Summary: 1962: Computing Scene
Two
supercomputers
are being built:
IBM 7030 (Stretch)
: IBM won tender from US Government
Ferranti Atlas
: together with Manchester University
75%
of UK's academic/research computer power is
owned by UKAEA
Aldermaston (IBM 7090), Risley (IBM 704), Harwell and Winfrith (Ferranti Mercury each)
Ferranti Mercury computers exist at Manchester, London and Oxford Universities
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have a Buy-British Policy
Aldermaston have approval to
rent
an IBM Stretch, arriving in 1962
Rutherford Laboratory, an off shoot from Harwell, owned by National Institute for Research into Nuclear Science (NIRNS), is building Nimrod
Harwell Computer Group, run by
Jack Howlett
1961: Harwell makes case for installing a Ferranti Atlas (£3.5 million)
:
The machine should be installed at Harwell
50%
to be used by Harwell, Culham, Risley and Winfrith
Substantial share
for the Rutherford Laboratory
Remainder for the universities
Minister of Science
authorised
the purchase by Harwell
:
To be run by NIRNS
Equal shares of the machine time allocated to:
Universities and Government organisations
NIRNS (Rutherford Laboratory)
Harwell
Free to NIRNS and university users,
Harwell and Government organisations to pay
NIRNS decide
Atlas Computer Laboratory should be separate from Rutherford Laboratory
, appoint Jack Howlett as Director
