Back حاسوب هارويل Arabic Harwell Computer German Harwell Dekatron Spanish Harwell Dekatron Finnish Ordinateur d'Harwell French ハーウェル・コンピュータ Japanese Computador Harwell Portuguese Harwell computer Russian Atomic Energy WITCH Serbian
 The Harwell Dekatron computer | |
| Also known as | Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computing from Harwell (WITCH) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Harwell, Berkshire |
| Release date | May 1952 |
| Discontinued | 1973 |
| CPU | Relays for sequence control and valve-based (vacuum tube) electronics for calculations |
| Memory | 20 (later 40) eight-digit dekatron registers |
| Storage | Paper tape |
| Display | Either a Creed teleprinter or a paper tape punch |
| Power | 1.5 kW |
| Mass | 2.5 tonnes |
The Harwell computer, or Harwell Dekatron computer,[1][2] later known as the Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computing from Harwell (WITCH),[3] is an early British computer of the 1950s based on valves and relays. From 2009 to 2012, it was restored at the National Museum of Computing.[4] In 2013, for the second time, the Guinness Book of World Records recognised it as the world's oldest working digital computer, following its restoration. It previously held the title for several years until it was decommissioned in 1973.[5] The museum uses the computer's visual, dekatron-based memory to teach schoolchildren about computers.[4]
- ^ Howlett, John ‘Jack’ (1979). "Computing at Harwell: 25 years of Theoretical Physics at Harwell: 1954–1979". Retrieved 30 May 2009.
- ^ Kirby, John ‘Jack’ (3 September 2007). "From Thinktank, Birmingham Museums about the WITCH Harwell Dekatron Computer" (email). Andrew Oakley. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
- ^ Cooke-Yarborough, EH (March 1953). "NPL Symposium on Automatic Digital Computation" (JPEG) (image). Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- ^ a b Ward, Michael ‘Mike’ (19 November 2012). "Technology Correspondent". News. UK: BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ^ Leach, Anna (25 January 2013). "Brit 2.5-tonne nuke calculator is World's Oldest Working Computer". The Register. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
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