StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Small Scale Experimental Machine - Article Example

Cite this document
Summary
It was the 21st of June, 1948, when after several unsuccessful trials the first stored-program digital computer ran, and solved a mathematical problem, first. It was called Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM), or The Baby - since it became a foundation for further research and development in the field, and created a ground for these familiar to everyone computers we know now.
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.5% of users find it useful
Small Scale Experimental Machine
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Small Scale Experimental Machine"

Download file to see previous pages

The memory was to be tested in order to prepare for creating Manchester Mark 1 computer (Hilpert, 2002), so in general SSEM was a prototype of Mark 1. The Baby, a computer with 128 bytes of memory (Relph-Knight, 2008), was built at the Victoria University of Manchester in order to test the features of the memory - its speed, reliability, and feasibility. The machine was created under the influence of John Von Neumann's work - he was designing a machine that would use an RCA storage device named Selectron.

It also was a tube, a large vacuum one, and worked by means of electrostatic charge storage of 4096 bits. However, Von Neumann did not manage to run the Selectron (Relph-Knight). The designers of SSEM used the random access properties of the memory in order to store both data for digital calculations and, actually, program instructions (Tiangha, 2003). This idea and its realization lead the scientists to the realization of the stored program concept which later became a founding principle for the future computers which we use every day now.

SSEM stored its information on the cathode ray tube - similar to the ones used in TV (Johnson, 2008), or radar screens used at that time. During the War scientists developed a delay line memory - the signa. As a result, left were only the residual signals to contain the images of the moving objects (Turing, 1937). Computers working with this type of a memory could store only limited amounts of data, were expensive, and very demanding in maintenance. Besides, they provided sequential access to information instead of random one which was considered to be more efficient.

The creation of the Williams Tube itself was a result of William's observing an experiment that had been conducted at Bell Labs, where they used cathode ray tubes working with radars. They developed the tube as an analog for a delay line memory. At the same time Williams was realizing that development of a device for electronic storage of data was crucially important for the further development of electronic digital computers. Therefore, while working at Telecommunications Research Establishment, in 1946 Williams started work on designing his own, modified, type of such a tube in an attempt to use it as a computer storage device, which, finally, proved to be successful (The Computer Conservation Society, 1992).

Williams designed the 'memory' in such a way that it read the charge and rewrote it continuously at electronic speeds. This allowed the data to be kept permanently, and finally this sequence of actions was called 'regeneration'. Afterwards it was implemented in contemporary RAMs to replenish charge (The University of Manchester, 1998-1999). So, the next step was to build a computer that would be able to use the created memory. According to Relph-Knight (2008) the predecessor of Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine was secret Colossus machine used during the war for decoding German messages.

It was a pre-programmed heavily wired machine which was able to deal with a small number

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Small Scale Experimental Machine Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Small Scale Experimental Machine Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/science/1507677-small-scale-experimental-machine
(Small Scale Experimental Machine Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
Small Scale Experimental Machine Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words. https://studentshare.org/science/1507677-small-scale-experimental-machine.
“Small Scale Experimental Machine Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/science/1507677-small-scale-experimental-machine.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Small Scale Experimental Machine

Global Environment for Network Innovation By NSF

GENI is an experimental facility that will revolutionize research in global communication networks.... One of the main goals of GENI is to change the nature of networked and distributed systems design, to integrate precise theoretical understanding with compelling and thorough experimental validation (Peterson n.... In order to study large-scale systems with large numbers of users, an experimental field station where long-running services can be deployed and used by real-world users is required....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Analysis of Strength of Connecting Rods

Select 100 and 150 kg combination of weights (being at the rear of the machine).... The B scale uses the spherical steel penetrator and the C scale uses the diamond cone-shaped penetrator.... Now, turn the knurled collar until the SET line on the dial scale is in line with and under the large pointer.... the small indentation of the indenter may not be detrimental to the use of an object).... After contact is gently made, continue raising the sample until a small pointer is about in line with the small black dot and the large pointer is within the colored sector....
3 Pages (750 words) Lab Report

How Period of Two Simple Harmonic Oscillators Differ with Diverse Parameters

able 3: Spring statisticsMass suspended from the spring (Kg)Weight (N)Force stretching spring (g)scale readingElongation (cm)0006.... This is to minimize losses, which could have occurred if the specialists ignored small tests in determining how the real design will work....
2 Pages (500 words) Lab Report

Operations Managements

It specifies the machine tools for each indicated operations.... If the demand for the product is high then there is no need for production in small batches.... The paper "Operations Managements" presents that as its name is self-explanatory “Process design means designing of a process”....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Principles and Practice of Cloud Computing

Manchester Small Scale Experimental Machine was the first among the modern electronic digital computers in the market.... So far, it is the first machine in the world to perform complete computing.... This machine lacked data storage memory.... The author of the present research paper "Principles and Practice of Cloud Computing" underlines that information technology is the use of computer technology in communication....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

Experiments on Soil Mechanics

"Experiments on Soil Mechanics" paper argues that it is important to take great caution when loading the machine with weights because incorrect loading can damage one's back.... hellip; The placement of the soil in glass in the rotating machine is risky.... This can be avoided by ensuring enough time is taken and ensuring the jar is fitted tightly before switching the machine on.... Equipment Distilled water A set of scales A grooving tool 3 small metal dishes An oven 2 palette knives A “knocking device” Method The soil sample is mixed thoroughly with distilled water by use of the palette knife until it mixes homogeneously; this is to create wet soil....
12 Pages (3000 words) Assignment

Theory of Unbalanced Vibration, Theory of Balancing, Determination of Unbalanced Mass

nbsp;There are various sources of unbalanced vibrations in machine components … Unbalanced vibrations are usually eliminated through balancing, which is usually done on rotating machine elements, such as wheels.... Unbalanced forces create excessive vibrations that ultimately lead to premature failure of machine components and the entire machine system especially when unbalanced vibrations from rotating elements are transmitted to other parts of the machine system....
9 Pages (2250 words) Lab Report

Orifice and Free Jet Flows

The objective of the experimental exercise is to determine the coefficients of contraction Cc, coefficient of discharge Cd, and coefficient of velocity Cv of two distinct small sharp-edged orifices which are 3mm and 6mm in diameters.... experimental Procedure The experiment is carried out as per the lab instructions notes F1-17.... The adjustable overflow maintains the head at a constant level which is indicated by a level scale.... The term small orifice is obtained from an orifice with vertical dimensions and is small than the head producing the flow....
9 Pages (2250 words) Lab Report
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us