Happy Birthday ENIAC

February 18, 2006 · Filed Under technology

Way back in 1946, ENIAC was unleashed upon the world.

And now, this has resulted in you being able to read my blog!

Check out a very cool article about ENIAC, it’s origins, and it’s ongoing implications.

The scientists knew that they had created something that would change history, but they weren’t sure how to convey their breakthrough to the public. So they painted numbers on some light bulbs and screwed the resulting “translucent spheres” into ENIAC’s panels. Dynamic, flashy lights would thereafter be associated with the computer in the public mind.

Flashing lights from TV shows & movies, and spinning tape reels from TV commercials — those are among my earliest memories of computers.