John Ivanov Atanasov John Vincent Atanasoff was an American physicist, mathematician and electrical engineer of Bulgarian origin, creator of the first digital electronic computer.

John Atanasoff was born on 4 October 1903 a few miles west of Hamilton, New York. His father was a Bulgarian immigrant named Ivan Atanasov. John Atanasoff's mother was Iva Lucena Purdy, a mathematics schoolteacher. John is first child of ten children in family. After John Vincent's birth, his father accepted an electrical engineering position is Osteen, Florida, and subsequently, in Brewster, Florida. It was here that John Atanasoff completed grade school . The Atanasoff home in Brewster was the first house they lived in with electricity, and John Atanasoff, as a 9-year-old boy found and corrected faulty electric wiring in a back-porch light.

Atanasoff's grade school years were very normal Atanasoff's grade school years were very normal. He was a good student and had a youthful interest in sports, specially baseball. This interest in baseball faded when his father purchased a new Dietzgen slide rule to help him at his job; John Atanasoff became totally fascinated with it. He carefully read the instructions, and was amazed that he could get correct answers. His father soon discovered that he didn't have an immediate need for the slide rule, and it was soon forgotten by everyone except young John.He soon became interested in the mathematical principles behind the operation of the slide rule and the study of logarithms; this led to studies in trigonometric functions. With the help of his mother, he read A College Algebra, by J.M. Taylor. This book included a beginning study on differential calculus and also had a chapter on infinite series and how to calculate logarithms. Within a few months, the precocious 9-year-old had progressed beyond the point of needing help. During this time, John Atanasoff learned about number bases other than ten from his mother; this led him to study a wide range of bases, including base-two.

John Atanasoff completed the Mulberry High School course in two years, excelling in science and mathematics. He had, by then, decided he wanted to be a theoretic physicist. In 1921, he entered the University of Florida in Gainesville. Since the university did not offer a degree in theoretic physics, he started taking electrical engineering courses. While taking these courses, he became interested in electronics and continued onto higher mathematics. John Atanasov received his bachelor's degree at the University of the Gainesville (1925), master - the State University of Iowa (1926) and Ph.D. (physico-mathematical sciences) - University of Wisconsin (1930).

In the autumn of 1930 he joined the faculty at the University as an assistant in mathematics and physics. With his academic background Atanasov feel confident to find a more efficient way to compute complex mathematical problems of his thesis. During the experiments with vacuum tubes and experiments in the field of electronics, he was promoted to associate professor in mathematics and physics. After testing many mathematical devices available at the time, Atanasoff found that they have two classes - analog and digital. Since the term "digital" then oshe is not used, notes Atanasov analog devices such as better machines for calculating.

In 1936 he began his latest attempt to construct a small analog calculator used for the analysis of the geometry of surfaces. Atanasov see that this machine has the same problems as all other analog devices, where accuracy is dependent on the work of other parts of the machine. Obsession to solve the problem so crazy in the winter of 1937. One night, frustrated by the many discouraging thoughts, getting on his car and drives without a specific direction. After two hundred kilometers stops at a roadside restaurant in Illinois. There drink bourbon and continued thinking on the creation of the machine. After some time without nerves and tension discovers that his thoughts are arranged. He starts to 'birth' ideas on how to make a computer. After his $ 650 grant from the State University of Iowa in March 1939, Atanasoff embarks on this exciting adventure. As he helped recruit good student Clifford Berry.

During the period 1939 - 1941, they work on creating and improving the ABC (Atanasoff - Berry Computer), as later called their computer. When WWII began on December 7, 1941 work on the computer is broken. Although Iowa's U.S. College opening patenting their computer is never patented .

In 1949 he became supervisor of infantry units at Fort Monroe, Virginia. After one year he returned to Washington as director of marine programs at the Naval Defence Artillery laboratory. There is 1951 to 1952 he established The Ordnance Engineering Corporation, together with his old friend and classmate David Biichar. The company was sold to Aerojet General Corporation in 1957 and John became manager of the Atlantic Corps from 1957 to 1959 and vice president from 1959 to 1961 in 1961 to retire.

In 1974 he returned to Iowa State University (the name was changed to "University" in 1959) to be guest of honor and head of the largest student event in the nation: Veisha. The acronym comes from the first letters of the disciplines at the university: Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Industrial Science, Home Economics and Agriculture . The festival is usually attended by more than 250 000 people. He was invited with his wife Alice and their two children Joan and John and their families.

Vice President and Director of information and public manifestations of ISU (Iowa State University) Charles Hamilton begins the history of film design of computer Atanasoff - Berry. The film was completed in 1981 On October 21, 1983 (due to the historic court decision Larson, that Iowa is the site of construction of the first electronic digital computer, ENIAC, and that is "derived" from ABC) film was screened during the ceremony, organized at ISU.

Of John Atanasov diploma is awarded for special merit by the association of alumni of the university. Wife of the late Cliff Berry - Berry Jane, and his mother - Grace Berry, were awarded as relatives of co-author of ABC.

John Atanasov and Blagovest Sendov famous Bulgarian Mathematicians

John Atanasov in Bulgaria Boyadzhik 1970

After a long illness Atanasoff died 15 June 1995 at his home in Maryland.

Monument to John Atanasov Telephone Office, Sofia, Bulgaria, sculptor Valko Tsenov

12a SOU”Zheleznik” Stara Zagora Bulgaria 30.03.2010