Delivery of the First UNIVAC I to the U.S. Census Bureau

On February 14, 1951, the Universal Automatic Computer I (UNIVAC I), the first commercially produced electronic computer in the United States, was delivered to the United States Census Bureau. This event marked a significant milestone in the history of computing and data processing.

Context and Development

Developed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, UNIVAC I was designed to handle large-scale data processing tasks and was intended to automate and speed up the tabulation of data. Prior to this, most data processing was conducted manually or with the assistance of electromechanical machines, which were much slower and less efficient.

The UNIVAC project began in the late 1940s after Eckert and Mauchly had successfully created the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), which was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer. Recognizing the potential to commercialize computer technology, they conceived of the UNIVAC to address the needs of governmental and commercial data processing.

Key Features

UNIVAC I was an advanced machine for its time, featuring:

• Mainframe Size: It consisted of thousands of vacuum tubes and weighed approximately 16,000 pounds.
• Memory System: The computer used magnetic tape for input and output, which was revolutionary for data storage and retrieval.
• Computing Power: UNIVAC I could perform about 1,000 calculations per second, making it significantly faster than earlier computing methods.
• Innovation in Design: It was the first computer system to be designed entirely for practical, business-oriented applications rather than scientific purposes.

Impact and Historical Significance

The delivery of UNIVAC I to the U.S. Census Bureau was a pivotal moment in computing history. It was intended to process data from the 1950 U.S. Census, demonstrating its capability in handling large-volume data efficiently. This was a considerable advancement over the earlier tabulating machines designed by Herman Hollerith, which had been used for decades.

This installation marked the onset of the commercial computer era, paving the way for subsequent developments in computer science and industry. UNIVAC I proved the viability of electronic computers in business applications, influencing future generations of computer systems and encouraging businesses to explore automated data processing. The computer’s capabilities were eventually showcased in high-profile applications, including predicting the outcome of the 1952 U.S. presidential election for CBS, which it successfully did live on air.

In summary, the delivery of UNIVAC I was more than a technical achievement; it was a landmark event that ushered in the modern age of computing, influencing data processing practices and setting the stage for further technological innovations.