The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the ENIAC, the world's first general-purpose electronic computer, which stood 10 feet tall, occupied 1,000 square feet, and weighed approximately 30 tons. It utilized over 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches, and 18,000 vacuum tubes, consuming 150 kilowatts of power. Additionally, the conversation shifts to the Russian Ekranoplan, a Ground Effect Vehicle developed by Rostislav Alekseev, which could travel over 400 km/h and weighed 540 tons fully loaded. The Ekranoplan was designed for military transport and could carry over 100 tonnes of cargo.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electronic components such as resistors and capacitors
  • Familiarity with the concept of Ground Effect Vehicles
  • Knowledge of military transport technologies
  • Basic historical context of computing technology development
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the technical specifications and historical significance of the ENIAC
  • Explore the design and operational principles of Ground Effect Vehicles
  • Investigate the military applications of the Ekranoplan
  • Learn about the evolution of computing technology post-ENIAC
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for historians, technology enthusiasts, and engineers interested in the evolution of computing and transport technologies, particularly those focused on military applications and early electronic devices.

  • #1,021
"Revolutionised Chemistry" is a pun of some sort.
 
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  • #1,022
The compound microscope, Zacharias Janssen, ~1590??
 
  • #1,023
dextercioby said:
it was not a revolution. in the sense putting a *************** in a chemistry lab was.:wink:


Bench? Sink? Blackboard? Fume cupboard? Fridge? Door? :smile:
 
  • #1,024
Chemists don't need a microscope more than a *********************.

Good guess.That's a biology lab,though.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,025
Yeah, I figured- but the question does seem very broad. Was is some kind of thermometer?? -No one is stealing this from me either! :devil:
 
  • #1,026
It's going to turn out to be something like Cavendish being the first person to bring a round stool into the lab or something along those lines.
 
  • #1,027
I think it was invented by that time,but nope,at that time,putting it in a lab was not crucial.

"Revolutionized chemistry=It literally changed the way chemistry was (being) done".

Daniel.
 
  • #1,028
zoobyshoe said:
It's going to turn out to be something like Cavendish being the first person to bring a round stool into the lab or something along those lines.

It's really essential.You won't believe that simple it is. :wink:

Daniel.
 
  • #1,029
dextercioby said:
It's really essential.You won't believe that simple it is. :wink:

Daniel.
Artificial illumination? Say, an oil lamp?
 
  • #1,030
centrifuge?
 
  • #1,031
Evo's not original (check out the previous page with Ivan's answer).Nope,it's not a lighting tool.

Daniel.

EDIT:You're not original with the centrifuge,either. :-p
 
Last edited:
  • #1,032
dextercioby said:
Evo's not original (check out the previous page with Ivan's answer).Nope,it's not a lighting tool.

Daniel.
sorry, I hadn't read all posts, not even the quetion. :redface: I changed it.
 
  • #1,033
Test tube?
 
  • #1,034
Bunsen burner?
 
  • #1,035
First chemistry textbook, Andreas Libavius, 1597??
Vacuum pump, Otto von Guericke, 1645??

Eh, the pre-dating electrolysis was a hint, right?
 
Last edited:
  • #1,036
Nope to test tube,Bunsen burner,well,it's the 3-rd time i see that answer,but Bunsen was born and worked in the XVIII-th century.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,037
acidimeter?
 
  • #1,038
Interesting,but nope,vacuum pump is in a plasma physics lab.Chemists would be dead without a ***************** in their lab.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,039
A ventilation system?!?
 
  • #1,040
Evo said:
acidimeter?

At that time,they didn't know what acid was.

Please,guess it.If you don't,u'll see that those answers were/are unbelievebly complicated and u'll get a bit of frustration,too.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,041
dextercioby said:
Need i say that this is not a technical question,so it can be answered by virtually anyone...?
It is an object/instrument, but not a technical one.

Chamber pot?
 
  • #1,042
dextercioby said:
At that time,they didn't know what acid was.

Please,guess it.If you don't,u'll see that those answers were/are unbelievebly complicated and u'll get a bit of frustration,too.

Daniel.
Did you ever state the century? Or will that give it away?
 
  • #1,043
COSHH risk assessment?

Coffee machine?
 
  • #1,044
Evo said:
Did you ever state the century? Or will that give it away?

I'm asking for the object,which should be the easy part,then the guy who did it and the year (with approximation) in which it happened.

The century will be given as a clue,if you can't find the name and the year.

But first,the easy part.

No,to Brewnog's jokes.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,045
brewnog said:
Coffee machine?
Heh, that would be math ;)

Okay some guesses: protective clothing (including glasses), storage device, a book, type of camera, uhhh... fire predates chemistry, so I guess that wouldn't have really revolutionized it?
 
  • #1,046
They hadn't discovered corrosive substances,nor dangerous gases which might blow up.Daguerre was not born.:wink: And Gutenberg had already died.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,047
The match?

Robert Boyle (1680), John Walker (1827) or Charles Sauria (1830) are possible answers to that one.
 
  • #1,048
I don't know what they used to light the fire.But they were doing it,so this is not the answer.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,049
Fire extinguisher!
 
  • #1,050
No offense,but the fire extinguisher didn't quite revolutionize chemistry.:smile:

Daniel.
 

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