MANIAC I
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The MANIAC I (Mathematical Analyzer, Numerical Integrator, and Computer or Mathematical Analyzer, Numerator, Integrator, and Computer, according to one reference) was an early computer built under the direction of Nicholas Metropolis at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. It was based on the von Neumann architecture of the IAS, developed by John von Neumann. As with all computers of its era, it was a one of a kind machine that could not exchange programs with other computers (even other IAS machines). Metropolis chose the name MANIAC in the hope of stopping the rash of silly acronyms for machine names.
The MANIAC ran successfully in March 1952. It was succeeded by MANIAC II in 1957.
[edit] External links
- "Weapons Simulation Leads to the Computer Era", including photos of MANIAC I (PDF format)
- John von Neumann: MANIAC's Father in BusinessWeek Online.
