First Progress Report: On a Multi-Channel Magnetic Drum Inner Memory

J. H. Bigelow, P. Panagos

ISBN 10: 1330615395 / ISBN 13: 9781330615393

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book delves into the intricate world of early computer development, specifically focusing on the creation of a high-speed electronic computing instrument at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. The author meticulously documents the engineering challenges faced by the research team, offering a detailed account of their pioneering work in developing a magnetic memory system for this groundbreaking machine. The book's insightful examination of the technical variables and design considerations involved in building such a memory system positions the work within the broader context of early computer science, where engineers grappled with the limitations of existing technologies and sought innovative solutions to create powerful new tools. The author's meticulous account, replete with technical jargon and detailed discussions of experimental procedures, explores the fundamental challenges of achieving reliable, high-speed data storage and retrieval, highlighting the crucial role of magnetic recording in advancing the development of these early computing machines. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into the birth of modern computing, offering a detailed look at the innovative solutions developed by a team of brilliant engineers in the face of daunting technical challenges. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781330615393_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: First Progress Report: On a Multi-Channel Magnetic Drum Inner Memory
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1330615395
• ISBN 13: 9781330615393
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Electronics

About this title

Synopsis

First impressions of an early memory design that aimed to speed up computing
This nonfiction look at a multi-channel magnetic drum memory explains how engineers planned a high‑speed inner memory for an electronic computer. It outlines the problem, the design choices, and the practical limits they faced, all framed around concrete experiments and engineering reasoning.

The document surveys the key questions that shaped the inner memory project, including how to achieve millisecond access times, long life, and scalable capacity. It discusses a circulating memory concept, the role of reading and writing heads, and how to balance speed with reliability. The narrative stays focused on the practical steps taken to move from theory to a working apparatus.

• How access time, drum speed, and channel density affect overall performance


• How experimental pulse generation and high‑gain readout circuits were developed


• Why several identical channels and careful coupling between head and medium matter


• What engineering limits appeared at high speeds and large capacities

Ideal for readers of computing history and engineers curious about the origins of magnetic memory technology, this edition provides a clear, grounded view of early design challenges and decisions that influenced later computer systems.