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Description of SWAC

"SWAC was to be a parallel computer using Williams tube memory.  As indicated in Table 1 (CRT), such a computer would be fast and be the only machine using parallel Williams tube design, thus satisfying a governmental interest in diversity.  The plan was to build a computer with the minimum of circuit development.  Thus, the circuits in the arithmetic unit were derived from Whirlwind circuits, and the development of the memory circuits depended heavily on the published work of F. C. Williams of Manchester University.  Control circuits were to be as simple as possible, yet have a reasonable computing capability." [Annals of the History of Computing, Vol. 2  #2  April 1980]