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Abstract for Seminar
The Cambridge Edsac Computer ran its first program in May 1949 and went on to provide the first "computing service" to users from across Cambridge University. A group associated with The National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park and the Cambridge University Computer Laboratory is in the advanced stages of planning to build a replica of this important machine to fill the gap between the wartime Colossus code breaking computer and the early commercial mainframe computers on show at the museum. Unfortunately while information about how to program Edsac is widely available, the details of its mechanical and electronic construction are very sketchy: some photographs, a "systems architecture" report written before construction started and various technical notes outlining changes as the system evolved. The project therefore requires the team to re-invent Edsac, using the information available and following techniques consistent with the technology of the 1940's. Dr Herbert will give an overview of Edsac, its principles of operation and the progress being made in recovering the design of this very significant machine in the history of British computing.