Nedeva, Veselina

THE FATHER OF THE COMPUTER - A GENIUS INVENTOR AND OF BULGARIAN DESCENT, BOTH BY ORIGIN AND SPIRIT

2023

APPLIED RESEARCHES IN TECHNICS, TECHNOLOGIES AND EDUCATION

Тракийски университет - Стара Загора

1314-8796 [issn]

Article

eng

Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC); John Vincent Atanasoff; Bulgarian origins; first electronic digital computer; Atanasoff's contributions; basic principles of ABC

This publication is dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of John Atanasoff and the 50th anniversary of the case for his recognition as the creator of the first electronic digital computer. The purpose of the article is presented in the introduction. The second part is devoted to biographical information about John Atanasoff and his Bulgarian origin. Atanasoff's life and studies related to his invention are traced. In the following third part, sufficient attention is given to the conception and development of the prototype and the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC), as well as their significance for the history of computer technology. A comparison is made of known mechanical and electromechanical machines before ABC. ABC is presented with its completely new for its time principles and characteristics compared to other machines developed until 1946. In the fourth part, the dispute origins of the patent "war" between Honeywell Inc. is presented. and Sperry Rand Corp. For this purpose, sufficient space is devoted to the computers ENIAC, EDVAC and EDSAC related to this litigation, a comparison is made, the role and contribution of both John Atanasoff and John von Neumann to the development of the next generations of electronic computing machines are highlighted. The court's decision is laid out, as well as the results, the consequences and their significance for the history of computers. An important place to prove the contribution of JVA is the reconstruction of ABC, to which the fifth part of the publication is dedicated. The main principles, their implementation, the functioning of ABC and its physical characteristics are discussed. A separate sixth section clarifies the reasons why the JVA contribution is not so popular. JVA's post-ABC life and activities are examined, relevant to see the origins of his subsequent inventions - part seven. The last part is devoted to the connection between John Atanasoff and Bulgaria, his patented inventions, and some honours and awards. The conclusion is written by citing authors, clarifying and emphasizing sufficiently convincingly the importance of ABC for the future of computing. When writing this article, the historical truth with all its nuances was reflected, for which reliable sources and publications were used, which over the years have repeatedly proven their rightness and constancy.