"Backyard boys build a computer" reported The Canberra Times on its front page on this day 53 years ago.
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Two 17-year-old students from Telopea Park High School, Richard Swan and Tony Rossiter, partly built a digital computer which handled figures and alphabetical data with the accuracy of a professional computer.
The computer was awarded first prize in the ACT Science Teachers Association School Science Award competition for the best report on a practical investigation.
The computer was the boys' own logical design but the fundamentals were the same as those employed in all computers. Richard and Tony spent six months drawing up plans for the computer.
The two students usually spent between 12 and 14 hours a day working on it. The competition organiser said the standard was the highest reached in the four years of the competition.
The Canberra Times reported an updated status on Mr Swan in 2016.
Mr Swan, 66, was still working at his software company, Retails Solutions, in Mountain View, California.
He said he remembered well being on the front page of his local paper.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
