UNIVAC II

UNIVAC II. The UNIVAC II was a significant mainframe computer system introduced by the Remington Rand corporation in 1958 as an upgraded successor to the pioneering UNIVAC I. Designed by the original creators J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, it offered substantial improvements in speed, memory capacity, and reliability while maintaining backward compatibility for existing customers. Its development and deployment marked a critical phase in the commercialization of electronic data processing for major corporations and government agencies during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Development and design

The development of the system was driven by Remington Rand's need to compete more effectively with rivals like IBM and its popular 700 series machines. Engineers led by J. Presper Eckert sought to address limitations of the earlier UNIVAC I, particularly its use of mercury delay line memory and complex maintenance requirements. A key design goal was to create a system that could run programs written for the UNIVAC I with minimal modification, easing the transition for important clients such as the United States Census Bureau and the United States Air Force. This backward compatibility was a strategic commercial decision, influenced by the growing computer industry competition and the lessons learned from installations at entities like the General Electric plant in Louisville.

Technical specifications

The system featured a major advancement in memory technology, replacing mercury delay line memory with more reliable and faster magnetic core memory. This new memory system, supplied by vendors like the Ampex Corporation, offered a capacity of 2,000 to 10,000 twelve-character words, a significant increase over its predecessor. The central processor utilized a binary-coded decimal (BCD) arithmetic system and could perform approximately 2,000 additions per second. Input and output were handled through improved magnetic tape units, known as UNISERVO II tape drives, and a high-speed line printer capable of 600 lines per minute. The physical footprint of the system remained substantial, often requiring a dedicated computer room with specialized air conditioning and power supply infrastructure.

Impact and legacy

The introduction of this machine solidified Remington Rand's position in the burgeoning mainframe computer market and demonstrated the commercial viability of upgrading entire computing installations. Its success in retaining customers from the UNIVAC I era proved the value of backward compatibility, a concept that would become a cornerstone of the computer industry. The system's use of magnetic core memory set a new standard for reliability and performance, influencing subsequent designs from competitors like IBM and Control Data Corporation. Furthermore, its deployment for complex tasks in sectors like insurance, banking, and aerospace accelerated the adoption of electronic data processing beyond government and academic research, paving the way for the UNIVAC III and other second-generation computer systems.

Notable installations and users

Prominent early installations included the United States Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory at the Aberdeen Proving Ground for artillery calculations. Major financial institutions such as the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City and the Bank of America in San Francisco utilized the system for policy management and check processing. Within the federal government, agencies like the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Navy employed these computers for logistics and payroll. Academic and research institutions also operated the system, including the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for scientific computations. International installations reached customers like the French government's Atomic Energy Commission and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.