Name/Title
1950/10- Radio-Electronics, "World's Smallest Electric Brain" by Edmund BerkeleyTags
Edmund C. Berkeley, Radio-ElectronicsDescription
The October 1950 issue of Radio-Electronics featured an article by Edmund Berkeley titled “World’s Smallest Electric Brain,” which introduced Simon, a relay-based electromechanical computer. Simon was notable for its compact size, being small enough to fit within a grocery-store box, and for its ability to perform basic computing operations despite having only two bits of memory. The article highlighted Simon’s educational value, comparing it to simple chemical experiments that stimulate understanding and skill in the field of digital computing.
Simon’s design was based on relays instead of electronic tubes, making it a unique piece of hardware that illustrated the principles of larger, more complex artificial brains. Despite its limited capabilities—knowing only four numbers (0, 1, 2, and 3)—Simon was celebrated for its potential to grow and for making every member of an audience feel superior to it. The article envisioned a future where small computers could be as common in homes as refrigerators or radios, assisting with tasks such as remembering facts, calculating taxes, and helping with decision-making.
