First General-Purpose Electronic Computer

The conception, development, and design of the ENIAC are presented in the context of a causal history. Early influences, particularly the differential analyzer and the work of Atanasoff, are detailed. Architecture, electronic and logical designs, basic elements, main units, and problem setup are described, together with the historical contributions to each aspect. Finally, the place of the ENIAC in the history of computers is delineated, both quantitatively and qualitatively, through a comparison with machines from the mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic technologies. Reproduced here with permission of Arthur W. Burks and Alice R. Burks