The first electronic computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), was designed by John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly. These two engineers, along with a team of collaborators, developed ENIAC during World War II at the University of Pennsylvania. ENIAC is widely regarded as the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, and its design laid the foundation for modern computing.

Background and Development

ENIAC was commissioned by the U.S. Army to calculate artillery firing tables, which were essential for accurately targeting enemy positions during the war. The project began in 1943 and was completed in 1945. ENIAC was unveiled to the public in 1946, marking a significant milestone in the history of computing.

Key Contributions of Eckert and Mauchly

1. John Presper Eckert: Eckert was the chief engineer of the ENIAC project. He was responsible for the hardware design and implementation, including the development of high-speed electronic circuits and memory systems. His innovations in electronic engineering were critical to ENIAC's success.

2. John Mauchly: Mauchly was the project's principal architect and conceptual thinker. He proposed the idea of using electronic components to build a general-purpose computer, which was a radical departure from the mechanical and electromechanical systems of the time. Mauchly also contributed to the development of programming techniques for ENIAC.

ENIAC's Design and Features

ENIAC was a massive machine, weighing about 30 tons and occupying 1,800 square feet of floor space. It contained approximately 17,468 vacuum tubes, 7,200 crystal diodes, 1,500 relays, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, and 5 million hand-soldered joints. Despite its size, ENIAC was capable of performing 5,000 additions or subtractions per second, making it significantly faster than earlier computing devices.

Legacy of ENIAC

ENIAC's development marked the beginning of the electronic computing era. After ENIAC, Eckert and Mauchly went on to found the first computer company, the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, where they developed the UNIVAC I, the first commercial computer in the United States. Their work on ENIAC and subsequent projects influenced the design of modern computers and established the principles of electronic digital computing.

In summary, John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly were the primary designers of ENIAC, and their groundbreaking work revolutionized the field of computing. Their contributions remain foundational to the technology we rely on today.