Minivac 601 facts for kids
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| Developer | Claude Shannon |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Scientific Development Corporation (Cambridge, Massachusetts, later in Watertown, Massachusetts) |
| Type | Electromechanical |
| Release date | c.1961 |
| Introductory price | US$85 (equivalent to $832.39 in 2022) |
| Power | 110 VAC |
| CPU | (None) |
| Memory | 6 bits |
| Storage | 6 bits |
| Display | 6 indicator lamps, 16-position motorized dial |
| Input | 6 slide switches, 6 pushbutton switches, 16-position motorized dial |
| Dimensions | 5 1/8 x 24 x 13 1/4 in. |
| Weight | 9 kilograms (20 lb) |
The Minivac 601 Digital Computer Kit was a special kind of computer made for learning. It was designed by a famous scientist named Claude Shannon, who was a pioneer in information theory. This kit helped people understand how early computers worked using parts that moved and electricity. It was like an educational toy that taught about digital circuits.
What was the Minivac 601?
In 1961, a company called Scientific Development Corporation started selling the Minivac 601. It came in a blue wooden box. This computer used special electric switches called relays to do its work. Relays are like tiny switches that turn on and off using electricity. They helped the Minivac 601 make decisions and store small bits of information.
The main part of the Minivac 601 had a way to put information in and get information out. It had six simple slide switches and six push-button switches. It also had lights that would turn on to show the results. This was its "input/output" system, which worked with a special code called binary (using only 0s and 1s).
There was also a spinning dial with 16 positions. You could use this dial to put in numbers, get numbers out, or even make the computer work step-by-step like a clock.
How did it work?
To make the Minivac 601 do different things, you had to connect its parts using wires. These wires had special connectors that fit into sockets on the main board. By connecting the switches, lights, and dial in different ways, you could make the computer solve problems.
For example, the Minivac 601 was simple enough to play a winning game of Tic-tac-toe. It could also pretend to control a simple elevator system, showing how computers could manage everyday machines.
The Minivac 6010
In early 1962, an "advanced and improved" version was released. It was called the Minivac 6010. This new version came in a gray metal case and had better quality parts. It also came with extra wires that had special electronic parts like resistors, capacitors, and diodes. These extra parts gave the Minivac 6010 even more abilities.
The Minivac 6010 cost more money than the original. It was sold more to businesses and schools than as a toy. This showed that even simple computers could be very useful for learning and for real-world tasks.
Gallery
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Original blue-painted enclosure
See also
In Spanish: Minivac 601 para niños
