Molly Ayala
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) is widely regarded as the world's first electronic computer. Built at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering, it was completed in 1946, at the end of World War II. ENIAC was designed by American physicist John Mauchly and engineer J. Presper Eckert, and constructed with the help of a team of women programmers, including Frances Spence and Jean Bartik. The machine was designed to calculate artillery firing tables and ballistic firing trajectories for the US Army.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) |
| Inventors | John Mauchly, J. Presper Eckert |
| Year of Invention | 1946 |
| Purpose | Computing values for artillery range tables, calculating trajectory of projectiles and bombs, weather prediction, atomic-energy calculations, etc. |
| Weight | 30 tons |
| Components | 40 nine-foot cabinets, 18,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches, 1,500 relays |
| Speed | 5,000 additions per second |
| Power Consumption | 174 kilowatts |
| First Users | Betty Jean Jennings (Bartik), Marilyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, Elizabeth Snyder, Frances Bilas, and Kathleen McNulty |
| Current Location | Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. |
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What You'll Learn
ENIAC: The world's first electronic computer
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) is widely regarded as the world's first electronic computer. It was built at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and completed in 1946, though its construction began in 1943. ENIAC was designed by American physicist John Mauchly and American engineer J. Presper Eckert, Jr., who led a government-funded project to build an all-electronic computer.
ENIAC was a general-purpose electronic digital computer, and its development sparked a revolution in computer science and electrical engineering that continues to this day. It was created to help with the war effort during World War II, specifically to calculate the trajectory of projectiles and bombs, also known as computing artillery firing tables or range tables. It was also used for other scientific applications, including weather prediction, atomic-energy calculations, and cosmic-ray studies.
The computer was huge, weighing 30 tons and occupying a 1,500-square-foot basement room with 40 nine-foot cabinets. It contained over 17,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches, and 1,500 relays, making it the most complex electronic system built at the time. It could execute up to 5,000 additions per second, several orders of magnitude faster than its predecessors.
Despite its impressive capabilities, ENIAC had limitations. It used plugboards to communicate instructions to the machine, which meant it took days to rewire the machine for each new problem. This issue was partially addressed in 1948 when a converter unit was installed, allowing the computer to be programmed using standard IBM cards, significantly reducing reprogramming time.
ENIAC remained in continuous use until 2 October 1955, after which it was disassembled and portions were sent to various institutions, including the Smithsonian. It is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
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Development: A team of women programmers
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) is widely considered the first programmable general-purpose electronic digital computer. It was built at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, with funding from the US government, between 1943 and 1946.
The development of the ENIAC was made possible by a team of women programmers, who were responsible for its success. At the time, ""computers" referred to people who worked on complex math equations. During World War II, these "computers" were largely women, as men were away fighting. The team of women programmers working on ENIAC included Betty Jean Jennings (Bartik), Marilyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, Frances (Betty) Snyder, Frances Bilas, and Kathleen McNulty. They were drawn from a team of 200 women working at the university as mechanical "computers".
The women programmers were responsible for directing ENIAC and its punch-card equipment, programming it for each job by plugging in cables and setting switches, and partnering with scientists to develop programs for new problems. They were also instrumental in troubleshooting issues with the machine. For example, Jean Bartik helped to troubleshoot a switch issue the night before ENIAC's unveiling to the world.
Despite their significant contributions, the efforts of these women programmers were largely unrecognized until recently. Their work helped spark a revolution in computer science and electrical engineering that continues to this day.
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Purpose: Solving numerical problems
The first electronic computer used for general purposes, such as solving numerical problems, was the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC). ENIAC was designed and invented by John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering. The machine was built between 1943 and 1946, during World War II, with the aim of helping the war effort by computing artillery firing and ballistic calculations for the US Army' Ballistic Research Laboratory.
ENIAC was the first programmable general-purpose electronic digital computer. It was also the most powerful calculating device built at the time, executing up to 5,000 additions per second—several orders of magnitude faster than its predecessors. The machine was designed to run continuously, generating 174 kilowatts of heat and requiring its own air conditioning system.
The development of ENIAC was made possible by a team of six women programmers: Betty Jean Jennings (Bartik), Marilyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, Elizabeth (Frances) Snyder, Frances Bilas, and Kathleen McNulty. These women were among the first programmers in the world and played a crucial role in the success of ENIAC. Their contributions were not fully recognized until recently, despite their expertise and dedication to the project.
