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Pilot ACE computer, 1950

Pilot ACE computer, 1950


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Pilot ACE computer, 1950

Pilot ACE computer. Control panel of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model. This was a preliminary version of the full ACE design, which had been proposed by the British computer scientist and mathematician Alan Turing (1912-1954). The Pilot ACE was one of the first computers built in the UK. It began operating in 1951, and was used until 1955. A commercial version, the DEUCE, was manufactured between 1955 and 1964. Photographed in 1950, in the Control Mechanisms and Electronics Division of the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK

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Media ID 6429143

© NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY CROWN COPYRIGHT/ SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

1900s 1950 1950s Alan Turing Automatic Computing Engine Calculations Computational Computer Computing Computing History Early Electronic Electronics Information Technology Machine National Physical Laboratory Pilot Ace Teddington Laboratory Mono Chrome


EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the Pilot ACE computer, a groundbreaking technological marvel of its time. Taken in 1950 at the Control Mechanisms and Electronics Division of the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, UK, this image offers a glimpse into the early days of computing history. The control panel featured in this snapshot belongs to the pilot model of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE), an innovative design proposed by Alan Turing, a renowned British computer scientist and mathematician. The Pilot ACE was among one of the earliest computers built in the United Kingdom and commenced operations in 1951 until 1955. With its intricate array of buttons, switches, and dials, this photograph captures both the complexity and potential that lay within this pioneering machine. Serving as a testament to human ingenuity and scientific progress during that era, it symbolizes how far we have come since then. Beyond its historical significance lies an underlying message about innovation's transformative power. This monochrome image evokes nostalgia for an age when computation was still in its infancy but held immense promise for shaping our future. It serves as a reminder that every advancement made today builds upon these early foundations laid down by visionaries like Turing. As we reflect on this piece from Science Photo Library's collection, we are reminded not only of Alan Turing's genius but also of humanity's relentless pursuit to push boundaries further with each passing decade.

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