Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
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Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#2> In 1954, Eiichi Goto invented the parametron, a logic device leveraging nonlinear parametric oscillation with two ferrite cores. Unlike the vacuum tube and early transistor circuits prevalent at the time, the parametron offered remarkable stability, requiring minimal maintenance compared to vacuum tubes with short lifetime and costing significantly less than both vacuum tubes and nascent transistors. Its simplicity and reliability made it an ideal foundation for computer design. Early applications showcased its superior fault tolerance over competing technologies, such as vacuum tubes with relatively short-lifetime, slow electromechanical relays, and unstable point-contact transistors.
Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#3> In 1954, Eiichi Goto invented the parametron, a logic device leveraging nonlinear parametric oscillation with two ferrite cores. Unlike the vacuum tube and early transistor circuits prevalent at the time, the parametron offered remarkable stability, requiring minimal maintenance compared to vacuum tubes with short lifetime and costing significantly less than both vacuum tubes and nascent transistors. Its simplicity…
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Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#4>Eiichi Goto
Is it nominative determinism if it's 2 years before the introduction of Goto (1956, Fortran apparently)
Or maybe it was named in his honour?
Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#5>Eiichi Goto Is it nominative determinism if it's 2 years before the introduction of Goto (1956, Fortran apparently) Or maybe it was named in his honour?
Goto (as in "Go to") and Goto (as in the romaji version of one of 後藤, 五藤, 五島, …) is simple two things that sound/look the same when written in ASCII w/o spaces. :)
Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#6EAC-1101 In March 1958, NEC finished its first digital computer, the NEAC-1101. This machine used parametrons, invented by Eiichi Goto in 1954, and was perfected by using a single-turn transformer coupling system independently devised by NEC. This computer was designed for scientific and engineering calculations, and was Japan's first computer to use floating point operations. It was capable of decimal 7-digit floating point operations. It used 3,600 parametrons, 29 types of instructions, and had average performance of 3.5ms for addition/subtraction and 8.0ms for multiplication/division. The memory employed ferrite cores (magnetic core matrix system using the 2 ACs with different frequency), and memory capacity was 256 words (32-digit configuration). The NEAC-1101 was enhanced via improvements like expanding the memory capacity to 512 words, and was used for about 8 years for scientific and engineering calculations at NEC's research laboratory. The results from developing this computer contributed greatly to the development of subsequent parametron computers at NEC.
Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#7>Eiichi Goto Is it nominative determinism if it's 2 years before the introduction of Goto (1956, Fortran apparently) Or maybe it was named in his honour?
Goto (as in "Go to") and Goto (as in the romaji version of one of 後藤, 五藤, 五島, …) is simple two things that sound/look the same when written in ASCII w/o spaces. :)
Please see: “nominative determinism”
Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Goto (as in "Go to") and Goto (as in the romaji version of one of 後藤, 五藤, 五島, …) is simple two things that sound/look the same when written in ASCII w/o spaces. :)
Please see: “nominative determinism”
The last name "Goto" in this case is actually read Gotou (ごとう), but romanization methods are their own flamewar. There's much less emphasis put on the "go" part than the "tou", so pronunciation doesn't actually sound anything like the English word "goto" at all.
Imagine the spanish word gato. Now elongate the "to", and change the ga to go, and you're close.
Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#9>Eiichi Goto Is it nominative determinism if it's 2 years before the introduction of Goto (1956, Fortran apparently) Or maybe it was named in his honour?
There's also GotoBLAS, developed by Kazushige Goto. I wonder if they have any relation or if it's a relatively common name.
Re: Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
#10As seen in Dr. Stone!