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Computer Development at the National Bureau of Standards

Published

Author(s)

Russell A. Kirsch

Abstract

The first fully operational, automatic, electronic computer in the United States was built at the National Bureau of Standards. The Standards Electronic Automatic Computer (SEAC) began productive computation in May 1950. Although originally intended as an interim computer, it had a productive life of 14 years with a profound effect on all of US Government computing, the extension of the use of computers into previously unknown applications, and the further development of computing machines in industry and academia.

Citation
NBS/NIST Classic Publication Volume

Keywords

electronic computers, Standards Electronic Automatic Computer (SEAC)

Citation

Kirsch, R. (2000), Computer Development at the National Bureau of Standards, NBS/NIST Classic Publication Volume, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=821233 (Accessed October 8, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created September 1, 2000, Updated February 17, 2017
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