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Colossus computer

Colossus was a set of computers developed by British codebreakers in the years 1943–1945 to help in the cryptanalysis of the Lorenz cipher. Colossus used thermionic valves (vacuum tubes) to perform Boolean and counting operations. Colossus is regarded as the world's first programmable, electronic, digital computer. The first electromechanical computer…

Purpose and origins, Influence and fate & Design and construction

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CPU
Custom circuits using thermionic valves and thyratrons. A total of 1,600 in Mk 1 and 2,400 in Mk 2. Also relays and stepping switches
Developer
Tommy Flowers, assisted by Sidney Broadhurst, William Chandler and for the Mark 2 machines, Allen Coombs
Discontinued
1960
Display
Indicator lamp panel
Generation
First-generation computer
Input
Paper tape of up to 20,000 × 5-bit characters in a continuous loop

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Overview

Purpose and origins

Decryption processes

Design and construction

Operation

Programming

Influence and fate

Reconstruction

Other meanings

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Map overview Semantic statistics

Colossus computer

Nodes116
Edges115
Triples109
Avg. degree1.98
Density0.017241
Components1

How this topic connects Entity context

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Colossus computer

Top relations

related to Further reading · 74
Colossus computer → Annopalis, Architectures, Atlantic Books, Baldwin, Bletchley Park, Bletchley Park's Greatest Secret, Break, Britain's Best Kept Secret, Broken, Campaigne, Colossus, Comparison, Cragon, Cragon Books, Creating, Dallas, David, Dawn, Digital Age, Dr
related to Purpose and origins · 11
Colossus computer → Before, British, British Tunny, Fish, German, Germans, Intelligence, Sägefisch, The Colossus, This, Tunny
related to Influence and fate · 8
Colossus computer → Although, Benjamin Wells, Boolean, Colossus, However, San Francisco, Turing, University
Media · 2
Colossus computer → Electric typewriter output, Programmed using switches and plug panels
Released · 2
Colossus computer → Mk 1: December 1943 (1943-12), Mk 2: 1 June 1944 (1944-06-01)
CPU · 1
Colossus computer → Custom circuits using thermionic valves and thyratrons. A total of 1,600 in Mk 1 and 2,400 in Mk 2. Also relays and stepping switches
Developer · 1
Colossus computer → Tommy Flowers, assisted by Sidney Broadhurst, William Chandler and for the Mark 2 machines, Allen Coombs
Discontinued · 1
Colossus computer → 1960
Display · 1
Colossus computer → Indicator lamp panel
Generation · 1
Colossus computer → First-generation computer

Important terminology Word statistics

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Important terminology

colossus machine tape bletchley message park computer could two first used flowers wheels tunny characters mark machines paper lorenz use

Entity relationships Subject–Predicate–Object triples

SubjectPredicateObjectConfidenceSrc
Colossus computerCPUCustom circuits using thermionic valves and thyratrons. A total of 1,600 in Mk 1 and 2,400 in Mk 2. Also relays and stepping switches1.00infobox
Colossus computerDeveloperTommy Flowers, assisted by Sidney Broadhurst, William Chandler and for the Mark 2 machines, Allen Coombs1.00infobox
Colossus computerDiscontinued19601.00infobox
Colossus computerDisplayIndicator lamp panel1.00infobox
Colossus computerGenerationFirst-generation computer1.00infobox
Colossus computerInputPaper tape of up to 20,000 × 5-bit characters in a continuous loop1.00infobox
Colossus computerManufacturerPost Office Research Station1.00infobox
Colossus computerMediaElectric typewriter output1.00infobox
Colossus computerMediaProgrammed using switches and plug panels1.00infobox
Colossus computerMemoryNone (no RAM)1.00infobox
Colossus computerPower8.5 kW[b]1.00infobox
Colossus computerReleasedMk 1: December 1943 (1943-12)1.00infobox
Colossus computerReleasedMk 2: 1 June 1944 (1944-06-01)1.00infobox
Colossus computerTypeSpecial-purpose electronic digital programmable computer1.00infobox
Colossus computerUnits shipped121.00infobox

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