ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer. Built during World War II, it demonstrated that electronic computation was practical and marked the beginning of the computer age.
Origins
ENIAC was developed at the University of Pennsylvania by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert for the U.S. Army to calculate artillery firing tables. It was unveiled in 1946.
Technical Specifications
ENIAC was enormous by modern standards:
- 17,468 vacuum tubes
- 70,000 resistors
- 10,000 capacitors
- 30 tons weight
- 1,800 square feet floor space
- 150 kilowatts power consumption
The First Programmers
Six women programmed ENIAC:
- Betty Holberton
- Kay McNulty
- Marlyn Meltzer
- Ruth Teitelbaum
- Jean Bartik
- Frances Spence
They developed programming techniques without manuals or prior examples, pioneering software development.
Significance
ENIAC proved electronic digital computation was feasible. Though soon obsolete, it launched the computer industry and demonstrated the potential of programmable electronic machines.