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1 Oral History Interview with Brian Randell January 7, 2021 Via Zoom
Oral History Interview with Brian Randell January 7, 2021 Via Zoom Conducted by William Aspray Charles Babbage Institute 1 Abstract Brian Randell tells about his upbringing and his work at English Electric, IBM, and Newcastle University. The primary topic of the interview is his work in the history of computing. He discusses his discovery of the Irish computer pioneer Percy Ludgate, the preparation of his edited volume The Origins of Digital Computers, various lectures he has given on the history of computing, his PhD supervision of Martin Campbell-Kelly, the Computer History Museum, his contribution to the second edition of A Computer Perspective, and his involvement in making public the World War 2 Bletchley Park Colossus code- breaking machines, among other topics. This interview is part of a series of interviews on the early history of the history of computing. Keywords: English Electric, IBM, Newcastle University, Bletchley Park, Martin Campbell-Kelly, Computer History Museum, Jim Horning, Gwen Bell, Gordon Bell, Enigma machine, Curta (calculating device), Charles and Ray Eames, I. Bernard Cohen, Charles Babbage, Percy Ludgate. 2 Aspray: This is an interview on the 7th of January 2021 with Brian Randell. The interviewer is William Aspray. We’re doing this interview via Zoom. Brian, could you briefly talk about when and where you were born, a little bit about your growing up and your interests during that time, all the way through your formal education? Randell: Ok. I was born in 1936 in Cardiff, Wales. Went to school, high school, there. In retrospect, one of the things I missed out then was learning or being taught Welsh. -
Rutherford's Nuclear World: the Story of the Discovery of the Nuc
Rutherford's Nuclear World: The Story of the Discovery of the Nuc... http://www.aip.org/history/exhibits/rutherford/sections/atop-physic... HOME SECTIONS CREDITS EXHIBIT HALL ABOUT US rutherford's explore the atom learn more more history of learn about aip's nuclear world with rutherford about this site physics exhibits history programs Atop the Physics Wave ShareShareShareShareShareMore 9 RUTHERFORD BACK IN CAMBRIDGE, 1919–1937 Sections ← Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next → In 1962, John Cockcroft (1897–1967) reflected back on the “Miraculous Year” ( Annus mirabilis ) of 1932 in the Cavendish Laboratory: “One month it was the neutron, another month the transmutation of the light elements; in another the creation of radiation of matter in the form of pairs of positive and negative electrons was made visible to us by Professor Blackett's cloud chamber, with its tracks curled some to the left and some to the right by powerful magnetic fields.” Rutherford reigned over the Cavendish Lab from 1919 until his death in 1937. The Cavendish Lab in the 1920s and 30s is often cited as the beginning of modern “big science.” Dozens of researchers worked in teams on interrelated problems. Yet much of the work there used simple, inexpensive devices — the sort of thing Rutherford is famous for. And the lab had many competitors: in Paris, Berlin, and even in the U.S. Rutherford became Cavendish Professor and director of the Cavendish Laboratory in 1919, following the It is tempting to simplify a complicated story. Rutherford directed the Cavendish Lab footsteps of J.J. Thomson. Rutherford died in 1937, having led a first wave of discovery of the atom. -
Technical Details of the Elliott 152 and 153
Appendix 1 Technical Details of the Elliott 152 and 153 Introduction The Elliott 152 computer was part of the Admiralty’s MRS5 (medium range system 5) naval gunnery project, described in Chap. 2. The Elliott 153 computer, also known as the D/F (direction-finding) computer, was built for GCHQ and the Admiralty as described in Chap. 3. The information in this appendix is intended to supplement the overall descriptions of the machines as given in Chaps. 2 and 3. A1.1 The Elliott 152 Work on the MRS5 contract at Borehamwood began in October 1946 and was essen- tially finished in 1950. Novel target-tracking radar was at the heart of the project, the radar being synchronized to the computer’s clock. In his enthusiasm for perfecting the radar technology, John Coales seems to have spent little time on what we would now call an overall systems design. When Harry Carpenter joined the staff of the Computing Division at Borehamwood on 1 January 1949, he recalls that nobody had yet defined the way in which the control program, running on the 152 computer, would interface with guns and radar. Furthermore, nobody yet appeared to be working on the computational algorithms necessary for three-dimensional trajectory predic- tion. As for the guns that the MRS5 system was intended to control, not even the basic ballistics parameters seemed to be known with any accuracy at Borehamwood [1, 2]. A1.1.1 Communication and Data-Rate The physical separation, between radar in the Borehamwood car park and digital computer in the laboratory, necessitated an interconnecting cable of about 150 m in length. -
THE CABLE THAT WIRED the WORLD 41 the CABLE THAT WIRED the WORLD Today We Take Global Attractive Proposition to the Cotton Communications for Granted
