Australia's Silliac Computer Under Scrutiny: Allegations of Unfair Practices Cause Turmoil
Down Under's Giant Steps: Unearthing the Legacy of SILLIAC
Hark back to the dawn of modern computing, and your mind might wander to the grand strides made in the UK and the US. But let us not forget the tech heroes of Australia, a nation with a rich computing history that doesn't just keep pace with the world but vaults ahead, every now and then. The team at [State of Electronics] has been sharing the tale of Australia's digital past through a series of mesmerizing videos. The latest chapter centers on one such colossus, SILLIAC, a computer sharing a familial resemblance to its American cousin, ILLIAC, but born and raised in the University of Sydney in the '50s.
Think computers from yesteryears overflowed a room? Well, SILLIAC was no exception – it sprawled across three. One room hosted the meters of cabinets, another cradled the power supply, and the third was dedicated to air-conditioning – those old tubes packed a punch, heat-wise.
The pricetag on SILLIAC originally clocked in at around AU£35,200, a sum that could have bought you ten cozy suburban homes near Sydney back then! Along the way, the costs swelled, and the project's completion became contingent upon a hefty donation from a horse race. In the end, it cost around AU£75,000!
What made SILLIAC stand out from the crowd? For one, it boasted a reputation for being more reliable than its contemporaries, thanks to a switch from 6J6 tubes to 2C51 devices. Bell Labs developed the 2C51 for undersea cables, and they weren't cheap – a whopping six times the cost of a 6J6!
SILLIAC left its mark on the world of computing from 1956 until 1968. Though it was dismantled, pieces of it are now on display at the Powerhouse Museum and the University, offering a glimpse back into the days when computers were still giants amongst men.
Step back in time with this series, an engrossing journey into the world of computing, as they wereDown Under. While SILLIAC is certainly a fascinating piece of history, take a moment to catch up from the start – episode 1 offers a riveting introduction to the golden age of computing in Australia. As we marvel at the supercomputers of today, it's a stern reminder of just how far we've come.
The computer named SILLIAC, built in the University of Sydney in the 1950s, was a remarkable Australian invention, sharing a similar lineage with the American ILLIAC but boasting its unique characteristics. This technology marvel, despite its bulky size, sprawling across three rooms, was instrumental in the advancement of electronics and computer technology in Australia.
