Note
Origins and Development:
The original concept for the Harvard Mark I was presented to IBM by Howard Aiken in November 1937. After feasibility studies, IBM chairman Thomas Watson Sr. personally approved the project and its funding in February 1939. Aiken had initially sought a company to design and build his calculator. After two rejections, he encountered a demonstration set that Charles Babbage’s son had given to Harvard University 70 years earlier. Inspired by Babbage’s principles, Aiken’s machine brought the Analytical Engine’s concepts almost to full realization while adding important new features. The ASCC (Harvard Mark I) was developed and built by IBM at their Endicott plant and shipped to Harvard in February 1944. It began computations for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships and played a crucial role in research related to nuclear physics, contributing to the design of the atomic bomb. On August 7, 1944, IBM officially presented the machine to Harvard University at a dedication ceremony.
Technical Specifications:
The Harvard Mark I was housed in a steel frame measuring 51 feet long, eight feet high, and two feet deep. It weighed more than 4 tons and contained hundreds of miles of wire.
The electromechanical machine solved addition problems in less than a second, multiplication in six seconds, and division in 12 seconds3. The Harvard Mark I’s legacy extends beyond its operational capabilities. It marked a significant step forward in automating complex calculations and laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements in computing.