INFORM NETWORK DEVELOP NIGEL LINGE, BILL BURNS THE CABLE THAT WIRED THE WORLD 41 THE CABLE THAT WIRED THE WORLD Today we take global attractive proposition to the cotton communications for granted. NIGEL LINGE, merchants and growers. However, it was an American, Cyrus Field (see Figure 1), who on Whether telephoning someone in BILL BURNS 6 November 1856 established the Atlantic America, sending emails to Telegraph Company and sought to raise Australia or simply browsing the Xxxx xxxx xxxx £350,000 to manufacture and lay a web, we accept that our global telegraph cable between Britain and North America. To appreciate the scale of what telecommunications networks was being proposed, 1,600 nautical miles of will make it all happen. cable would be required to cross the Atlantic Nevertheless, life hasn’t always at its shortest width between the west coast been this convenient and this of Ireland and the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The longest year we are celebrating the 150th successful undersea cable that had been anniversary of a significant event constructed up until that time was a mere that proved to be the catalyst for 300 miles in length under the Black Sea, linking the Crimea to Varna on the Bulgarian a telecommunications revolution coast. that laid the foundations of the global connectivity that we all Nevertheless, the Victorian can-do attitude enjoy today – the first fully- prevailed and on 31 July 1857, HMS Agamemnon and USA Niagara set sail from operational telecommunications Figure 1: Cyrus Field (1819-1892), Pioneer of the Valentia in Ireland and headed west towards cable to be laid under the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Trinity Bay in Newfoundland. -
Radio Communications in the Digital Age
Radio Communications In the Digital Age Volume 1 HF TECHNOLOGY Edition 2 First Edition: September 1996 Second Edition: October 2005 © Harris Corporation 2005 All rights reserved Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-94476 Harris Corporation, RF Communications Division Radio Communications in the Digital Age Volume One: HF Technology, Edition 2 Printed in USA © 10/05 R.O. 10K B1006A All Harris RF Communications products and systems included herein are registered trademarks of the Harris Corporation. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...............................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 PRINCIPLES OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS .....................................6 CHAPTER 2 THE IONOSPHERE AND HF RADIO PROPAGATION..........................16 CHAPTER 3 ELEMENTS IN AN HF RADIO ..........................................................24 CHAPTER 4 NOISE AND INTERFERENCE............................................................36 CHAPTER 5 HF MODEMS .................................................................................40 CHAPTER 6 AUTOMATIC LINK ESTABLISHMENT (ALE) TECHNOLOGY...............48 CHAPTER 7 DIGITAL VOICE ..............................................................................55 CHAPTER 8 DATA SYSTEMS .............................................................................59 CHAPTER 9 SECURING COMMUNICATIONS.....................................................71 CHAPTER 10 FUTURE DIRECTIONS .....................................................................77 APPENDIX A STANDARDS -
A Guide to Radio Communications Standards for Emergency Responders
A GUIDE TO RADIO COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS Prepared Under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) Through the Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) Regional Initiative in Disaster Risk Reduction March, 2010 Maputo - Mozambique GUIDE TO RADIO COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS GUIDE TO RADIO COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS Table of Contents Introductory Remarks and Acknowledgments 5 Communication Operations and Procedures 6 1. Communications in Emergencies ...................................6 The Role of the Radio Telephone Operator (RTO)...........................7 Description of Duties ..............................................................................7 Radio Operator Logs................................................................................9 Radio Logs..................................................................................................9 Programming Radios............................................................................10 Care of Equipment and Operator Maintenance...........................10 Solar Panels..............................................................................................10 Types of Radios.......................................................................................11 The HF Digital E-mail.............................................................................12 Improved Communication Technologies......................................12 -
Space Business Review International Mobile Telecommunications Services, Including Wimax
