The Atanasoff-Berry Computer was the world's first electronic digital computer.
It was built by John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry at Iowa State University
during 1937-42. It incorporated several major innovations in computing including
the use of binary arithmetic, regenerative memory, parallel processing, and
separation of memory and computing functions.
On October 19, 1973, US Federal Judge Earl R. Larson signed his
decision
following a lengthy court trial which declared the ENIAC patent of Mauchly and Eckert invalid
and named Atanasoff the inventor of the electronic digital computer --
the Atanasoff-Berry Computer or the ABC.
Clark Mollenhoff in his book,
Atanasoff, Forgotten Father of the Computer,
details the design
and construction of the Atanasoff-Berry Computer
with emphasis on the relationships of the individuals.
Alice and Arthur Burks
in their book,
The First Electronic Computer: The Atanasoff Story,
describe the design and construction of the ABC and provide a more technical
perspective.
Numerous articles provide additional information. In recognition of his achievement,
Atanasoff was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President George Bush at the White house on November 13, 1990.
The John Vincent Atanasoff Archive
History of Computing
This page is an updated version of the orginal prepared by Arthur Oldehoeft.
Please direct corrections, additions, and updates to this page to honavar@cs.iastate.edu
