• DocumentCode
    1064996
  • Title

    Dirty Gertie: the DRTE computer

  • Author

    Petiot, Linda

  • Author_Institution
    Dept. of Comput. Sci., Calgary Univ., Alta., Canada
  • Volume
    16
  • Issue
    2
  • fYear
    1994
  • Firstpage
    43
  • Lastpage
    52
  • Abstract
    The article gives an account of the design, construction, and programming of the Canadian DRTE (Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment) computer, which possessed several unique features. It also describes some of the uses to which it was put. This computer is of interest because it incorporated several novel concepts, including a new form of transistorized flip-flop, a hardware decimal-to-binary and binary-to-decimal (DBBD) converter and a unique core memory.<>
  • Keywords
    computer architecture; computer evaluation; digital arithmetic; digital computers; flip-flops; history; DRTE computer; Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment; Dirty Gertie; binary-to-decimal converter; hardware decimal-to-binary; transistorized flip-flop; unique core memory; Circuit testing; Digital arithmetic; Diodes; Electron tubes; Electronic circuits; Flip-flops; Laboratories; Switches; Switching circuits; Telecommunication computing;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Journal_Title
    Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • ISSN
    1058-6180
  • Type

    jour

  • DOI
    10.1109/85.279230
  • Filename
    279230