Another ~1960 computer kit - Philips?

From: Doug Yowza <yowza_at_yowza.com>
Date: Thu Dec 17 17:33:11 1998

On Thu, 17 Dec 1998, D. Peschel wrote:

> Well, OK, you're right. None of the toys I've seen have been actual modern
> von Neumann machines as we know them. There. Is that general enoguh for
> you? Seriously, I'm still interested in building a mechanical "real
> computer".

A mechanical von Neumann machine? I'm not sure I know of any machine, toy
or not, that can claim that (and that's mostly due to my ignorance of the
early relay-based machines, probably). But there are certainly electronic
von Neumann toys, such as the Science Fair Microprocessor Trainer I
mentioned earlier.

> > Many of the early toy/personal/home computers I know of have already been
> > mentioned here, but there's one in particular that hasn't and will blow
> > you away with both it's "specs" and the effect it had on computing as we
> > know it today.
>
> Are you in cahoots with Sam "see the VCF web page" Ismail?

No cahoots on this one, but we both have the same sense of juvenile
delight in "scoops" I guess.

OK, I'll spill the beans somewhat. Normally, the only reason I don't
spill beans is because I hope to find an instance of the machine myself
before it becomes well-known and "valuable," but I have little hope of
finding this one.

Who do you consider the father of personal computing? It sure as hell
ain't Ed Roberts. Some people consider it to be Alan Kay. But Alan Kay
was heavily influenced by the work of Ivan Sutherland. And who influenced
Ivan Sutherland?

When Sutherland was a kid, somebody lent him a "personal computer." The
year was somewhere between 1950 and 1956, and the person with a personal
computer to lend was Edmund Berkeley. Berkeley designed the machine in
1950, shortly after publishing his famous "Giant Brains" book. He formed
a company called Berkeley Enterprises, and the charter was to popularize
the computer and to create personal computers (and robots) individuals
could build or buy as part of that goal.

The first kit was called SIMON (in honor of Simple Simon). I don't have
all the details yet, but I believe it was relay based, and could be
programmed via paper tape! I have a picture of it which I'll scan and
publish someday soon.

Sutherland wrote a division routine for it on paper tape, and also created
a storage unit for it called MAGDUM (for Magnetic Drum). I have a copy of
the MAGDUM plans which I'll also be web-publishing. I also have an early
Berkeley Enterprises catalog, including info about SIMON, MAGDUM, GENIAC,
and the early robots.

I dunno know about you, but when I learned of this, I was dumbfounded.
A personal computer made in 1950 created by one of the early pioneers and
which heavily influenced one of the most influential computer scientists
of our time!

-- Doug
Received on Thu Dec 17 1998 - 17:33:11 GMT