ENIAC

The Triumphs and Tragedies of the World's First Computer

For all his genius, John von Neumann was not, as he is generally credited, the true father of the modern computer. That honor belongs to the two men - John Mauchly and Presper Eckert - who built the world's first programmable computer, the legendary ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). Mauchly and Eckert, who met in 1941, developed a revolutionary vision: to make electricity "think." Funded by the U.S. Army, the team they led constructed a behemoth - weighing 30 tons with 18,000 vacuum tubes and miles of wiring - that blazed a trail to the next generation of computers that quickly followed, and in the process ignited a controversy over ownership that exists to this day. After their groundbreaking achievement, Mauchly and Eckert were shadowed by personal tragedies and professional setbacks as their accomplishment was laid claim to by others. They formed the world's first computer company, the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, but were quickly outdistanced by IBM.

Based on original interviews with surviving participants and the first study of Mauchly and Eckert's personal papers, ENIAC is a dramatic human story and a vital contribution to the history of technology, and it restores to the two inventors the legacy they deserve.

©1999 by Scott McCartney (P)1999 by Blackstone Audiobooks

A well told story about unheralded giants

As an It executive I was ashamed to realize that I did not now the names of the inventors of the first electronic computer. Nor did I know that they actuall held the patent to the computer. I loved every minute of this salute to these pioneers.

Wonderful documentary; overly-animated performance

While the writing and reading of this non-fiction was top-notch, the animated style of the reader would sometimes cause words to fall below hearing threshold. This was especially noticable on speakers. Also, the stitching together of the original tracks was conspicuous.

Love it!

Any additional comments?

This story is about the men who made what we know about the modern computer a reality and the story is worth knowing. It also explains to some extent the technical specs of their creation. Plus the narrator is quite good. I recommend it for history buffs, nerds, or anyone who enjoys a little nostalgia.

Computing history has never been as entertaining.

This is a fantastic audio book. Not only is the story interesting and the writing fluent, but also the narrator speaks with an intrigued anticipation, making this audio book an engulfing peace of obscure history. The only disappointment is that the last hour is dedicated to citations, so you really only get about six-and-a-half-hours of story. Although, I hate to call journalistic integrity a disappointment.

If you care anything at all about computers this is worth a listen.

New Tech, Old Problems

Loved the story and the realization how some things never change in IT. The project timelines, night owls, lack of recognition for women, eccentric visionaries, plagiarism, suicidal wives of engineers, taking things apart to see how they work... Today's IT may look shiny and new but underneath that polished surface is the same old shit that was there from the beginning, we just got better at marketing and design lol