World Computer Day
Each year World Computer Day explores a new theme.
The theme this year is:
THE BIG THREE (3) EARLY COMPUTING INNOVATIONS
- Looking Beyond the Famous Computer Successes
- Historical Significance of an Apparently Failed Project
- Were They Ahead of their Time?
- Rethinking Failure in Computer Heritage
1) RCA Selectron of Lancaster PA
The Selectron was an early form of digital computer memory - 1943; The first step in "storage" 1943-49
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selectron_tube
https://www.rcaselectron.com/sysafcrc.html
Speakers-
- Bob Roswell, CEO of System Source Computer Museum
- Charles Osborn of https://RCAselectron.com/
- Robert Gillespie consummate Tube Collector
2) Philco Transac - Philco of Philadelphia
Philco produced the world's fastest all-transistor computer the Transac S-2000, in 1958.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philco_computers
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?Company_Id=741
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/philco/2000/
- Speakers-
- Paul Kyzivat (Philco computers- Transac, 212)
- Bill Mensch- Philco and its computer, semiconductor and transistor past
- Philco CXPQ at David Taylor Model Basin, US Navy https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0650605.pdf
3) ORDVAC to ILLIAC - For Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland
The University of Illinois Tie with Aberdeen. Ordvac to Illiac Series
For the University of Illinois. All 4 are "one off" machines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILLIAC
Discussion of Illiac Suite for String Quartet- First score composed by a computer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illiac_Suite
Built in Paoli, PA
Speakers-
- Daniel Atkins III, University of Michigan, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Illiac I, II and III
- John Day, Professor at Boston University, developer of early operating systems, experienced in Illiac IV, Arpanet and Internet
- Gary Feierbach (Illiac IV - 1964) https://www.linkedin.com/in/feierbach/