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Wisconsin Integrally Synchronized Computer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 1,024 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]

Part of it was at the Computer History Museum until about 2020, when it was moved to an unknown location.[4]

References

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  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. hdl:2027/wu.89037555299.
  3. ^ "Science Digest". Science Digest, Incorporated. 1984. p. 144.
  4. ^ CHM
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