The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), one of the earliest electronic general-purpose computers, was capable of performing complex calculations much faster than a human.
Given:
- ENIAC calculated a trajectory in 30 seconds.
- We want to estimate how many hours it would take a human to do the same calculations.
Estimating Human Calculation Time
Historical context and estimates suggest:
- The ENIAC was about 1,000 times faster than a human "computer" (a person doing calculations by hand).
- Some sources say that a human "computer" might take about 30 hours to do what ENIAC did in 30 seconds.
Calculation:
If ENIAC takes 30 seconds, and it is roughly 1,000 times faster than a human:
- Human time = ENIAC time × 1,000
- Human time = 30 seconds × 1,000 = 30,000 seconds
Convert seconds to hours:
- 30,000 seconds ÷ 3600 seconds/hour ≈ 8.33 hours
However, some historical records indicate the task might take even longer for a human, depending on complexity and accuracy, sometimes up to 30 hours or more.
Summary
- ENIAC: 30 seconds to calculate a trajectory.
- Human: Approximately 8 to 30 hours to perform the same calculations by hand.
This dramatic difference highlights the revolutionary impact of early computers on scientific and engineering calculations.
