This shows the Newcastle KDF9 computer in the main photograph
with two banks of metal cabinets framing the computer operator
with two magnetic tape drives beyond and a paper tape punch to her left.
The photograph within the photograph shows 3 magnetic tape drives,
2 paper tape readers, the computer operator and the paper tape punch.
New Computer [undated press release]
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
INFORMATION OFFICE:
6 KENSINGTON TERRACE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE 2
TELEPHONE NEWCASTLE 28511
16 BOLTON STREET
LONDON W.1
TELEPHONE GRO 5511
NEW COMPUTER
An English Electric KDF 9 Automatic Digital Computing System costing over £200,000 has just been installed in the University Computing Laboratory. The machine will replace the Pegasus computer which has been in use over the last six years.
The English Electric machine is about one hundred times faster than the Pegasus and is capable of solving larger problems and problems which necessitate large quantities of printing to be done. A Printer, which prints a line of type at a time is attached to the Computer. When it is operating at its full speed it will print 1,000 lines per minute and could use £l4 worth of paper per hour if it were running continuously.
The whole system is housed in a room in which there is close control over both temperature and humidity and in which precautions have been taken to ensure a dust-free atmosphere. A team of three resident engineers from the Manufacturers and the University will maintain the computer.
In addition to its many applications in research the system will also be used for the instruction of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, including those taking the recently inaugurated course for the Diploma in Data Processing in Business Administration. The teaching for this course is provided jointly by the staff of the Computing Laboratory and the Department of Economics.
The new computing system will enable members of staff and research students in many fields to perform calculations which could not be done before. The Pegasus computer has been used by all Departments of the Faculties of Pure and Applied Science and by many Departments of the Faculty of Medicine and the programmes used will be converted for the new machine. In order to ease the task of conversion simple languages for communicating with the computer have been devised and a programme enabling the new machine to imitate the old one is being prepared within the Computing Laboratory.
Courses for programming the new machine are being held for members of the University and representatives of Industry who have expressed interest. Computing time will be available for hire on this machine as in the past when industrial calculations carried out ranged from those undertaken for ship design and engineering to those undertaken for accounting purposes.
It is hoped to arrange an Open Day in the Autumn to demonstrate the machine to members of the University and representatives of Industry who have expressed interest. A further announcement will be made at a later date.
A photograph showing the computing system is attached to this notice.
All enquiries and requests for further information should be addressed to:
Dr. E. S. Page,
Director,
University Computing Laboratory,
1/2 Kensington Terrace,
Newcastle upon Tyne 2.
Telephone:
Newcastle 22457