December 2007 - SPECIAL EDITION: THE TOP-10 SPACE BUSINESS STORIES OF 2007 - #1 - M&A Transactions Keep Pace #5 - 50th Anniversary of Sputnik Despite challenging credit markets, merger, As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the acquisition and investment activity kept pace in satellite that introduced the “space age”, 2007. Abertis & Caisse des Dépôts et approximately 1,000 satellites now orbit the consignations purchase 32% (€1.07B) and Earth and the space business has grown to 25.5% (€862.7M) stakes, respectively, in more than $100 billion in annual revenues. Eutelsat (Jan.). GE Capital sells back its 19.5% #6 - Satellite Manufacturers Remain Busy interest in SES Global for €588 million in cash 18 commercial satellite orders announced in and assets including stakes in AsiaSat, Star 2007. Ball Aerospace & Technologies: One and Orbcomm (Feb.). JSAT & SKY WorldView-2. EADS Astrium: YahSat 1A Perfect Communications merge (March). BC and 1B, Arabsat 5A, BADR-5 (the foregoing Partners to acquire Intelsat Ltd. for $16.4 billion, in cooperation with Thales Alenia Space) including debt (June). Carlyle Group to acquire and Alphasat 1-XL. Israel Aerospace ARINC (July). Apax Partners France Industries: Amos-4. Lockheed Martin purchases Telenor Satellite Services for $400 Commercial Space Systems: JCSAT-12. million (Sept.). Loral Space & Orbital Sciences Corporation: Optus-D3, Communications and PSP Canada conclude AMC-5R. Space Systems/Loral: Nimiq 5, C$3.25 billion acquisition of Telesat Canada ProtoStar I, Intelsat 14, SIRIUS FM-6, Abertis to acquire 28.4% stake in Hispasat EchoStar XIV, NSS-12. Thales Alenia (Nov.). CIP Canada Investment, indirectly Space: THOR 6, Palapa-D. -
Journal Vol38 No001 Pp107-116
Vol. Vol. 38 No. I Journal <J/' the Communications Research Lahoratory March 1991 Printed Printed in Tokyo ‘ Japan pp. 107 116 Review CANADIAN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM By M. H. KHAN* (Received (Received on August 27, 1990) ABSTRACT In In 1962, Canada became the third nation in the world, after Soviet Union and the United States, States, to pioneer satellite communication. Sine 巴then it has enjoyed a series of impressive firs: it was the first country to establish a commercial satellite communication system, the first to experiment experiment with direct broadcast satellite systems and the first to conceive a mobile communica- tions tions systems via satellite. In future application of highly sophisticated synthetic aperture radar satellite satellite for remote sensing, surveying etc. are planned. In this paper an overview of Canadian Satellite Satellite Communication Program will be presented. 1. 1. Introduction Canada has a land area of almost 0I million square kilometers and a population of 24 million people. people. Although 75 % of its population live in urban areas that are within 350 kilometers of the Canadian-US border, these communities are spread out on an direction east-west by more than 4000 kilometers. In addition there are many small, relatively isolated communities located in the north. north. Providing a reliable communication and broadcasting services to such a widely dispersed population population using conventional terrestrial systems could be a major technical and financial problem. problem. As a result Canadian Government and industry were quick to appreciate the potential of satellite satellite communication for domestic and international use and capitalize on it. -
Battle Management Language: History, Employment and NATO Technical Activities
Battle Management Language: History, Employment and NATO Technical Activities Mr. Kevin Galvin Quintec Mountbatten House, Basing View, Basingstoke Hampshire, RG21 4HJ UNITED KINGDOM [email protected] ABSTRACT This paper is one of a coordinated set prepared for a NATO Modelling and Simulation Group Lecture Series in Command and Control – Simulation Interoperability (C2SIM). This paper provides an introduction to the concept and historical use and employment of Battle Management Language as they have developed, and the technical activities that were started to achieve interoperability between digitised command and control and simulation systems. 1.0 INTRODUCTION This paper provides a background to the historical employment and implementation of Battle Management Languages (BML) and the challenges that face the military forces today as they deploy digitised C2 systems and have increasingly used simulation tools to both stimulate the training of commanders and their staffs at all echelons of command. The specific areas covered within this section include the following: • The current problem space. • Historical background to the development and employment of Battle Management Languages (BML) as technology evolved to communicate within military organisations. • The challenges that NATO and nations face in C2SIM interoperation. • Strategy and Policy Statements on interoperability between C2 and simulation systems. • NATO technical activities that have been instigated to examine C2Sim interoperation. 2.0 CURRENT PROBLEM SPACE “Linking sensors, decision makers and weapon systems so that information can be translated into synchronised and overwhelming military effect at optimum tempo” (Lt Gen Sir Robert Fulton, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, 29th May 2002) Although General Fulton made that statement in 2002 at a time when the concept of network enabled operations was being formulated by the UK and within other nations, the requirement remains extant. -
Telecommunication Switching Networks
