About this episode

This episode discusses the unique features and history of the RAYDAC computer developed by Raytheon in 1947.

In 1947 Raytheon signed a contract to make their first computer. It would be their last... at least for many many years. The fruits of this contract was RAYDAC. Early digital computers were odd, to say the least. And RAYDAC distinguishes itself. From zig-zag delay lines to hunting tapes to freon cooling, it truly is a unique machine. Selected Sources: https://ed-thelen.org/McGee_Book-4.2.2.pdf - McGee on his experience programming RAYDAC https://sci-hub.st/10.1109/JRPROC.1948.232626 - A Digital Computer for Scientific Applications https://www.jstor.org/stable/2002859 - The Logical Design of RAYDAC Like Advent of Computing? Then check out the after show! Adjunct of Computing is now LIVE: YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts

People in this episode

Host: Sean Haas

Topics covered

• history of computing
• early digital computers
• RAYDAC
• Raytheon
• computer design
• technology

Keywords

• RAYDAC
• Raytheon
• digital computers
• zig-zag delay lines
• hunting tapes
• freon cooling
• computer history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Raytheon

Products: RAYDAC

Books & works: McGee on his experience programming RAYDAC, A Digital Computer for Scientific Applications, The Logical Design of RAYDAC

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