Atanasoff, John Vincent

Lead Author: Cutler J. Cleveland (other articles)
Article Topics: Energy people and Biographies
This article has been reviewed and approved by the following Topic Editor: Tom Lawrence (other articles)
Last Updated: December 4, 2009
John Vincent Atanasoff.
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John Vincent Atanasoff.

John Vincent Atanasoff (1903-1995), American designer who developed the first electronic computer in 1939. Working with Clifford Berry at Iowa State University from 1937-1942, Atanasoff led several major innovations in computing including the use of binary arithmetic, regenerative memory, parallel processing, and separation of memory and computing functions. The Atanasoff computer thus heads the family tree of today's personal computers and mainframes. However, Atanasoff’s contribution was not recognized until a lengthy patent trial ended in 1973 and declared John W. Mauchly and J. P. Eckert's patent for the 'electronic numerical integrator and computer' (ENIAC) invalid and named Atanasoff the inventor of the electronic digital computer.

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Citation
Cleveland, Cutler (Lead Author); Tom Lawrence (Topic Editor). 2009. "Atanasoff, John Vincent." In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth June 15, 2006; Last revised December 4, 2009; Retrieved March 21, 2010]. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Atanasoff,_John_Vincent>
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