Note
Summary of "Mechanical Brains"
Main Theme: The article describes a new class of machines—high-speed automatic computing devices—that possess rudimentary capabilities of memory, judgment, and mathematical logic.
Technological Focus: It highlights early computers like the ENIAC and discusses components such as plugboards and mercury delay-line memory, which were cutting-edge at the time.
Visionary Insight: Ridenour frames these machines as heralds of a second industrial revolution, emphasizing their potential to transform business, science, and society.
Tone and Style: Written for a business audience, the article blends technical explanation with economic and strategic implications, making complex ideas accessible to non-specialists.
Archival Details
The article is preserved in the Grace Murray Hopper Collection at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.
It spans 4 pages, including photographs of early computing hardware.
