September 1, 1951 - Notes on the Automatic Computing Engine

Meeting Notes - ACEni Development Team

Present: Alan Turing, Tom Kilburn, David Wheeler, & Nick Shackleton

Topic: Designing an Electronic Computing Engine

Key Points:

• Use of a Centralized Input System for data input
• Implementing a memory system using magnetic drums
• Use of a Universal Algebraic Logic Language for programming

Decisions:

• Agreed to use a combination of magnetic drums and cathode ray tubes for memory
• Decided to use the Automatic Computing Machine's (ACEni) Universal Algebraic Logic Language for programming

Next Steps:

• Create a working model of the Automatic Computing Engine
• Test and refine the Universal Algebraic Logic Language

Additional Notes

Tom Kilburn: Concerns about the use of cathode ray tubes in the memory system

David Wheeler: Suggests using a combination of magnetic drums and mercury delay lines for memory

Alan Turing: Agrees with David's suggestion

Next Meeting

Next meeting on September 8, 1951: Tom Kilburn's Objections to Cathode Ray Tubes