First electronic computer now 70 years old - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: czdt8m
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2014, 01:49:10 pm
content: Colossus, the first electronic computer build by Tommy Flowers in WWII is now 70 years old.Read more athttp://www.tnmoc.org/news/news-releases/veterans-celebrate-colossus-70Still an amazing achievement.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2014, 03:21:41 pm
content: I am fortunate enough to live only a few miles from Bletchley Park so can visit the rebuilt Colossus easily. I have been to Bletchley Park (Station X) many times, (once to get married) and can recommend it as an interesting museum, and collection of cryptographic and computing history. They even had a Diplomatic Wireless Service display but I heard recently that it may have been moth-balled to facilitate repairs to the building in which it sits.If you are ever in the vacinity of Milton Keynes, do a small detour to Bletchley Park. It is well worth a visit.http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2014, 04:02:21 pm
content: I can also recommend Bletchley Park ... as it was a while ago. However, I have heard, and their website seems to confirm that 'they' have separated the computing museum from the park and the two are to be run as independent attractions - which appears to be totally crazy to me. I couldn't work-out whether the Colossus would be part of the park or the computing section. Ditto all the other interesting cryptography stuff.A bit more info here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25916048

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2014, 04:06:31 pm
content: I know a chap who works in the computing museum area and he has indicated that there has been much change recently. I shall be contacting them regarding the apparent disappearance of some attractions. The web site is a lot more 'Disneyland' and flashy than I remember...a new marketing team ?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2014, 04:46:54 pm
content: Seems not all is wellhttp://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/03/bletchley_park_spat_halts_work_on_lorenz_sz42/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/28/bletchley_park_sacks_elderly_volunteers/

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2014, 05:34:55 pm
content: @ B@W,Thanks for the links.If half what is written is true, I am very sad about it.EDIT: waffle removed

author: czdt8m
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 10:19:15 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on February 06, 2014, 10:06:16 amI do not believe it is a stored program computer. The "program" is hardwired using jumpers and switches.. The only thing on tape is the encrypted message in an endless loop.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 12:05:22 pm
content: Does it matter if the switches thrown for the programming are mechanical or electronic. It is still running on a stored program, either hard or soft.

author: alanb
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 02:31:03 pm
content: As far as I am aware the worlds first stored program computer was the Manchester University Baby which ran its first program in June 1948. Colossus was electronic but not stored program.Quote from: wilfred on February 05, 2014, 10:08:51 pmColossus was designed and built for the Lorenz code and was not used on Enigma.It is sad that Tommy Flowers never received the recognition he deserved during his life time.