Fifty years ago, in April 1962, 宅男导航 commissioned the first-ever digital computer in Queensland 鈥� a General Electric GE225.
This technological advancement was located in 宅男导航鈥檚 Computer Centre, which was established in 1961, providing computer services to staff, students, university departments, administration, Government organisations and private enterprise.
As the first academic to be appointed to the development of the Centre in 1960, Mr Richard Kelly was heavily involved in planning and writing specifications.
Mr Kelly said that The Computer Centre, now known as Information Technology Services, owes its origins to Professor Sidney Prentice, the Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering.
鈥淒uring a sabbatical in 1957, Sid visited the Westinghouse Transformer factory in the United States, where he witnessed one of the then 鈥渘ew-fangled鈥� digital computers churning out transformer designs at the rate of one every 10 minutes - a task which took human designers several weeks,鈥� Mr Kelly said.
Upon his return, Professor Prentice lobbied the Professorial Board to set up a sub-committee to investigate the possibility of acquiring such a computer for the University.
鈥淯nfortunately, Professor Prentice鈥檚 expertise was in Power Engineering, not Electronics,鈥� Mr Kelly said.
鈥淎t the time, I was a recent graduate who had joined the Department as a Tutor and, by chance, had completed a thesis on Electronic Analogue Computers.
鈥淭hinking that I would know all about computers, Sid informed me that I had been appointed Technical Adviser to the Sub-Committee, but realising my own limitations, I raced over to the Library and took out every book they had on Digital Computers - all six of them - and furiously began studying!鈥�
Professor Prentice engaged Australia鈥檚 first ever Professor of Computing and 宅男导航 Engineering graduate, Professor John Bennett to assist him in promoting the benefits of the digital computer to 宅男导航 and the wider community, resulting in organisations such as Main Roads, Primary Industries and the CSIRO committing funding.
Ultimately, Professor Prentice was able to raise 拢100,000 ($200,000 AUD), including a commitment of 拢20,000 ($40,000 AUD) from 宅男导航.
In April 1961, the University awarded a contract to the General Electric Co (USA) for the supply, installation and commissioning of a GE-225 computer, the first of its kind in Queensland.
Since then 宅男导航 has witnessed the remarkable advancements in technological performance from large single-user to multi-user main-frame computers, to dedicated minicomputers, personal microcomputers, portable laptops and iPads.
On Wednesday 1 August 2012, the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE) will host a special alumni event to celebrate this milestone.
For more information, and to register your interest in attending, please contact the Faculty鈥檚 Alumni Manager, Claire Corones on +61 7 3346 7533 or c.corones@uq.edu.au.
To view a of the rationale for the first Digital Computer at 宅男导航 in 1962.
Media: Madelene Flanagan (m.flanagan@uq.edu.au or 3365 8525)
