Which invention was Atanasoff awarded a patent for in his lifetime?
An early version of a mouse
A magnetic-core memory design
An electro-mechanical computer
None, he received patents posthumously
Answer
The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC), conceived by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry in the late 1930s, holds the distinction of being the world's first electronic digital computer. Despite its groundbreaking nature, Atanasoff did not receive recognition or patents for his invention during his lifetime. It was only posthumously, in 1973, that he was finally granted patents for key aspects of the ABC, acknowledging his pioneering contributions to the field of computing.
John Vincent Atanasoff Quiz: 31 Questions to Test Your Knowledge
Subscribe Now!
Learn something
new everyday
Playing quizzes is free! We send 1 quiz every week to your inbox