• DocumentCode
    1358670
  • Title

    Arithmetic on the EDSAC

  • Author

    Wilkes, Maurice V.

  • Author_Institution
    Olivetti & Oracle Res. Lab., Cambridge, UK
  • Volume
    19
  • Issue
    1
  • fYear
    1997
  • Firstpage
    13
  • Lastpage
    15
  • Abstract
    The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC) was a serial binary computer with an ultrasonic delay memory. It was designed and built at the University of Cambridge in England. Work on the project started at the end of 1946, and the machine began to work in May 1949. The paper describes how the programmer handled fixed point arithmetic and emphasizes the merits of having a double length accumulator
  • Keywords
    calculating apparatus; digital arithmetic; electronic calculators; history; EDSAC; Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator; double length accumulator; fixed point arithmetic; serial binary computer; ultrasonic delay memory; Bandwidth; Buildings; Delay; Design engineering; Electron tubes; Fixed-point arithmetic; Programming profession; Relays; Storage automation; Vacuum technology;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Journal_Title
    Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • ISSN
    1058-6180
  • Type

    jour

  • DOI
    10.1109/85.560726
  • Filename
    560726
    • Link To Document
    https://search.isc.ac/dl/search/defaultta.aspx?DTC=49&DC=1358670