In a publicity stunt, the UNIVAC computer was used to predict the results of the Eisenhower-Stevenson presidential race. The computer had correctly predicted that Eisenhower would win, but the news media decided to blackout the computer's prediction and declared that the UNIVAC had been stumped. When the truth was revealed, it was considered amazing that a computer could do what political forecasters could not, and the UNIVAC quickly became a household name. The original UNIVAC now sits in the Smithsonian Institution. Illustration: Mary Bellis
In a publicity stunt, the UNIVAC computer was used to predict the results of the Eisenhower-Stevenson presidential race. The computer had correctly predicted that Eisenhower would win, but the news media decided to blackout the computer's prediction and declared that the UNIVAC had been stumped. When the truth was revealed, it was considered amazing that a computer could do what political forecasters could not, and the UNIVAC quickly became a household name. The original UNIVAC now sits in the Smithsonian Institution. Illustration: Mary Bellis
Top Related Searches presidents
Explore Inventors
Ms. Bellis; Thank you for your “quick” history of computers. It helped me put some events into order in my mind. I do have one comment, however. You did not mention PARC and its contributions in your table. It is my understanding that the scientists there were the ones with some of the lead inventions which make the PC possible, such as the mouse and the GUI. It is my understanding that these were shown to Steve Jobs who then adapted them, very successfully, into his original Apple computers. thanks again for your informative table.
Rogerf Hancock