1944 Bletchley Park dictionary

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The first computer was also built in the UK during the war, (WWII)

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except I'm going to be picky and say that the first recognised computer was actually the analytical engine dreamt up by Charles Babbage in the 1820's- in case anyone is interested Lord Byrons daughter Ada Lovelace was also involved in the project as the first proto programmer - the programming language ADA is named after her.

Z

[edited for spelling - daughter doesn't deserve a capital letter even if it was Lord Byrons daughter, /edit]

For Zonewalker, you are of course correct about Babbage, I was only saying about the first solid state computer. It was used by Turing to help speed up the de-coding, it took a lot of setting up, externally, and was also used by the WAAF's to dry their laundry, due to the large amounts of heat generated????

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Originally posted here by Zonewalker
except I'm going to be picky and say that the first recognised computer was actually the analytical engine dreamt up by Charles Babbage in the 1820's- in case anyone is interested Lord Byrons Daughter Ada Lovelace was also involved in the project as the first proto programmer - the programming language ADA is named after her.

Z

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Damn, I should have picked up on that, we did in our lectures only a few weeks ago. Unless that was one of the ones that I *cough* "missed". ;)

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I was only saying about the first solid state computer

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fair enuff foxyloxley - like I say just been picky :D

pwaring.... ahh yes the joys of "missing" lectures ;) how I so wish for those days again (still at least now I don't have to starve to afford beer) - enjoy it while you can mate! Have a good Xmas all

Z

I don't starve to afford beer - that's what my student load is for! ;)

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I don't starve to afford beer - that's what my student load is for!

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thats exactly my plan! except avoid the **** from aldi when you havent got the cash to buy proper stuff, also!! the tesco own brand larger is cheaper than buying bottled water....at 18p a can i think! And it actually tastes pretty good.

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I was only saying about the first solid state computer

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I could be picky and say its not strictly solid state!

merry xmas

i2c

Zonewalker> If we consider things on this point of view, we can say that the very first computer was the Blaise Pascal's calculator invented during the 17th century.
I guess that the programming language "Turbo Pascal" is named in reference to him.

I get the feeling that this thread is rapidly turning into the "Monty Python"-'What did the Romans do for us ?' So. Apart from Babbage and Pascal and 'not solid state' and Ada Lovelace, (wasn't she in some kind of film :D ) and the GPO. I can safely say: At Bletchley, there was definitely A computer,
Please leave me SOMETHING from this :)

Edit : I have DEFINITELY had too much of that Aldi lager !!!! And now you tell me there is beer CHEAPER than water !!!

Collossis, is i believe credited with being the first progamable computer. The most interesting thing that i have come across about it was that the Wafs and wrens that opperated it used to hang there laundry in the room to dry. Also it was run with code tape(a strip of thick paper with holes in) and that they used to run it up to 60 miles per hour. Thats the speed that the paper strip would run around it's cycle. Just think guys we could have all been arested 50 years ago for this thread.

By the way all the technology that was invented and used at that time, Lornze machines and the like was orderded to be destroyed ofter the war by Churchill, what a waist.

KissCool > oooh the gauntlet has been thrown down I can see that :D .... ok if you're going to be really picky.......

from this point of view I must argue that Wilhelm Schickard's 'calculating clock' made around 1624 predates Pascals calculator which I think was made sometime around 1640 :)

Of course you could argue that the first ever computer was an abacus - after all it does no more than a computer does - just a little bit slower (although I understand that after WWII there was some competition between a guy adding up stuff on an abacus and a computer - the guy with the abacus won!).

I guess it really depends upon where you draw the line and what we actually define as a computer - speaking for myself I tend to define a computer as something that uses a program to perform advanced calculations and has some kind of storage mechanism i.e. the analytical engine (which is the later version of the earlier difference engine - something I don't consider to be a computer). Defining a computer like this does mean that, whilst a hugely important step along the way, Pascals calculator is not a computer. I mean I don't wish to undermine Pascal's achievements because they are far more than I ever expect to achieve. Pascal did make some very important contributions to early computing I won't deny that (incidentally yes the Pascal programming language is named after him) - I just don't consider his invention to be a computer.

But there I guess we differ... so I'm quite happy to say ok we don't see eye to eye but thats cool. I can only hope I do something that would help change the world so much.

Anyway sorry for the O/T everyone....

Z

PS... Kisscool... Location: Gormenghast - like it


EDIT... ahhh clearly I blather on too much.... Foxyloxley... I am sorry we've turned your thread into a history lesson.... yes I can confirm there was a computer at Bletchley Park :D