ECHO IV explained
ECHO IV, or ECHO 4 (Electronic Computing Home Operator, or Electronic Computer for Home Operation) is a prototype of a home computer developed by Westinghouse Electric engineer James (Jim) Sutherland in the mid-1960s (1965-1966).[1]
History
James Sutherland worked as an engineer for the American company Westinghouse Electric, designing fossil and nuclear power plant control systems. In 1959 the company built a computer called PRODAC IV (he was the designer of the arithmetic logic unit), using destructive-readout core memory and NOR logic.
When PRODAC IV was replaced by a UNIVAC design, some of the Westinghouse controller hardware was declared surplus in 1965. Sutherland took up surplus boards and memory to build a home computer, ECHO IV (the "IV" in ECHO IV came from the PRODAC IV). It was made public for the first time in 1966.[2]
The computer was working in the Sutherland's house until 1976, and was donated to the Computer Museum in Boston in 1984.[3]
Technical specifications
- Processor
- Transistorized (2N404), with RTL NOR logic elements[4]
- 120 circuit modules[5]
- 18 commands
- 4 registers
- Add time: 216 μs
- Frequency: 160 kHz[6]
- Main memory:
- 8,192 15-bit words, magnetic core
- Input/Output:
- paper tape reader and punch
- keyboard made from parts of IBM Selectric typewriter
- Kleinschmidt teleprinter
- Physical specifications:
- Four large wooden cabinets, each with approximate dimension of:
- Width: 4 feet
- Height: 6 feet
- Depth: 2 feet
- Weight: about 800lb
Uses
- Accounting
- Household inventory
- Calendar
- Manage all digital clocks through the house
- Real-time clock with delay of 1 second
- Air conditioning management
- TV and television antenna management; on school nights children were required to answer questions if they wanted to watch television
- Meteorological program for reading and storing data from a meteorological station that was connected to ECHO IV and weather forecast
Bibliography
External links
Notes and References
- Book: For the Future, a Household Computer. Jul 1966. House & Garden. Condé Nast Publications. 130. 30. en.
- Web site: The Family of The Future with their Computer . cortesi.smugmug.com.
- The End Bit: ECHO IV . The Computer Museum Report . 1985 . 14 . Fall/Winter . last page . .
- Web site: ECHO 14 Plug-in Module . cortesi.smugmug.com. 5–6.
- ECHO-4 . Amateur Computer Society Newsletter . Jan 1968 . 8 . 4 (49) . 102654910. .
- Libes . Sol . Background: The First Ten Years of Amateur Computing . Byte Magazine . July 1978 . 3 . 7 . 64 .