Colossus & Other Early Computers

Summary

This video from explainingcomputers.com explores historic computers at the National Museum of Computing, UK. It features Colossus, the world's first electronic computer, designed to crack German codes during WWII. The video also showcases the Harwell Dekatron, the world's oldest original working digital computer, and the WITCH, used for computation teaching. The museum's collection includes early PCS, thermionic valves, and large hard disk platters, offering a journey through the evolution of computing.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The National Museum of Computing is located at Bletchley Park, UK, a site historically significant for its role in code-breaking during World War II.
• 💡 Colossus, the world's first electronic computer, was designed by Tommy Flowers and was instrumental in deciphering encrypted German messages.
• 🔄 Colossus used vacuum tube technology, with the Mark 1 version containing 1,600 tubes and Mark 2 approximately 22,000.
• 🔒 Colossus was not a general-purpose computer; it was specifically designed to break the Lorenz cipher used by the German High Command.
• 🔁 The machine operated on a continuous loop of punched paper tape, capable of processing up to 5,000 characters per second.
• 🛠 Colossus was programmed manually, without an operating system or high-level programming languages, reflecting its specialized purpose.
• 🏗️ A fully working replica of the Colossus Mark I, reconstructed between 1994 and 2017, now stands in its original location at Bletchley Park.
• 🧮 The Harwell Dekatron, the world's oldest original working digital computer, was used for automating mathematical work and emphasized reliability over speed.
• 🔄 The Harwell Dekatron, also known as WITCH, used 828 Dekatron counting tubes for program and data storage and was operational from 1951 to 1973.
• 🛠️ The EDSAC, an early British computer, is being rebuilt at the museum; it was one of the first general-purpose computers and was operational from 1949 to 1958.
• 🏭 The ICL 2966 Mainframe, a large system used by the Tarmac Construction Company until 1999, is also exhibited at the museum, showcasing the progression of computing technology.

Q & A

What is the National Museum of Computing, and where is it located?

The National Museum of Computing is located at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom, a site famous for its World War II code-breaking activities. The museum showcases many historical computers and is a key place for computing history.

What was the Colossus computer, and what was its significance during World War II?

Colossus was the world's first electronic computer, designed by Tommy Flowers and used during World War II for code-breaking. It was specifically used to help decipher encrypted German high command messages by determining the settings of the Lorenz encryption machine.

How was the Colossus computer programmed?

Colossus was programmed manually by setting switches and plugs on its panels. It had no operating system or high-level programming languages, making it only capable of running the specific applications it was built for, with configurations selected through the switches.

What technology did the Colossus computer use?

Colossus was based on vacuum tube (thermionic valve) technology, with the Mark 1 version having 1,600 vacuum tubes and the Mark 2 version increasing that to 2,200. These components were delicate and needed to remain powered on to prevent them from failing.

What type of input and output system did the Colossus use?

The Colossus computer was fed data through a continuous loop of punched paper tape that circulated around the machine. It could read up to 5,000 characters per second. Its output was directed to an electric typewriter rather than a monitor or display.

What is significant about the Harwell Dekatron computer?

The Harwell Dekatron is the world's oldest original working digital computer. It was built to automate mathematical tasks and prioritized simplicity and reliability. It used 828 Dekatron counting tubes for program and data storage and operated from 1951 until 1973.

What was the purpose of the Harwell Dekatron, and how did it compare to human performance?

The Harwell Dekatron was built to automate mathematical tasks. It was not much faster than a skilled human mathematician, but it could work for long periods without getting tired, offering reliability over speed.

What is EDSAC, and why is it important?

EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator) was one of the first computers designed for general use by people who did not build it. It ran its first program in 1949 and was essential in scientific research, with some Cambridge scientists even winning Nobel Prizes for work that relied on EDSAC calculations.

What is the ICL 2966 Mainframe, and when was it built?

The ICL 2966 Mainframe was constructed between 1985 and 1987 by International Computers Limited (ICL), a major British computing company. It was used until 1999 by the Tarmac Construction Company and was decommissioned due to concerns over the Y2K problem.

What are some of the other exhibits at the National Museum of Computing?

In addition to Colossus, EDSAC, and the Harwell Dekatron, the museum features other large computing systems, thermionic valves, early hard disk platters, and early personal computers. These exhibits showcase the history and development of computing technology.