage).
The machine was so large that it filled an entire room and required a team of engineers to operate. Despite its size, the RAMAC was remarkably fast. It was used primarily for scientific and military applications, such as weather forecasting and missile guidance.
The RAMAC remained in service for over two decades before being decommissioned in the late 1970s. Although it is now considered primitive by today’s standards, the RAMAC was a groundbreaking machine that helped pave the way for the modern computer age.
12. Atlas (1962)
The Atlas computer was one of the first computers ever built that was designed for general-purpose use. It was created in the early 1960s by a team of engineers at the British firm Ferranti, led by Tom Kilburn.
The Atlas was originally conceived as a way to speed up the process of designing new nuclear weapons. However, it soon became clear that the machine had much wider potential applications.
Among other things, it was used to simulate aircraft flight and to design the circuitry for the first electronic ballasts for fluorescent tubes. In 1965, an Atlas was even used to help plan the route of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission.
Today, the Atlas is a museum piece, and it is still used for occasional demonstrations and research projects. However, its legacy lives on in the many modern computers that have been based on its design.
Conclusion
Early computers were some of the first machines to use electronic circuitry. They were used for a variety of applications, including scientific calculations, military purposes, and commercial endeavors.
Some of these early computers remain in operation today as museum pieces or research tools. While they may be outdated by today’s standards, these old machines helped make computer science an important part of today’s world.
We hope that you enjoyed learning about some of the early computers in history. Stay tuned for more articles like this in the future!
Elmar Mammadov is a software developer, tech startup founder, and computer science career specialist. He is the founder of CS Careerline and a true career changer who has previously pursued careers in medicine and neuroscience.
Due to his interest in programming and years of past personal experience in coding, he decided to break into the tech industry by attending a Master’s in Computer Science for career changers at University of Pennsylvania. Elmar passionately writes and coaches about breaking into the tech industry and computer science in general.