John Vincent Atanasoff

John Vincent Atanasoff

By: Sofia Revueltas M.

Who was Atanasoff?• Inventor of the

electronic digital computer.

• Mathematical Physicist.

• A professor and Bussiness Man.

http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/do_Atanasoff.html

Mini Genius• Learned electricity

in elementary.• At 9 he started

studying alegebra. • Finished Mulberry

Highschool in 2 years.

• Excelling in Math and Science.

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www.cs.iastate.edu/ jva/portraits/portraits.shtml

College• In 1921, University of

Florida, Gainesville.• Graduated 1925 with

A average.• Earned a degree in

electrical engineering.

• Accepted teaching offer in Iowa State College.



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Building a Life• June 1926 got his

masters degree, at 23.

• ISC hired him to teach mathematics.

• Married 26-year-old Lura Meeks.



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A New Family• A year later Elsie,

oldest daughter, was born.

• In Madison, Wisconsin was accepted as Doctoral candidate.

• They had 2 children: Joanne & John.



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An Idea• For doctoral

thesis he had to use a calculator.

• He used the Monroe and IBM.

• Thinking of creating a machine better and faster.



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Teaching• In 1930 became

assistant professor in Mathematics & Physics.

• Then promoted to teaching in Physics Building.

• While observing electronical devices.



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The Laplaciometer• Invented

Laplaciometer, to analyze geometry of surfaces.

• With help from Glen Murphy.

• Accuracy depended on performance of parts of machine.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_calculator

A New Invention?• In 1937 he got

$650 from ISC. • Help from

electrical engineering student, Clifford E. Berry.

• In 1939 was ready.

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The ABC

• Click for video: http://www.scl.ameslab.gov/ABC/videos/abc-operation.mov

• ABC: Atanasoff-Berry Computer.• Introduced concepts of binary arithmetic.• Had regenerative memory and logic circuts.



http://www.i-lo.tarnow.pl/edu/inf/hist/historia/pages/1939bad.htm



http://www.scl.ameslab.gov/ABC/videos/abc-operation.mov







No Patenting• In December

1941 invention came to halt.

• No patenting due to World War II.



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The ENIAC and Dr. Mauchly

• In 1940 Atanasoff gave presentation to Dr. Mauchly.

• Which gave ideas to create ENIAC.

• With Dr. Eckert.



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War Affects Everyone• In September

1939 he left for defense related position.

• Clifford Berry acepted one in California.

• Atanasoff’s family stayed in Ames.



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Going Down Hill• In 1948 he

returned, ABC had been taken away.

• Only a few parts were saved.



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More Bad News• Lura divorced

him. • She moved to

Colorado with the Children.

• Same year he married Alice Crosby.



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Lots of Work• 1949- Scientist for Army Forces in

Fort Monroe, Virginia.• 1950- Washington Director of the

Navy Fuse Program at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory.

• 1952- Established The Ordanance Engineering Corporation, in Rockville Maryland.

Still Working• There he worked with David

Beecher.• In 1957 company was sold to

Aerojet General Corporation. • Manager of its Atlantic Division

from 1957-1959.• Was Vice president from 1959.

Success for the ABC• In 1972 trial was won.• ENIAC patent was invalidaded..• 1973 Atanasoff was given credit he

deserved. • Invented the first electronic digital

computer.

The End• Clifford Berry also

received acknowledgements.

• Atansoff retired in 1974.

• Died of Stroke 15 June 1995.

http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/do_Atanasoff.html

Awards and AcknowledgementsU.S Navy Distinguished Service Award 1945Citation, Seismological Society ofAmerica

1947

Citation, Admiral Bureau of Ordnance 1947Cosmos Club membership 1957Order of Cyril and Methodius 1970Iowa Inventors Hall of Fame 1974Honorary membership, Society forComputer Medicine

1974

Doctor of Science, University of Florida 1974Doctor of Science, Moravian College 1981Distinguished Achievement Citation,I owa State University AlumniAssociation

1983

Governor’s Science Medal 1985Order of Bulgaria, First Class Award 1985Computing Appreciation Award,EDUCOM.

1985

Holley Medal, American Society ofMechanical Engineers

1985

Coors American Ingenuity Award 1986National Medal of Technology (given bypresident George Bush)

1990



Thank You!

Sources• http://www.scl.ameslab.gov/ABC/Biographies.htmlhttp://www.scl.ameslab.gov/ABC/Biographies.html• http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/do_Atanasoff.htmlhttp://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/do_Atanasoff.html • http://www.thocp.net/biographies/atanasoff_john.htmlhttp://www.thocp.net/biographies/atanasoff_john.html

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John Vincent Atanasoff