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The war effort was a spur to advanced development of technology. The first true electronic digital computers were introduced in this era.
Most famous computers of the period:
- Mark I. An electromechanical device, using relays, built for the Navy by IBM. Last of its breed. Overtaken by electronics.
 Mark I Lecture
- Colossus. Special purpose code breaker built for the British. Used on German radio codes.
Colossus, the code breaker
- ABC. For Atanasoff-Berry Computer, built at Iowa State. Now known as the first electronic digital computer.
Atanasoff Archive
Rebuilding the ABC
- ENIAC. Most famous of the early computers, containing 18,000 vacuum tubes. Built for the Army for ballistics.
ENIAC Story
- Manchester Mark I. Built by Manchester University; the first stored program computer
Manchester Mark I
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Stored Program Computer
Before the Manchester Mark I, computers were told what to do by rewiring patch panels. This computer held instructions in volatile memory and could change them easily. This technique was a major breakthrough. |
Virtual Museum of Computing
Computer Museum History Center
 Computer Generations
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World War II
