Which numerical system did the ENIAC computer use to perform its
Chapter 1

The birth of a giant

Chapter 2

Inside the beast

Chapter 3

The brilliant minds

Chapter 4

The legacy of ENIAC

Ch 2 · Inside the beast
007skaty

007skaty The ENIAC computer calculated using decimal arithmetic.

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007skaty
Thinking in tens, not twos

007skaty ENIAC mimicked mechanical adding machines by using ring counters and ten vacuum tubes per digit to calculate decimal numbers.

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Quiz

How many digits were in the standard 'decimal words' that the ENIAC used for calculations?

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Quiz

Which numerical system did the ENIAC computer use to perform its mathematical calculations?

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007skaty
Before a system can run itself, it requires constant physical labor to survive.

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007skaty

007skaty The ENIAC computer required physical wiring to run programs.

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Programming with plugs and switches

007skaty This manual rewiring process kept the computer offline for days between tasks.

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Quiz

What was a major drawback of the physical programming method used by the ENIAC?

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Quiz

How did operators program the ENIAC computer to perform a new mathematical task?

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Fun Fact

Philadelphia power myth: Rumors claimed that whenever ENIAC was turned on, all the streetlights in Philadelphia dimmed, though this was actually a myth.

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007skaty Technicians worked daily to replace burned-out vacuum tubes inside the ENIAC.

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007skaty
Tiny Tube Tinker
BETA

007skaty Tinker with glowing vacuum tubes to learn how the Aniac computer processed data.

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Quiz

How often did technicians typically have to replace burned-out vacuum tubes in the ENIAC?

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Quiz

Why did engineers decide to keep the ENIAC computer running continuously without turning it off?

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Glossary
vacuum tube (noun)
An electron tube containing a near-vacuum that allows the free passage of electric current. In 1945, the ENIAC computer utilized over 17,000 of these devices to perform complex ballistic calculations.

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007skaty
Quiz

Approximately how much electrical power did the ENIAC computer consume during operation?

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Quiz

What rumor spread through Philadelphia when the ENIAC computer was turned on?

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Gossip

Would you enjoy programming with physical cables?

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