Wisconsin Integrally Synchronized Computer
Encyclopedia
The Wisconsin Integrally Synchronized Computer (WISC) was an early digital computer designed and built at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Operational in 1954, 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 55-bit words (equivalent to about 7 Kb) of drum memory and an instruction rate of 60 operations per second, which was achieved by an early form of instruction pipeline
. It was capable of both fixed and floating-point operation.
As of 2004, the machine is on display at the Computer History Museum
in Mountain View, California
.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Operational in 1954, it was the first digital computer in the state.
Pioneering computer designer Gene Amdahl
Gene Amdahl
Gene Myron Amdahl is a Norwegian-American computer architect and high-tech entrepreneur, chiefly known for his work on mainframe computers at IBM and later his own companies, especially Amdahl Corporation...
drafted the WISC's design as his PhD thesis. The computer was built over the period 1951-1954. It had 1024 55-bit words (equivalent to about 7 Kb) of drum memory and an instruction rate of 60 operations per second, which was achieved by an early form of instruction pipeline
Instruction pipeline
An instruction pipeline is a technique used in the design of computers and other digital electronic devices to increase their instruction throughput ....
. It was capable of both fixed and floating-point operation.
As of 2004, the machine is on display at the Computer History Museum
Computer History Museum
The Computer History Museum is a museum established in 1996 in Mountain View, California, USA. The Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the stories and artifacts of the information age, and exploring the computing revolution and its impact on our lives.-History:The museum's origins...
in Mountain View, California
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
.
External links
- Oral history interview with Gene M. Amdahl. Charles Babbage InstituteCharles Babbage InstituteThe Charles Babbage Institute is a research center at the University of Minnesota specializing in the history of information technology, particularly the history since 1935 of digital computing, programming/software, and computer networking....
, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. AmdahlGene AmdahlGene Myron Amdahl is a Norwegian-American computer architect and high-tech entrepreneur, chiefly known for his work on mainframe computers at IBM and later his own companies, especially Amdahl Corporation...
starts by describing his early life and education, recalling his experiences teaching in the Advanced Specialized Training Program during and after World War II. Amdahl discusses his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and his direction of the design and construction of the Wisconsin Integrally Synchronized Computer. Describes his role in the design of several computers for IBM including the STRETCH, IBM 701IBM 701The IBM 701, known as the Defense Calculator while in development, was announced to the public on April 29, 1952, and was IBM’s first commercial scientific computer...
, 701A, and IBM 704IBM 704The IBM 704, the first mass-produced computer with floating point arithmetic hardware, was introduced by IBM in 1954. The 704 was significantly improved over the IBM 701 in terms of architecture as well as implementations which were not compatible with its predecessor.Changes from the 701 included...
. He discusses his work with Nathaniel RochesterNathaniel Rochester (computer scientist)Nathan Rochester designed the IBM 701, wrote the first assembler and participated in the founding of the field of artificial intelligence.- Early work :...
and IBM's management of the design process for computers. He also mentions his work with Ramo-WooldridgeTRWTRW Inc. was an American corporation involved in a variety of businesses, mainly aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting. It was a pioneer in multiple fields including electronic components, integrated circuits, computers, software and systems engineering. TRW built many spacecraft,...
, AeronutronicAeronutronicAeronutronic was a defense and space related division of Ford Motor Company set up in 1956. In 1961 Ford purchased Philco and merged the two companies in 1963. Aeronutronic provided major support for the development of Project Space Track...
, and Computer Sciences CorporationComputer Sciences CorporationComputer Sciences Corporation is an American information technology and business services company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, USA...
. - Gene Amdahl's PhD thesis (PDF)
- User's Manual (PDF)