What were the tube computers of 1946-1958 used for?
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Read, read, read.
Code breaking was one use but the use I am familiar with is generation of tables solving spherical triangles for navigation by sextant. Using a companion volume " Nautical Almanac" you looked up where a ray from the sun or moon or star intercepted the surface of earth at the time you measured its "altitude" or angle above the horizon. You then estimated where you were. The computed tables told you what angle you should have measured and the direction of the object (azimuth). If you measured one minute of arc less, you were one nautical mile further away along the azimuth line than you thought. By taking sights on two objects or by shooting the sun at two different times with an estimate of how you moved between sights you could fix your position. I used these as late as 1958 between Boston and Bermuda and Halifax and even later in Europe. Airplane navigators also used the tables.
By the way, if you include analog as well as digital computers, I was using tube varieties as late as 1964 for simulation of ship motions and vibration measurement and analysis.
The tube computers that were built between 1946 and 1958, also known as first-generation computers, were used for a variety of tasks including computations, scientific research, military applications, and data processing.
To get a more detailed understanding of how tube computers were used during that time period, you can start by conducting research on the development of computers in the mid-20th century. A good starting point would be to look into the history of early computer models such as:
1. The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer): Developed during World War II, it was primarily used for military calculations, such as ballistics calculations for the US Army.
2. The UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer I): It was one of the first commercially available electronic computers. It was used for scientific research, atomic energy calculations, weather prediction, and business applications.
3. The IBM 701: Released in 1952, it was used by various organizations for scientific and engineering calculations, as well as for military purposes.
These early computer systems, with their vacuum tubes as the primary components, were quite large in size and had limited processing power compared to modern computers. However, at that time, they represented significant advancements in technology and provided faster and more reliable calculations than manual methods.
By learning more about the specific projects, research, and applications that were undertaken by these early computers, you will gain a better understanding of how they were utilized during the period of 1946-1958.