15 Feb 2023

Augustana College to Host “Birth of the Computer: The John Atanasoff Story” in Partnership with the Davenport Public Library and Rock Island Public Library

By Brittany Peacock

DAVENPORT, IOWA (February 15, 2023) — Come learn about John Atanasoff, an assistant professor in mathematics and physics at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. Atanasoff traveled to Rock Island, Illinois, where he conceptualized the first digital computer in 1937. This event is brought to you in collaboration with Rock Island Public Library and Augustana College.

07 Feb 2023

Gig o' Bytes: “Atanasoff: Father of the Computer,” at Augustana College on February 23

By Mike Schulz

A doc can get away with an unexciting, even bland presentation so long as the story it tells captures and holds your interest, and directors Mila Aung-Thwin's and Daniel Cross' 2014 documentary Atanasoff: Father of the Computer kept me interested, and quite invested, through the whole of its too-short 45 minutes.

01 Feb 2023

Who Knew About These Firsts?

By Todd McGreevy
Uncle Scam Cartoon by Ed Newmann Feb 2023 River Cities Reader.png

Publisher Todd McGreevy recounts the highlights and content of the River Cities' Reader's February 2023 printed edtion, as well as links to the same stories online herein. Illustration of "Uncle Scam" is by Ed Newmann. 

01 Feb 2023

“Birth of the Computer: The John Atanasoff Story,” February 23

By Reader Staff

With the focus of its celebration a 1990 recipient of the United States National Medal of Technology – the highest national honor conferred for achievements related to technological progress – the February 23 program Birth of the Computer: The John Atanasoff Story will be held in Augustana College's Wallenberg Hall, offering attendees insight into the inventor of the electronic digital computer and his reported ties to the Quad Cities area.

24 Jan 2023

"Birth of the Computer" Explores QC Ties to Inventor John Atanasoff

By Nicole Lauer

ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (January 24, 2023) — Augustana College will host the “Birth of the Computer: The John Atanasoff Story” event at 6PM, February 23, in Wallenberg Hall, inside the Denkmann Memorial Building.

03 Mar 2009

Video: Atanasoff Documentary Filmed at Hunter's Club

By Todd McGreevy
John Vincent Atanasoff Book

 

March 2, 2009 Kirwan Cox and a crew from EyeSteel Films (www.eyesteelfilms.com) visited Hunter's Club in downtown Rock Island, Illinois. The Canadians were here to film a portion of a documentary they are producing for the Canadian version of History Channel about John Vincent Atanasoff. Atanasoff testified in the seminal 1970's Rand Sperry patent trial over the rights to the fundamental elements of modern computing. Atanasoff, a mathematician professor from Iowa State in Ames testified that he conceived of the four principles of the modern calculator as it was known at the time.

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