Item HT 2211 12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Demonstration Game: Calendar, T723, circa 1957

Summary

Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This program is a game.

The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory Paper Tape Library of 12 hole tapes of subroutines and programs, and program and data tapes from staff and outside users.
Most of the paper tapes were 12-track punched paper tapes. 5 hole paper tapes were used primarily for data input and output rather than program input. However, 5 hole program tapes could be produced by using Interprogram, an English language programming system rather than using machine language.

Each tape has a 'T' number. The Computation Laboratory Paper Tape Library consisted of tapes with a tape number less than 700. There were not 700 tapes but the number 700 was arbitrarily chosen to separate the Computation Laboratory Library tapes from user tapes.

Details of this tape:
Tape no 723: Demonstration: Calendar
From CSIRAC Paper Tape Library Box no: B202

Significance

The item provides valuable information about the programming and use of CSRIAC. CSIRAC is a major icon of Australian computer and is the only existing first generation computer.