magnifier
Image
magbottom
 
Co-designer J. Presper Eckert, Jr. and chief engineer James R. Weiner look over their new portable BINAC "electronic brain," Philadelphia, PA, August 21, 1949.
Close Window

J. Presper Eckert, Jr., co-designer and James R. Weiner, chief engineer, look over the new portable "electronic brain."

Credit: Image Donated by Corbis-Bettmann

After reorganizing as the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation in 1948, John W. Mauchley and J. Presper Eckert Jr. built a pathbreaking computer at their Ridge Avenue workshop in Philadelphia, PA. The first computer to use binary numeration - the "0" and "1" that correspond to the on/off position of electric switches– rather than traditional decimal characters, BINAC could calculate 12,000 times faster than a person, compose music, and play chess.

Back to Top