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Advent of Computing

Advent of Computing

By: Sean Haas
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Welcome to Advent of Computing, the show that talks about the shocking, intriguing, and all too often relevant history of computing. A lot of little things we take for granted today have rich stories behind their creation, in each episode we will learn how older tech has lead to our modern world.Sean Haas 2019 World
Episodes
  • Episode 161 - The IAS Machine
    Jul 13 2025

    The first batch of digital computers emerge directly following WWII. The hallmark of this generation is uniqueness: no two computers are the same. However, there is a machine that bucks that trend. The IAS Machine, built in Princeton in the late 1940s, served as the inspiration for at least a dozen later computers. But how similar were these Princeton-class computers? What exactly was so special about the IAS Machine? And how does good 'ol Johnny von Neumann get tied up in all of this?

    The Eastern Boarder map fundraiser

    Selected Sources:

    Bigelow Oral History - https://www.si.edu/media/NMAH/NMAH-AC0196_bige710120.pdf

    Prelin IAS Machine Report - https://www.ias.edu/sites/default/files/library/Prelim_Disc_Logical_Design.pdf

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Episode 160 - What can Lunar Lander tell us about FOCAL?
    Jun 29 2025

    Lunar Lander is one of the best loves video games of all time. The game was created in 1969 as an homage to the recent Apollo 11. From there it would only spread. Just about anything that can print text has it's own version of Lunar Lander.

    The early history of this game is mixed up with something weird: two nearly identical programming languages. Today we will be using the history of Lunar Lander as a good excuse to look at an obscure tongue called FOCAL. This language is so close to BASIC that direct line-by-line translation is possible. But are the two connected?

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    56 mins
  • Episode 159 - The Intel 286: A Legacy Trap
    Jun 15 2025

    In 1982 Intel released the iAPX 286. It's was the first heir to the smash-hit 8086. But the 286 was developed before the IBM PC put an Intel chip on every desk. It's design isn't influence by the PC. Rather, it reaches further into the past. Today we are looking at the strange melding of old technology, new ideas, and compatibility that lead to the 286.

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    1 hr and 7 mins

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