19/08/2010
| CSIRAC | Laptop 2005 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processing Speed | 500 – 1000 Hz | 2000 million Hz |
| Memory Capacity | 2000 bytes | 600 million bytes |
| Size | 40 sq m | 0.2 sq m |
| Weight | 2500 kg | 2.5 kg |
| Power Consumption | 30,000 watts | 10 watts |
| Technology | 2000 valves | microchip equivalent to tens of millions of valves |
I went to the Museum to see the Titanic Artefacts, and this was also on display….
Built in Australia, the fourth computer in the world, and it is the only intact first-generation computer surviving anywhere in the world.
WOW, hard to believe these specs, in 1947 the CSIRO invented this computer known as CSIRAC , it was the very first computer in the world to be programmed to play music (1955), now this next little gem of information is priceless, IT NEEDED STICKY TAPE, yes …. me the queen of all things stucky taped could have driven this baby 
, programmes were strips with a series of holes punched in them, so programmers needed a hole punch to place holes where needed and if one was placed in error or the programme needed tweaking, they covered the unwanted hole with STICKY TAPE
After 30.000 hours of service and working on 700 projects, that included weather forecasting calculations, forestry, financial loans, building designs, psychological research and electricity supply, it was switched off in 1964
(based on information from museumvictoria.com.au/csirac/)
See the Museum website … here
Hi Linda
Thanks so much for your great blog posts, which we all enjoyed so much. We passed them on to our curators who were really happy to see such enthusiastic feedback about our exhibitions. We tweeted your blog to our followers and mentioned it on the museum victoria facebook page so that others can find and enjoy the read too.
Thanks Guys
I want to come back to see the imax show !