Howard Hathaway Aiken: Difference between revisions

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Howard Hathaway Aiken (1900-1973) was a US pioneer of computing.

Life

Howard Hathaway Aiken was born on March 8, 1900 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He received a BS in electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1923. He worked at Madison Gas 1923-28; as general engineer, Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company 1928-31; and Line Material Company 1931-32. He earned MA (1937) and PhD (1939) degrees in physics at Harvard University.

Aiken began research on large-scale calculating machines with IBM in 1939. At Harvard University he was: Faculty instructor 1939-41; Associate Professor 1941-46; Professor 1946; Director of the Computation Laboratory from 1946-1961. He was a Professor of Information Technology at Miami University from 1961-1973, where he helped create a computer science program as well as a computing center. He founded Howard Aiken Industries Inc., a New York consulting firm, and died on March 14, 1973 in St Louis, Missouri.

Contributions

Howard Aiken is known for developing the IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator or Harvard Mark I, conceived in 1937 and put into operation in 1944. Aiken began construction on the Mark II for the Dahlgreen Proving Ground of the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance in 1945. Unlike the Mark I, the Mark II was built with electromagnetic parts. The construction of Mark III was completed in 1950 and was called the Aiken Dahlgreen Electronic Computer (ADEC). The Mark IV was completed in 1952 for the US Air Force. He made significant contributions to the development of applications for the new machines and to the creation of a university curriculum for computer science.

Aiken also completed work in mathematical linguistics, automatic translation, switching theory, and the use of magnetic cores and drums as computer components.

Publications

Aiken served as Editor of Annals of the Computation Laboratory of Harvard University.

Awards

Ralph E. Hackett Award for Science (1954); Navy Distinguished Public Service Award (1955), Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service (1957); University of Wisconsin Testimonial of Eminent Professional Service (1958); IEEE Computer Society Pioneer Award (1980)

Papers

LOCATION #1: Harvard University Archives

PAPERS DATES: 1944-1961
SIZE: 13 containers
INCLUDES: Records of the computation laboratory. Contains correspondence of H.H. Aiken, Director of the Laboratory, and correspondence, 1955-1958, of the Assistant Director, Warren Semon. Also forms and other items.
SOURCE: Harvard University Online Catalog: https://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990006047800203941/catalog

LOCATION #2: Harvard University Archives

PAPERS DATES: 1937
SIZE: 1 manuscript; 2 pamphlet binders
INCLUDES: Consists of multigraph copy concerning proposed automatic calculating machine with annotations.
SOURCE: Harvard University Online Catalog: http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990006044700203941/catalog

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+'''Howard Hathaway Aiken''' (1900-1973) was a US pioneer of computing.
 [[File:Howard Aiken.jpg|alt=Howard Aiken |thumb|Howard Aiken]]
-Howard Aiken (1900-1973) completed new work/findings in mathematical linguistics, the automatic translation of languages, switching theory, and the use of magnetic cores and drums as computer components.
 == Life ==
-Aiken worked at: Madison Gas 1923-28; General engineer, Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company 1928-31; Line Material Company 1931-32. Aiken earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1923, Master's degree from Harvard University in physics in 1937, and a doctorate from Harvard University in physics in 1939.
+'''Howard Hathaway Aiken''' was born on March 8, 1900 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He received a BS in electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1923. He worked at Madison Gas 1923-28; as general engineer, Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company 1928-31; and Line Material Company 1931-32. He earned MA (1937) and PhD (1939) degrees in physics at Harvard University.
-Aiken's obituary can be found at Howard H. Aiken, built computer: Developer of the Mark I dies--Was Harvard professor. (1973, Mar. 16). ''The New York Times'', 44.
+Aiken began research on large-scale calculating machines with IBM in 1939. At Harvard University he was: Faculty instructor 1939-41; Associate Professor 1941-46; Professor 1946; Director of the Computation Laboratory from 1946-1961. He was a Professor of Information Technology at Miami University from 1961-1973, where he helped create a computer science program as well as a computing center. He founded Howard Aiken Industries Inc., a New York consulting firm, and died on March 14, 1973 in St Louis, Missouri.
 == Contributions ==
-Aiken wanted to created an automatic calculating machine which could handle most mathematical functions. He began research on large-scale calculating machines with IBM in 1939. At Harvard University he was: Faculty instructor 1939-41; Associate Professor 1941-46; Professor 1946; Director of the Computation Laboratory from 1946-1961. He was a Professor of Information Technology at Miami University from 1961-1973.
+Howard Aiken is known for developing the IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator or Harvard Mark I, conceived in 1937 and put into operation in 1944.  Aiken began construction on the Mark II for the Dahlgreen Proving Ground of the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance in 1945. Unlike the Mark I, the Mark II was built with electromagnetic parts. The construction of Mark III was completed in 1950 and was called the Aiken Dahlgreen Electronic Computer (ADEC). The Mark IV was completed in 1952 for the US Air Force. He made significant contributions to the development of applications for the new machines and to the creation of a university curriculum for computer science.
-He completed the Mark I in 1944. The Mark I was different from Bush's differential analyzer, because it could solve almost all mathematical problems. (Bush's machine only solved differential equations.) Mark I was important, since it was available to people outside of the government. Mark I was electromechanical rather than electronic. Aiken began construction on the Mark II for the Dahlgreen Proving Ground of the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance in 1945. Unlike the Mark I, the Mark II was built with electromagnetic parts. The construction of Mark III was completed in 1950 and was called the Aiken Dahlgreen Electronic Computer (ADEC). The Mark IV was completed in 1952 for the US Air Force. Aiken also helped create a computer science program as well as a computing center at the University of Miami. He founded Howard Aiken Industries Inc., a New York consulting firm.
+Aiken also completed work in mathematical linguistics, automatic translation, switching theory, and the use of magnetic cores and drums as computer components.
-'''AWARDS:'''
-Ralph E. Hackett Award for Science (1954); Navy Distinguished Public Service Award (1955), Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service (1957); University of Wisconsin Testimonial of Eminent Professional Service (1958); IEEE Computer Society Pioneer Award (1980)
-== Selected Publications ==
+== Publications ==
 Aiken served as Editor of Annals of the Computation Laboratory of Harvard University.
+== Further reading ==
+*"Howard H. Aiken." ''Wikipedia'' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_H._Aiken]
+*Obituary. ''The New York Times'' (March 16, 1973): 44.
+*Cohen, I. Bernard. ''Howard Aiken : portrait of a computer pioneer.'' Cambridge, MA : MIT Press, c1999.
+*Strawn, George. "Howard Aiken: Mastermind of the Harvard Mark Computers." ''IT professional'' 21, no 6 (Nov. 2019): 66-68.
+== Awards ==
+Ralph E. Hackett Award for Science (1954); Navy Distinguished Public Service Award (1955), Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service (1957); University of Wisconsin Testimonial of Eminent Professional Service (1958); IEEE Computer Society Pioneer Award (1980)
 == Papers ==