[eye30]

We have come a long way since 1949.

The first recognisably modern computer is to be rebuilt at the UK's former code-cracking centre Bletchley Park.

The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (Edsac) was a room-sized behemoth built at Cambridge university that first ran in 1949.

However, one part of the original Edsac that is unlikely to be re-created is the 1.5m (5 feet) long tubes of mercury used as a memory store. Modern health and safety regulations preclude the use of mercury.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12181153

[Lorian]

Bletchley and the attached computer museum is a great day out if anyone from the UK (Or further afield) has not been there. Possibly not quite so good for spouses or children.

[rustynutz]

We have a real one (even if it was the fourth) at the Melbourne Museum......   

http://museumvictoria.com.au/csirac/