Howard H. Aiken
| Howard Hathaway Aiken | |
|---|---|
 Howard Aiken |
|
| Born | March 8, 1900 Hoboken, New Jersey |
| Died | March 14, 1973 (aged 73) St. Louis, Missouri |
| Residence | United States |
| Citizenship | American |
| Fields | computing |
| Institutions | Harvard University |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison Harvard University (doctorate) |
| Known for | Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculators Harvard Mark I – IV |
| Notable awards | Harry H. Goode Memorial Award (1964) Edison Medal (1970) |
Howard Hathaway Aiken (March 8, 1900 – March 14, 1973) was a pioneer in computing, being the original conceptual designer behind IBM's Harvard Mark I computer.[1]
Aiken studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later obtained his Ph.D. in physics at Harvard University in 1939.[2][3] During this time, he encountered differential equations that he could only solve numerically. He envisioned an electro-mechanical computing device that could do much of the tedious work for him. This computer was originally called the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (ASCC) and later renamed Harvard Mark I. With engineering, construction, and funding from IBM, the machine was completed and installed at Harvard in February, 1944.[4] Grace Hopper joined the project in July of that year.[5] In 1947, Aiken completed his work on the Harvard Mark II computer. He continued his work on the Mark III and the Harvard Mark IV. The Mark III used some electronic components and the Mark IV was all-electronic. The Mark III and Mark IV used magnetic drum memory and the Mark IV also had magnetic core memory.
Aiken was inspired by Charles Babbage's Difference Engine.
He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1947.[6] He received the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering Engineers Day Award in 1958, the Harry H. Goode Memorial Award in 1964, the John Price Wetherill Medal in 1964, and IEEE's Edison Medal 'For a meritorious career of pioneering contributions to the development and application of large-scale digital computers and important contributions to education in the digital computer field.' in 1970.
[edit] Personal life
Howard Aiken was married three times. First to Lousie Mancill, second to Agnes Montgomery, third to Mary McFarland. He had two children; Rachel Ann by his first wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) by his second.
Howard Aiken was also an Officer in the United States Navy Reserve.
He retired to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and died on March 14, 1973 during a trip to St. Louis, Missouri.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ "The original concept was certainly Aiken's. There is no doubt about that," stated Robert V. D. Campbell Oral history interview, Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota.
- ^ The History of Computing Project - Howard Hathaway Aiken
- ^ History of Computers and Computing - Biography of Howard Aiken
- ^ Cohen, I. Bernard (1999). Howard Aiken: Portrait of a Computer Pioneer. MIT Press. pp.73-114. ISBN 0-262-03262-7
- ^ Williams, Kathleen Broome (2004). Grace Hopper, Admiral of the Cyber Sea. Naval Institute Press. p.31. ISBN 1-55750-952-2
- ^ "Book of Members, 1780-2010: Chapter A". American Academy of Arts and Sciences. http://www.amacad.org/publications/BookofMembers/ChapterA.pdf. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- ^ "Howard H. Aiken, Built Computer. Developer of the Mark I Dies. Was Harvard Professor. Taught Until 1961.". New York Times. March 16, 1973. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3061FFB3F5C1A7A93C4A81788D85F478785F9. Retrieved 2008-05-29. "Dr. Howard Hathaway Aiken, who in the late nineteen-thirties conceived the design for the world's first large-scale computer, the Mark I, in cooperation with engineers of the International Business Machines Corporation, died in his sleep early Wednesday on a visit to St. Louis. He was 73 years old and lived in Fort Lauderdale, Fla."
[edit] External links
- O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Howard H. Aiken", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, University of St Andrews, http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Aiken.html.
- Father of the computer age
- UW–Madison College of Engineering Engineers' Day 1958 Award Recipients – Howard Aiken
- Oral history interview with Robert Hawkins at Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Hawkins discusses the Harvard-IBM Mark I project that he worked on at Harvard University as a technician as well as Howard Aiken's leadership of the project.
- Oral history interview with Richard M. Bloch at Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Bloch describes his work at the Harvard Computation Laboratory for Howard Aiken on the Harvard Mark I.
- Oral history interview with Robert V. D. Campbell at Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Campbell discusses the contributions of Harvard and IBM to the Harvard Mark I project.
- IEEE Biography
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