Old 1950s Computers: A History of Innovation and Transformation

The 1950s was a decade of remarkable achievements and rapid changes in the field of computing. From the first stored-program computers to the emergence of artificial intelligence, the 1950s witnessed the birth and evolution of many technologies that shaped the modern world. In this article, we will explore some of the most significant and influential computers and developments that occurred in the 1950s, and how they contributed to the advancement of science, industry, and society.

The First Stored-Program Computers

One of the major breakthroughs in computing in the 1950s was the introduction of stored-program computers, which could store both data and instructions in their internal memory. This allowed for more flexibility and efficiency in programming and executing tasks, as well as enabling the development of higher-level languages and software.

Some of the first stored-program computers that were developed and demonstrated in the 1950s include:

• The Standards Eastern Automatic Computer (SEAC), which was completed in April 1950 by the US National Bureau of Standards. It was the first operational stored-program computer in the US, and it used a magnetic drum for memory storage1.
• The Pilot ACE, which was completed in May 1950 by the UK National Physical Laboratory. It was based on the design of Alan Turing, a British pioneer of mathematics and computing, and it used mercury delay lines for memory storage1.
• The Standards Western Automatic Computer (SWAC), which was completed in August 1950 by the US National Bureau of Standards. It was one of the fastest computers at the time, thanks to its 2,300 vacuum tubes1.
• The ERA 1101, which was completed in November 1950 by Engineering Research Associates (ERA), a US company that specialized in codebreaking and cryptography. It was one of the first commercially produced computers, and it used a magnetic drum for memory storage12.

These early stored-program computers paved the way for more sophisticated and powerful machines that followed in the later years of the decade.

The Turing Test and Artificial Intelligence

Another milestone in computing in the 1950s was the publication of the Turing test by Alan Turing in October 1950. The Turing test was a series of evaluations meant to test a computer’s ability to demonstrate human intelligence. It involved a human interrogator who would communicate with two entities, one human and one computer, through text messages, and try to determine which one was which. If the computer could fool the interrogator into thinking that it was human, then it would pass the test1.

The Turing test established itself as the guiding principle of artificial intelligence research, which aimed to create machines that could think, learn, and reason like humans. Some of the early attempts to create artificial intelligence in the 1950s include:

• Elsie, a wheeled automaton that was built by Grey Walter, a British neurophysiologist, in 1950. Elsie used photoelectric cells to seek moderate light while avoiding both strong light and darkness, which made it peculiarly attracted to women’s stockings1.
• I, Robot, a collection of science fiction short stories that was published by Isaac Asimov, an American writer and professor, in 1950. I, Robot introduced the concept of the Three Laws of Robotics, which were designed to ensure that robots were no threat to humans or each other1.
• Logic Theorist, a program that was developed by Allen Newell, Herbert Simon, and Cliff Shaw, three American researchers at RAND Corporation, in 1956. Logic Theorist could prove mathematical theorems using symbolic logic and heuristic search techniques3.

These early examples of artificial intelligence showed that computers could perform tasks that required logic, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

The Rise of Commercial Computers

Another important development in computing in the 1950s was the rise of commercial computers, which were sold to various industries and sectors for various purposes. Commercial computers were more affordable, reliable, and user-friendly than their predecessors, and they offered many benefits such as increased productivity, accuracy, speed, and storage.

Some of the most popular and influential commercial computers that were introduced in the 1950s include:

• The UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer I), which was completed in June 1951 by Remington Rand (later Sperry Rand), a US company that produced typewriters and calculators. It was the first commercially successful computer in the US, and it was used for census processing, business data processing, scientific calculations, and military applications4.
• The IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Data Processing Machine (IBM 650), which was completed in December 1953 by IBM (International Business Machines), a US company that dominated the computer industry for decades. It was one of the first mass-produced computers, and it used a magnetic drum for memory storage and a punched card for input and output4.
• The IBM 701 Electronic Data Processing Machine (IBM 701), which was completed in April 1953 by IBM. It was the first commercially available scientific computer, and it used vacuum tubes and magnetic tape for memory storage4.
• The IBM 305 Random Access Method of Accounting and Control (IBM 305 RAMAC), which was completed in September 1956 by IBM. It was the first computer to use a magnetic disk for memory storage, which offered faster and more random access to data than previous devices4.

These commercial computers revolutionized various fields such as business, science, engineering, education, and government, and they created a huge demand for computer professionals and services.

Conclusion

The 1950s was a decade of innovation and transformation in computing. The introduction of stored-program computers, the publication of the Turing test, and the rise of commercial computers were some of the major events and developments that occurred in the 1950s, and they had a lasting impact on the history and future of computing. The 1950s laid the foundations for the subsequent decades of computing, which would witness even more remarkable achievements and changes in technology and society.