Early Italian Computers: Mario Tchou's ELEA 9003

In the late 1950s, the advent of computers was evolving into a technological revolution, and within it the era of the transistorized computer, the so-called second generation, was beginning. Although much of that progress took place in the United States and United Kingdom, enthusiastic pioneers were also making important contributions in other nations [1], [2]. Recently, I was fortunate enough to come in contact with two of them, Italians who are still in good health, to tell me a story that deserves to be reported in these pages. This story is a tribute to all those scientists, engineers, and technicians who, working in several countries, pioneered the era of computers over a half century ago.