First Progress Report (Classic Reprint): On a Multi-Channel Magnetic Drum Inner Memory, for Use in Electronic Digital Computing Instruments: On a ... Computing Instruments (Classic Reprint) - Softcover
Synopsis
First impressions of an early memory design that aimed to speed up computing
This nonfiction look at a multi-channel magnetic drum memory explains how engineers planned a high‑speed inner memory for an electronic computer. It outlines the problem, the design choices, and the practical limits they faced, all framed around concrete experiments and engineering reasoning.
The document surveys the key questions that shaped the inner memory project, including how to achieve millisecond access times, long life, and scalable capacity. It discusses a circulating memory concept, the role of reading and writing heads, and how to balance speed with reliability. The narrative stays focused on the practical steps taken to move from theory to a working apparatus.
- How access time, drum speed, and channel density affect overall performance
- How experimental pulse generation and high‑gain readout circuits were developed
- Why several identical channels and careful coupling between head and medium matter
- What engineering limits appeared at high speeds and large capacities
Ideal for readers of computing history and engineers curious about the origins of magnetic memory technology, this edition provides a clear, grounded view of early design challenges and decisions that influenced later computer systems.
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Product Description
Excerpt from First Progress Report: On a Multi-Channel Magnetic Drum Inner Memory, for Use in Electronic Digital Computing Instruments
A) There remains to be discussed the inner section of the memory organ (b); the organization of the computer probably hinges more heavily upon the performance of this unit than upon any other single item. A manory device from which very high performance is expected the Selectron tube-is under development at the Princeton Laboratories of rca, and many refinements and much progress toward its perfection have been made. The estimated performance figures of the Selectron played a central role in the planning and organization of the entire computer, and this device or its equivalent seem as vital now to the completion of an adequate computing machine as when the original plans were formulated in l9h6.
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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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First Progress Report: On a Multi-Channel Magnetic Drum Inner Memory
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Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book delves into the intricate world of early computer development, specifically focusing on the creation of a high-speed electronic computing instrument at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. The author meticulously documents the engineering challenges faced by the research team, offering a detailed account of their pioneering work in developing a magnetic memory system for this groundbreaking machine. The book's insightful examination of the technical variables and design considerations involved in building such a memory system positions the work within the broader context of early computer science, where engineers grappled with the limitations of existing technologies and sought innovative solutions to create powerful new tools. The author's meticulous account, replete with technical jargon and detailed discussions of experimental procedures, explores the fundamental challenges of achieving reliable, high-speed data storage and retrieval, highlighting the crucial role of magnetic recording in advancing the development of these early computing machines. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into the birth of modern computing, offering a detailed look at the innovative solutions developed by a team of brilliant engineers in the face of daunting technical challenges. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781330615393_0
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First Progress Report On a MultiChannel Magnetic Drum Inner Memory, for Use in Electronic Digital Computing Instruments Classic Reprint
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First Progress Report On a MultiChannel Magnetic Drum Inner Memory, for Use in Electronic Digital Computing Instruments Classic Reprint
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