> The machine computations were begun during the final testing of [the Harvard] Mark IV ...
The original text does not have "the Harvard" or even "the". This is one of the amusing and endearing aspects of the text: The computer in use was often (though not consistently) referred to as just "Mark IV" (as if it's a living being?). I imagine that's a sentiment that can arise when "conditions were far from ideal" and "the reliability ... has now been greatly improved" to "operating with more than 85% good running time". On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 9:56 AM, Ian Clark <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you Roger. Most inspiring. > > I love this para, which recalls the difficulties computing pioneers > laboured under... > > "The machine computations were begun during the final testing of [the > Harvard] Mark IV when the machine was first coming into operation. > Hence conditions were far from ideal and the lack of experience in > programming and operation combined with machine failures to cause a > considerable loss of time. However it is under just such adverse > conditions that the relative ease of programming reruns on Mark IV > proves especially valuable. The reliability of the computer has now > been greatly improved and at present writing it has been operating > with more than 85% good running time during the month of November > 1953." > > > On Fri, Aug 3, 2012 at 11:21 PM, Roger Hui <[email protected]> > wrote: > > http://www.jsoftware.com/papers/MSLDE.htm > > > > Ken Iverson's Ph.D. thesis. I'll fill in the sections as time and energy > > permit. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
