Authors:
- Examines the interactions and influences between the important computing innovators on both sides of the Atlantic during the seminal period 1945 to 1949
- Analyses the hardware and software details of Ferranti computers and their competitors
- Describes in detail the computing requirements and contractual arrangements of the UK’s defence establishments
- Includes a large number of original photos of the significant people, places and equipment
Part of the book series: History of Computing (HC)
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Table of contents (18 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
This unique book presents the story of the pioneering manufacturing company Ferranti Ltd. – producer of the first commercially-available computers – and of the nine end-user organisations who purchased these machines with government help in the period 1951 to 1957. The text presents personal reminiscences from many of the diverse engineers, programmers and marketing staff who contributed to this important episode in the emergence of modern computers, further illustrated by numerous historical photographs. Considerable technical details are also supplied in the appendices.
Topics and features: provides the historical background to the Ferranti Mark I, including the contributions of von Neumann and Turing, and the prototype known as The Baby; describes the transfer of technologies from academia to industry and the establishment of Ferranti’s computer production resources; reviews Ferranti’s efforts to adapt their computers for sale to business and commercial markets,and to introduce competitive new products; covers the use of early Ferranti computers for defence applications in different government establishments in the UK, including GCHQ Cheltenham; discusses the installation and applications of Ferranti computers at universities in the UK, Canada, and Italy; presents the story of the purchase of a Ferranti Mark I* machine by the Amsterdam Laboratories of the Shell company; details the use of Ferranti Mark I* computers in the UK’s aerospace industry and compares this with the American scene; relates the saga of Ferranti’s journey from its initial success as the first and largest British computer manufacturer to its decline and eventual bankruptcy.
This highly readable text/reference will greatly appeal to professionals interested in the practical development of early computers, as well as to specialists in computer history seeking technical material not readily available elsewhere. The educated general reader will also find much to enjoy in the photographs and personal anecdotes that provide an accessible insight into the early days of computing.
Authors and Affiliations
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School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Simon Lavington
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Early Computing in Britain
Book Subtitle: Ferranti Ltd. and Government Funding, 1948 — 1958
Authors: Simon Lavington
Series Title: History of Computing
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15103-4
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Computer Science, Computer Science (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-15102-7Published: 16 July 2019
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-15105-8Published: 14 August 2020
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-15103-4Published: 06 July 2019
Series ISSN: 2190-6831
Series E-ISSN: 2190-684X
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XV, 392
Number of Illustrations: 83 b/w illustrations, 51 illustrations in colour
Topics: History of Computing, History of Technology, History of Science