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Photos: Electronic brain installed at UA in 1957
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Photos: Electronic brain installed at UA in 1957

  • Rick Wiley
  • Sep 13, 2023
  • Sep 13, 2023 Updated Sep 13, 2023

An IBM 650 computer (or "electronic brain") was installed in three parts in the University of Arizona Engineering Experiment Station in 1957 to solve research problems submitted by the UA, as well as government and private businesses.

It could make 138,000 logical decisions a minute. An Intel Core i7 processor in an Apple laptop can complete 317,900 MIPS (millions of instructions per second). 

As for the woman modeling with the computer, well that's anybody's guess. There was no information with the photo negatives in the archives. 

IBM 650 "electronic brain" at UA

An IBM 650 computer (or "electronic brain") was installed in three parts in the University of Arizona Engineering Experiment Station in 1957.

Tucson Citizen
IBM 650 "electronic brain" at UA

A photographer's effort to spruce up a dull computer. An IBM 650 computer (or "electronic brain") was installed in three parts in the University of Arizona Engineering Experiment Station in 1957.

Tucson Citizen
IBM 650 "electronic brain" at UA

A photographer's effort to spruce up a dull computer. An IBM 650 computer (or "electronic brain") was installed in three parts in the University of Arizona Engineering Experiment Station in 1957.

Tucson Citizen
IBM 650 "electronic brain" at UA

A photographer's effort to spruce up a dull computer. An IBM 650 computer (or "electronic brain") was installed in three parts in the University of Arizona Engineering Experiment Station in 1957.

Tucson Citizen
IBM 650 "electronic brain" at UA

An IBM 650 computer (or "electronic brain") was installed in three parts in the University of Arizona Engineering Experiment Station in 1957.

Tucson Citizen
IBM 650 "electronic brain" at UA

An IBM 650 computer (or "electronic brain") was installed in three parts in the University of Arizona Engineering Experiment Station in 1957,

Tucson Citizen
Rick Wiley

Rick Wiley

Photo editor

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