TELECOMMUNICATION SWITCHING AND NETWORKS TElECOMMUNICATION SWITCHING AND NffiWRKS THIS PAGE IS BLANK Copyright © 2006, 2005 New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers Published by New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, microfilm, xerography, or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher. All inquiries should be emailed to [email protected] ISBN (10) : 81-224-2349-3 ISBN (13) : 978-81-224-2349-5 PUBLISHING FOR ONE WORLD NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL (P) LIMITED, PUBLISHERS 4835/24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi - 110002 Visit us at www.newagepublishers.com PREFACE This text, ‘Telecommunication Switching and Networks’ is intended to serve as a one- semester text for undergraduate course of Information Technology, Electronics and Communi- cation Engineering, and Telecommunication Engineering. This book provides in depth knowl- edge on telecommunication switching and good background for advanced studies in communi- cation networks. The entire subject is dealt with conceptual treatment and the analytical or mathematical approach is made only to some extent. For best understanding, more diagrams (202) and tables (35) are introduced wherever necessary in each chapter. The telecommunication switching is the fast growing field and enormous research and development are undertaken by various organizations and firms. The communication networks have unlimited research potentials. Both telecommunication switching and communication networks develop new techniques and technologies everyday. This book provides complete fun- damentals of all the topics it has focused. However, a candidate pursuing postgraduate course, doing research in these areas and the employees of telecom organizations should be in constant touch with latest technologies. -
Download Report 2010-12
RESEARCH REPORt 2010—2012 MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Cover: Aurora borealis paintings by William Crowder, National Geographic (1947). The International Geophysical Year (1957–8) transformed research on the aurora, one of nature’s most elusive and intensely beautiful phenomena. Aurorae became the center of interest for the big science of powerful rockets, complex satellites and large group efforts to understand the magnetic and charged particle environment of the earth. The auroral visoplot displayed here provided guidance for recording observations in a standardized form, translating the sublime aesthetics of pictorial depictions of aurorae into the mechanical aesthetics of numbers and symbols. Most of the portait photographs were taken by Skúli Sigurdsson RESEARCH REPORT 2010—2012 MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Introduction The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) is made up of three Departments, each administered by a Director, and several Independent Research Groups, each led for five years by an outstanding junior scholar. Since its foundation in 1994 the MPIWG has investigated fundamental questions of the history of knowl- edge from the Neolithic to the present. The focus has been on the history of the natu- ral sciences, but recent projects have also integrated the history of technology and the history of the human sciences into a more panoramic view of the history of knowl- edge. Of central interest is the emergence of basic categories of scientific thinking and practice as well as their transformation over time: examples include experiment, ob- servation, normalcy, space, evidence, biodiversity or force. -
Space Systems/Loral Selected to Provide Anik G1 Satellite to Telesat
Space Systems/Loral Selected to Provide Anik G1 Satellite to Telesat Space Systems/Loral Platform Provides Flexibility to Accommodate Multiple Missions PALO ALTO, Calif., Jun 1, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the world's leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that it has been selected to provide a satellite to Telesat, one of the world's leading satellite operators. The new satellite, Anik G1, is a multi-mission spacecraft that supports a variety of applications including direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcasting in Canada; government requirements over the Americas and the Pacific; and broadband, voice, data and video services in South America. "The Space Systems/Loral platform offered us the flexibility to build on the commitment of a key Telesat customer, Shaw Direct, that will use Anik G1 to expand their video service offerings across Canada," said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat. "The ability to cost effectively combine multiple service missions on one satellite makes the SS/L platform a winning solution for Telesat and our customers." Anik G1 is a multi-band satellite that will be located at 107.3 degrees West Longitude when it goes into service in the second half of 2012. The satellite will provide 16 high-power Ku-band transponders in the extended FSS band to support Shaw Direct's growing DTH video programming for the Canadian market. It also has 12 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders that will both replace and expand on Telesat's Anik F1 satellite now serving South America. In addition, Anik G1 will have three X-band channels for government services over the Americas and part of the Pacific Ocean, and one channel in the reverse Direct Broadcast Service band.