First Electronic Computer: The Atanasoff Story
Honeywell versus Sperry Rand was one of the longest cases in the history of the federal courts within the United States. It spanned almost five years and resulted in the invalidation of certain patents. Atanasoff had worked out the fundamental elements of an electronic digital computer. His machine, built at Iowa State University, featured a base-two operational mode, regenerative memory, and logic circuits as early as 1939. (Excerpt- Profitable Intelligence)
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Description
This is the story of the electronic computer that launched the computer revolution, a machine completed in 1942 by John Atanasoff but one he left behind in Iowa for war research in Washington. Drawing on their direct knowledge and on the proceedings of a multimillion-dollar patent trial, the authors upset the commonly held view that the ENIAC was the world’s first electronic computer. They detail the Atanasoff computer and its influence on the ENIAC and computers of today. This book supplements the court’s strong findings with a much-needed technical foundation as well as a narrative that is rich in human interest.
