Wisconsin Integrally Synchronized Computer

The Wisconsin Integrally Synchronized Computer (WISC) was an early digital computer designed and built at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Operational in 1954,[1] it was the first digital computer in the state.

Pioneering computer designer Gene Amdahl drafted the WISC's design as his PhD thesis. The computer was built over the period 1951-1954. It had 1024 50-bit words (equivalent to about 6 KB) of drum memory, with an operation time of 1/15 second and throughput of 60 operations per second, which was achieved by an early form of instruction pipeline.[2] It was capable of both fixed and floating point operation. It weighed about 1 short ton (910 kg).[3]

References

  1. Research, United States Office of Naval (1953). A survey of automatic digital computers. Office of Naval Research, Dept. of the Navy. p. 96.
  2. Weik, Martin H (1955). A survey of domestic electronic digital computing systems. Ballistics Research Laboratories Report No. 971 (Technical report). Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: Department of the Army. pp. 199–200.
  3. "Science Digest". Science Digest, Incorporated. 1984. p. 144.
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