CS2642 & SWE2643 Computers and Society/Professional Practices and Ethics

Lecture 2--ENIAC Ancestors

Overview
ENIAC’s Ancestors

The need for computers

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC and some of the ancestors

Summary

The need for computers

What is a computer?

Features

Programmable device

Electronic device

Store data

Retrieve data

Process data

The need for computers

Today, anytime a programmable electronic device is needed to store, retrieve, and/or process data--> a computer is needed

Furthermore, when society has such a need, we say that a computer is needed by society

The need for computers

The WWII Allies were desperate in early ‘43

Breakthroughs were needed, e.g., firing tables

Computers were used to develop them

The computers of the time were not fast enough and required rest

WHY?

Computers were people, predominately women (my mentor married one)

Solution: Develop an electronic computer for firing tables

The need for computers

Was a computer needed?

Programmable device; Electronic device

Store data; Retrieve data; Process data

Was this need a societal need?

Definitely yes

Mostly yes

Maybe

Mostly no

Definitely no

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

Circa 1600 Galileo mathematicized the physical sciences

Ptolemy(2nd CE)--Earth is at the center of the universe

Copernicus (1543)--Sun is at the center of the solar system

Circa 1600 Galileo mathematicized the physical sciences

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

1642 Pascal developed the Pascaline--Mechanical calculator for addition and by1652 50 Prototype Pascalines were developed, but few were sold (Dr. Harbort has a model) http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~greg/calculators/pascal/Pascaline's_Gallery.htm

1642 Pascal developed the Pascaline

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

1673 Leibniz improved the Pascaline into the Stepped Reckoner (first calculator, +, -, *, / )-- design not used until 1820

http://www.dotpoint.com/xnumber/pic_reckoner.htm

1673 Leibniz improved the Pascaline into the Stepped Reckoner

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

Circa 1800 Jacquard invented the punch-card loom (1806, declared public property, Jacquard awarded pension)

http://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/

Circa 1800 Jacquard invented the punch-card loom

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

1833 Babbage unveiled idea for the Analytical Engine (Improved Difference Engine, adding punch cards to program and conditional)--not funded

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Diagrams/Babbage_engine.jpeg

Difference Engine in picture

1833 Babbage unveiled idea for the Analytical Engine

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

Circa 1890 Hollerith developed the punched card tabulator and sorter--Utilized in 1890 Census for accurate but politically incorrect total in 6 weeks

Based on conductor’s punching tickets

http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Bookpages/Hollerith_machine.jpeg

1896 CTR-->1924 renamed IBM

Circa 1890 Hollerith developed the punched card tabulator and sorter

Side Story--Data Processing (DP) and Information Technology (IT) in Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany made wide use of IT during WWII for DP

Which IT? What for? What DP?

Hollerith Card Technology & Census/Demographics

DP to implement the Holocaust--the number 1 goal of Nazi society. How?

Census data recorded on cards
Cards were transported along with interred individuals
DP stations at every point controlled the individuals’ fate

Edwin Black, IBM and the Holocaust Paperback available 3/26/02 from Three Rivers Press, ebook available now from www.amazon.com

Side Story--Data Processing (DP) and Information Technology (IT) in Nazi Germany

Question: Could Nazi Germany have beaten the U.S. to develop the "computer" as we have defined it today?

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

1930 MIT’s Vannevar Bush’s Differential Analyzer (Analog for differential equations)

http://web.mit.edu/sts001/www/Team8/case3.htm

Electricity--muscle, not brains

1930 MIT’s Vannevar Bush’s Differential Analyzer (Analog for differential equations)

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

1939 Stibitz’ complex number computer (using flip-flops)--not programmable

http://aolsvccomp.cnet.com/ techtrends/0-1544318-7-1656939.html

Model K computer with Stibitz in picture
Accessed via teletypes--first timesharing computer

1939 Stibitz’ complex number computer (using flip-flops)--not programmable

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC

1944 Aiken’s Mark I (Harvard & IBM--Academic/Business conflict) Lacked Babbage’s conditional, used electricity as brawn

http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Bookpages/Aiken_machine.jpeg

1944 Aiken’s Mark I

Summary
ENIAC’s Ancestors

The need for computers

McCartney’s timeline leading to the ENIAC and some of the ancestors