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ENIAC

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description ENIAC Overview

ENIAC, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, was an early general-purpose electronic digital computer built at the University of Pennsylvania. Completed during the 1940s, it used thousands of vacuum tubes, occupied a large room, and weighed about 30 tons. Initially developed for calculating artillery firing tables for the United States Army, it was later applied to scientific problems and reprogrammed by configuring cables, switches, and function tables.

help ENIAC FAQ

What was ENIAC originally built to calculate?

ENIAC was commissioned primarily to calculate artillery firing tables for the United States Army. It was built at the University of Pennsylvania during World War II.

How was ENIAC programmed without modern software?

Its early programs were configured by setting switches and reconnecting cables between functional units. A later modification allowed instructions to be read from function tables, making reprogramming less laborious.

Who were the women who programmed ENIAC?

Its original programming team included Kathleen McNulty, Frances Bilas, Betty Jean Jennings, Elizabeth Snyder, Ruth Lichterman, and Marlyn Wescoff. Their work was crucial even though it received limited recognition for decades.

How large was ENIAC?

ENIAC contained roughly 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighed about 30 tons. The machine filled a large room rather than fitting into a single cabinet like a modern computer.

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