John Atanasoff: from the binary system to the first computer

published on 3/22/12 1:35 PM

The great inventions are often the result of chance, however only after long years of consistent research. In this way one of the greatest technological achievements of the 20 c. materialized – the computer. John Atanasoff has been recognized as its inventor. Though for world science he is a great American scientist of Bulgarian descent, for us he is one of the most successful Bulgarians of all time, and a major source of national pride. Many schools with a profile in mathematics or natural science, have been named after him. In 2002 the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov initiated the annual John Atanasoff Prize given for achievements in the development of information society.

John Vincent Atanasoff was born in 1903 not far from Hamilton, New York. He was among the eight children of teacher of mathematics Iva Lucena Purdy and Ivan Atanasov, a Bulgarian emigrant who had settled in America in 1889. Already in school John demonstrated brilliance in mathematics, and thanks to his mother he was ushered in the fascinating world of digits, logarithms and most of all, the binary system. As student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, John Atanasoff took a course in electrical engineering. Upon graduation he earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Iowa State College reputed for its excellent school in engineering science.

Working on his doctoral thesis in Madison, Wisconsin, Atanasoff focused on complex calculations. Computation done with mechanical calculators inspired him for a new invention that would allow for much faster computation. After he defended his thesis John was back to Iowa. Now he concentrated on hard work with analog calculators. At that time Atanasoff was the first to launch the notion of analog computer. So, one night in the winter of 1937-1938, after a long drive in the whiteness of the snow, Atanasoff’s mind finally fixed the puzzle of the computer. Iowa State University supported his idea and so he teamed up with Clifford Berry for the creation of the ABC device, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, the first computer in history. Unlike its predecessors it offered new and revolutionary principles of computation based on the binary system as well as an operational memory. The two scientists tried to improve the computer but the start of World War 2 interrupted their work. Unfortunately, their invention had not been patented. The original device was dismantled and its parts were thrown out. Later Atanasoff spent long years of legal dispute that ended in 1973 with a ruling of the Federal Court in Minnesota that recognized John Atanasoff as the inventor of the first automatic electronic digital computer. Over his long research career Atanasoff worked for the Naval Artillery Laboratory where he developed hydro-acoustic devices and computers for the needs of the Navy and also joined the first nuclear trial in the Pacific. John Atanasoff died on 15 June 1995 in his home in Maryland.

John Atanasoff and mathematician Blagovest Sendov

John Atanasoff visited his father’s home country on two occasions. For the first time, in 1970 he arrived at the invitation of mathematician Blagovest Sendov, for a lecture on his major invention given at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He was awarded with the Cyril and Methodius Order. In 1985 following his official recognition as the inventor of the first computer, John Atanasoff visited Bulgaria for the second time. He was awarded with The People’s Republic of Bulgaria Order, First Class. He later on admitted that the legacy of his two parents had boosted his spirit making him happier with his successes with age. The great scientist said he appreciated very much the warm welcome given to him by his father’s people, as well as the high distinction extended to him.

Even today John Atanasoff’s achievements in science provide inspiration to many young Bulgarians in the field of technology. Some of them have become holders of the prestigious John Atanasoff Prize. Its latest holder is Kuzman Gantchev who has a doctor’s degree in computer linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently employed by Google.

Translated by Daniela Konstantinova

По публикацията работи: Maria Peeva

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