Whirlwind I is a vacuum-tube computer developed by the MIT Servomechanisms Laboratory for the United States Navy. Operational in 1951, it was among the first digital electronic computers that operated in real time for output, and the first that was not simply an electronic replacement of older mechanical systems. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
SignificanceAmong the first digital electronic computers to operate in real time for output, and the first that was not simply an electronic replacement of an older mechanical system, rather than a machine designed for real time from the start. 1 Connections
Invented By
Jay Forrester directed the Whirlwind I project at MIT, which pioneered real-time computing and magnetic core memory.
Robert Everett was chief engineer of the Whirlwind I project at MIT alongside Jay Forrester.
Predecessor Of
The Whirlwind I real-time computing project at MIT was the direct technical basis for SAGE, the US air defense computing system built in the 1950s.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Whirlwind I
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
it was among the first digital electronic computers that operated in real-time for output, and the first that was not simply an electronic replacement of older mechanical systems.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.