History of Computers part 2 BBC Documentary.mp4

Summary

The script recounts the pioneering efforts of entrepreneurs Eckert and Mauchly, who faced skepticism and technical challenges in creating the first commercial electronic computer, UNIVAC. They found a desperate customer in the US Census Bureau, which needed to process vast amounts of data. Despite initial success, they struggled with underestimating project scale and financial mismanagement. Meanwhile, in Britain, the Lyons company, known for tea and cakes, initiated the UK's commercial computer industry by building its own computer, LEO, to streamline operations, demonstrating the early versatility of computers in business.

Takeaways

• 💡 The first challenge for entrepreneurs Eckert and Mauchly was to find a customer for their complex electronic computers, as many were skeptical about their feasibility and practicality.
• 🔌 The computers were built with vacuum tubes which were prone to burning out, leading to reliability concerns and a high maintenance requirement.
• 🧠 The complexity of the machines meant that operating them required advanced mathematical or logical understanding, which was considered a rare skill at the time.
• 📊 The US Census Bureau was identified as a potential customer due to their urgent need to process vast amounts of data more efficiently than traditional methods.
• 🤝 In September 1946, the first contract for a commercial computer, the UNIVAC, was signed with the Census Bureau for a fixed price, highlighting the pioneering nature of the deal.
• 🚧 Eckert and Mauchly underestimated the time and resources needed to develop UNIVAC, leading to delays and financial difficulties for their company.
• 🏭 The Jay Lyons company, known for tea and cakes, initiated Britain's commercial computer industry by building its own computer, LEO, to streamline operations.
• 🛠 Maurice Wilks from Cambridge University played a key role in the development of LEO, collaborating with Lyons to bring the computer to life.
• 🌐 The LEO computer was innovatively used to adjust orders for tea shops based on weather forecasts, demonstrating early applications of computer technology in business.
• 📈 The success of LEO led Lyons to begin producing computers for other companies, expanding their business into the computer industry.
• 🛑 The American computer industry faced significant hurdles, including the anti-communist McCarthyism era, which impacted Eckert and Mauchly's ability to secure contracts and funding.

Q & A

What was the initial challenge faced by Eckert and Mauchly in selling their electronic computers?

The initial challenge was the skepticism from people due to the complexity and unreliability of the machines, which were prone to vacuum tube burnouts and required advanced mathematical or logical understanding to operate.

Why was the US Census Bureau interested in the UNIVAC computer?

The US Census Bureau was interested because they were overwhelmed with the amount of data they needed to process, and the time to complete the census was increasing with each iteration, threatening their ability to meet congressional mandates.

What was the original name given to the computer developed by Eckert and Mauchly?

The computer was originally named UNIVAC, which stood for Universal Automatic Computer.

How did the Jay Lyons company, known for tea and cakes, become involved in the computer industry?

The Jay Lyons company needed a better way to manage its large-scale operations and track employees and products. Seeing the potential in computers, they decided to build their own and sought help from Cambridge University to do so.

What was the nickname given to the computer developed by the Jay Lyons company?

The computer developed by the Jay Lyons company was nicknamed LEO, which stood for Lyons Electronic Office.

What innovative application did the Lyons Electronic Office (LEO) computer have for managing tea shop orders?

LEO had a program that could adjust the orders for the tea shops based on the weather forecast, increasing or decreasing the amount of certain items like salads or puddings accordingly.

What was the financial outcome for Eckert and Mauchly's company after signing the first contract for UNIVAC?

Despite signing the contract, the company fell behind schedule and into debt, as they had vastly underestimated the time and money required for their pioneering work.

What external factor contributed to the difficulties faced by Eckert and Mauchly in securing contracts?

The anti-communist hysteria, known as McCarthyism, led to John Mauchly being denied security clearances due to a past affiliation with a scientific organization that had communist ties, causing potential customers and investors to withdraw.

How did the initial低估 by Eckert and Mauchly of the project's scope affect their business?

The underestimation led to financial strain as they did not have enough money to complete the UNIVAC project, and they struggled to find additional investors or secure advance payments from customers.

What was the impact of the security clearance issue on John Mauchly's career?

The security clearance issue prevented Mauchly from working on defense projects and carried a lasting impact on his career, with the resentment affecting him until his death in 1980.

What was the significance of the UNIVAC contract in the history of the computer industry?

The UNIVAC contract, signed in September 1946, marked the first commercial computer contract and was a significant milestone in the establishment of the computer industry.