Summary
These proceedings, published in April 1952, describe the Conference held from 7 to 9 August 1951 and organised by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. It was held in the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Sydney.
A working but incomplete CSIRAC was demonstrated publicly for the first time at this Conference.
The document was donated by Jonathan Hirst who is the son of Frank Hirst. Frank organised the transportation of CSIRAC from Sydney to Melbourne and managed the Computational Laboratory in the University of Melbourne during CSIRAC's operational life there.
The ANCCAC was formed in 1959. ANCCAC organised further Australian Computer Conferences in 1963 in Melbourne - the 2nd, and in 1966 in Canberra - the 3rd. Various State-based associations of practitioners emerged during the first half of the 1960s. The Australian Computer Society was formed in 1966 through the federation of those associations.
Description of Content
These proceedings, published in April 1952, describe the Conference held from 7 to 9 August 1951 and organised by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. It was held in the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Sydney.
Physical Description
A bound booklet, (249 by 200 by 20 mm), with a light brown cover, 220 pages, typewritten text on discoloured white paper and some black and white photographs and diagrams. The front cover shows text only, apart from an illegible pencil signature on the top right hand corner. The contents include the Address of Welcome, the papers delivered in each of two sessions including discussion, a description of an exhibition of equipment and accompanying demonstrations, acknowledgments, bibliography and a list of registrations.
Significance
These Conference Proceedings are an integral part of Australian computing history. They contain contributions from some of the major players in the early development of computing.
In particular, the 1951 Proceedings describe the first conference to be held in Australia on computing and the conference must be counted as one of the earliest conference internationally. It is significant that such a conference was held in Australia so early in the era of modern computing.
The 1963 Proceedings provide an insight into how both the technology and the thinking of the participants had changed since 1951. This applies particularly to Pearcey, who was responsible for much of the design of CSIR Mk 1 (later CSIRAC).
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Mr Jonathan Hirst, 12 Jun 2008
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Organiser of Event
Australian Committee on Computation & Automatic Control (ANCCAC), Australia, 1951
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Other Association (See Comments)
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Other Association (See Comments)
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Other Association (See Comments)
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Past Owner
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Past Owner
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Inscriptions
Printed, front cover: "PROCEEDINGS OF CONFERENCE ON AUTOMATIC COMPUTING MACHINES / held in the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Sydney August 1951 / COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY / MELBOURNE APRIL 1952". Extensive text within.
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Classification
Computing & calculating, Digital computing, Reference materials
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
200 mm (Width), 20 mm (Depth), 249 mm (Height)
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References
McCann D. and Thorne P., 'The Last of the First', The University of Melbourne, Australia, 2000 Ed. By Bennet J., Broomham R., Murton P., Pearcey T., Rutledge R., Computing in Australia, Hale & Iremonger and ACS, New South Wales, 1994 [HT 13518.12] CSIRAC - Series 13 Published Papers and Reports, Published Papers and Reports (contains the following reference material: * 1963 Pamphlet - Proposed Programme and Registration Form for the Australia Computer Conference, Melbourne 1963) [Link 1] (accessed 10 July 2008)
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Keywords
