On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 9:36 AM, wrote: > > This reminds me of a remarkable machine ( 'Computer'?) which precedes > the 'WITCH" by > > more than 2 decades, namely the Turing 'BOMBE', applied to crack, on a > daily basis, > > the ciphers of the notorious German 'Enigma' > > cryptography machine, > > > > Apart from the electromechanical components, it did incorporate 34 > thermionic > > electron tubes ( 'valves' ) qualifying it as a contender for the worlds > first > > serious 'electronic' computer, > > > > http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2666.htm > > Not sure if that was regarded as the world's first computer, but the > Colossus used to decode the German Lorenz communications device certainly > was. Has recently been rebuilt at Bletchley Park. > > http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ The Colossus is indeed generally regarded as the world's first computer, being the first programmable digital electronic device. Apart from being electro-mechanical, the bombe was not really programmable, hence disqualifying it from that status. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_computer Chris > > > > > > -- > Scanned by iCritical. > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .