Computing in science hits 50

They represent one of the most important developments for modern science, indeed the modern world, and the impact they have had on research is almost immeasurable. It is hard to believe that it was only 50 years ago that the first research computers were delivered to six British universities.

Lucifer – short for Leeds University Computing Installation – was a Pegasus One computer built by Ferranti at Gorton, Manchester. In 1957, a Pegasus computer was used to calculate pi to 7,480 decimal places, a record at the time.

Manchester University made the first, Cambridge built one too – but a huge Government investment in 1957 kick-started academic computing, enabling state-of the-art factory-built machines to be installed at Leeds, Southampton, Newcastle, Oxford and London and Glasgow.

Although some work on computers had been done previously, this represented the first large scale installation in academic institutions. Although 50 years ago the benefits were far from clear. Professor Roger Boyle, modern-day head of computing at the University of Leeds, said: “They had no way of knowing if this was a good idea or not.”

The Leeds machine, Lucifer, cost £50,000 and was installed in a disused Methodist Chapel on the edge of campus, where a new concrete floor was laid to take its weight and minimise vibration. “It was enormous,” Boyle said. “They had to winch many of the components through the roof.”

“There were no transistors – it was all valves and glowing lights – and came with armies of personnel, who had to carry out a daily maintenance programme.”

At the time, our universities led the way in developing the skills for the burgeoning new industry. “Britain was right up there,” said Boyle, adding that it wasn’t until the late 1960s that the emergence of the American giants began to put Britain in the shade. “And even though our technical lead faltered, we are still ahead in some areas of theory and science.”