Firstelectroniccomputer(1943):thebuildingofColossus

　　Bydesigningahugemachinenowgenerallyregardedastheworld'sfirstprogrammableelectroniccomputer,thethenPostOfficeResearchBranchplayedacrucialbutsecretroleinhelpingtowintheSecondWorldWar.ThepurposeofColossuswastodeciphermessagesthatcameinonaGermanciphermachine,calledtheLorenzSZ.

　　TheoriginalColossususedavastarrayoftelephoneexchangepartstogetherwith1,500electronicvalvesandwasthesizeofasmallroom,weighingaroundaton.This'stringandsealingwaxaffair'couldprocess5,000charactersasecondtorunthroughthemanymillionsofpossiblesettingsforthecodewheelsontheLorenzsysteminhours-ratherthanweeks.

　　BothmachinesweredesignedandconstructedbyaPostOfficeResearchteamheadedbyTommyFlowersatDollisHillandtransportedtothesecretcode-breakingcentreatBletchleyPark,nearMiltonKeynes,whereitwasdemonstratedonDecember8,1943.Wehavetofastforwardnearlythirtyyearsto1972forthearrivalofthefirstdesktopall-in-onecomputer,whicharemorefamilartoustoday.ThathonourfallstotheHP9830.ButunfortunatelyfewpeoplegottohearaboutitbecauseHewlettPackardmarketeditprimarilytoscientistsandengineers-bynatureveryquietpeople!