ENIAC's design and construction were financed by the US government and the US Army, with the goal of speeding up computations for military applications. The machine used plugboards for communicating instructions, allowing it to run at electronic speed. However, reprogramming the machine for each new problem was a time-consuming process, taking up to two days. This limitation was later addressed with the installation of a converter unit, reducing reprogramming time to hours and making ENIAC a more versatile tool.
Overall, ENIAC's impact extended beyond its initial purpose of solving numerical problems. It sparked a revolution in computer science and electrical engineering, paving the way for modern personal computers and the computerized world we live in today.
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Limitations: Not a stored program computer
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) is widely regarded as the world's first electronic digital computer. Built between 1943 and 1945, it was completed in 1946, after the end of World War II, for which it was designed to aid the US Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory in calculating artillery firing tables.
Despite its groundbreaking status, ENIAC had several limitations. One of its key constraints was that it was not a stored-program computer. Herman Goldstine, one of the team members who helped build ENIAC, acknowledged this drawback: "The main difficulty was that this was not a stored-program computer. Once we set it up to solve a problem it could do so very quickly. But every time we needed to change it, we had to go back and reprogram it, which would take up to two days." This limitation meant that despite its impressive computational speed, ENIAC lacked the flexibility and ease of reprogramming that characterises modern computers.
The process of reprogramming ENIAC was cumbersome and time-consuming. It involved manually plugging in cables, setting switches, and physically rewiring the machine, a task that could take days to complete. This limitation was a significant drawback, especially considering that ENIAC was designed to address the urgent need for rapid ballistics calculations during World War II.
The lack of a stored-program feature in ENIAC's design meant that it could not easily adapt to new problems or changing requirements. Each time a new computation was needed, the entire machine had to be reconfigured, making it less versatile and adaptable than later computers. This limitation highlights the significant advancements and conveniences that stored-program computers introduced to the field of computing.
While ENIAC was a remarkable achievement for its time, its limitations, including the absence of a stored-program feature, served as important lessons for future computer designs. The development of stored-program computers marked a significant evolution in computer architecture, enabling greater flexibility, ease of programming, and adaptability to different tasks.
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Legacy: Sparked the birth of the computer age
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) is widely considered the first electronic computer used for general purposes. It was built at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania between 1943 and 1946. ENIAC was designed and invented by John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, with funding from the U.S. government and the U.S. Army.
ENIAC's development sparked the birth of the computer age and revolutionised computer science and electrical engineering. It was the first programmable general-purpose electronic digital computer, capable of executing up to 5,000 additions per second—several orders of magnitude faster than its predecessors. This speed significantly reduced the cost of computing, enabling calculation-intensive research to proceed in new directions.
The construction of ENIAC was influenced by the need for faster computation during World War II. Before ENIAC, computers referred to people, often women, who worked on complex mathematical equations and ballistics calculations. During the war, these calculations were crucial for predicting a shell's path using metrics like air density, temperature, and wind speed. However, the process was time-consuming and challenging, leading to a backlog of ballistics computations.
To address this challenge, ENIAC was designed to calculate artillery firing tables for the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory. It was completed in 1946, just after World War II ended, and was the most powerful calculating device built at the time. ENIAC's ability to perform complex calculations at unprecedented speeds proved that it was possible to build a computer, marking a significant shift from human to machine computation.
The legacy of ENIAC extends beyond its technological achievements. It is important to recognise the contributions of the women programmers who were instrumental in its success. Despite their significant roles, these women were not publicly recognised for their work until much later. ENIAC's impact can be seen in the modern-day computerized world, with its innovations continuing to shape technology and computer science.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electronic computer used for general purposes, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), was unveiled to the world on February 14, 1946.
The ENIAC was designed and invented by John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania.
The ENIAC was built to calculate artillery firing tables for the US Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory. It was also used for weather prediction, atomic-energy calculations, cosmic-ray studies, thermal ignition, random-number studies, wind-tunnel design, and other scientific uses.
The ENIAC weighed 30 tons and was housed in a 1,500-square-foot room. It had 40 nine-foot cabinets containing over 18,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches, and 1,500 relays. It could execute up to 5,000 additions per second and ran continuously, generating 174 kilowatts of heat and requiring its own air conditioning system.
