A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

Although MIT Professor Bush's "Differential Analyzer" was the pinnacle of analog computers, it was still insufficient in terms of computing speed and accuracy to meet the needs of massive computations.

Song Hongfei was faced with a major problem: his ballistic research and firearm design required a lot of precise calculations, but the simulation computer still had to rely on tedious manual operations for the massive amount of calculations.

In the era before memory, although it was possible to execute complex sequences of operations, including loops, branches, and subroutines, through "programming," "programming" was quite complex because there was no concept or function of "stored programs."

All the data and algorithms must be prepared in advance and punched with a hole puncher on the paper tape that serves as the storage medium.

The main drawback is that the "program" and the calculation are separated. The program instructions are stored in the external circuit of the machine. Each time a different program is run, it is necessary to manually turn on various switches and reconnect hundreds of connection lines to "program" and run it. Programming and debugging often takes several people several days to complete a few minutes of calculation.

Programming and operating jobs are the most demanding in terms of seriousness and meticulousness, requiring the ability to endure tedious and complex tasks. MIT labs specifically recruit young women with university educations, especially those who have studied astronomical computations, to perform these complex and tedious jobs.

To some extent, it could even be said that these young women, with their unique patience and meticulousness, have made a tremendous, silent contribution to the development of modern computer technology.

Song Hongfei couldn't help but silently praise, "They ushered in the era of computer programmers; they were the world's first generation of coders!"

During this period at MIT, Song Hongfei and Professor Bush made significant improvements to the "differential analyzer," gradually incorporating relays to evolve it into an electromechanical computer.

At that time, computer technology began to evolve from mechanical analog to electromechanical.

This experience gave him a deeper understanding of early computers and their development, and also made him realize the many shortcomings of analog computers.

Song Hongfei's improvements to the differential analyzer at MIT have led to a qualitative leap in the machine's computing performance and efficiency. His outstanding achievements are evident to all and have earned him widespread praise.

During the improvement and optimization process, Song Hongfei published a research paper entitled "Exploration of Computer and Mathematical Theory and Its Applications" and obtained a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT.

Song Hongfei, who had traveled through time, knew that in the information age of later generations, the information technology that profoundly changed human society could be said to have originated from modern electronic computers.

At that time, the country already possessed the technological capability to develop electronic computers, and the development of electronic computers and electromechanical computers began almost simultaneously.

In fact, since the beginning of the 20th century, scientists have been debating what kind of structure machines should use for numerical calculations.

Song Hongfei said in a group discussion: "Analog computers will eventually be replaced by electronic computers. This is an inevitable trend in the development of modern science and technology."

Song Hongfei suggested to Professor Bush: "We should shift our focus from improving analog computers to developing electronic computers as soon as possible to seize the initiative and gain the upper hand."

Professor Bush carefully considered Song Hongfei's proposal and strongly agreed with Song Hongfei's point of view.

Professor Bush understood that relays and electromechanical systems have performance limits. Relays switch 50-100 times per second, which limits the speed of electromechanical computers. Vacuum tubes, on the other hand, can switch thousands of times per second, much faster than relays.

After improvements, MIT's differential analyzer can perform 3-4 additions per second and 1 multiplication every 3-5 seconds, but its performance is expected to have reached its limit. Professor Bush strongly believes that the future lies in electronic computers.

Professor Bush strongly supported Song Hongfei's research on electronic computers, making it his doctoral research topic, and expressed his willingness to provide all possible assistance.

Unbeknownst to Professor Bush, his discussion with Song Hongfei stirred a turbulent emotion within Song Hongfei, plunging him into deep thought.

Song Hongfei knew that human history had experienced three industrial revolutions, which had driven tremendous progress in science, technology and civilization.

The Industrial Revolution was not only a technological reform, but also a profound social transformation. After two Industrial Revolutions, human society entered the mechanical and electrical age, representing a revolutionary development in productivity in human history.

Through two industrial revolutions, the Western bourgeoisie achieved tremendous economic and social development, leaving the ancient East far behind on the path of rapid progress in human science and technology, and ultimately establishing the Western countries' dominant position in the world.

What is regrettable and heartbreaking for all Chinese people is that China missed both of these crucial industrial revolutions. While Western powers were able to develop rapidly, China was plunged into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal state, resulting in a century of poverty and weakness, and being at the mercy of others.

Having traveled through time, Song Hongfei gained a profound understanding of the discrimination and bullying that the impoverished and backward China suffered at the hands of arrogant and domineering Western powers.

At times like these, he would feel heartbroken and regretful.

Song Hongfei still remembers the night when Wang Zhi graduated, the three of them raised their glasses to the sky and made a solemn vow, which still resonates in his ears: to serve the country with utmost loyalty and never waver!

Now that he has come to this era, the ancient Chinese nation has suffered so many years of humiliation, and he wants to avenge that humiliation in his generation!

Song Hongfei knew that in just over 10 years, marked by the invention and application of electronic computers, information technology, atomic energy, space technology, and bioengineering, the Third Technological Revolution would be another major leap forward in the history of human civilization. It would not only drive unprecedented changes in human civilization, but also exacerbate the imbalance in the development and international status of various countries.

The weak get weaker, and the strong get stronger!

This is almost the only chance for China to turn around and catch up with the world's technological development and even overtake others!

Science and technology are the primary productive forces and the rules of the future world.

In any case, China cannot afford to miss this technological revolution again!

And among these, electronic computers are of paramount importance!

As a doctor of electronic information in later generations, Song Hongfei understands that the most basic and fundamental core principle of electronic computers lies in Boolean logic and binary code. Without this inherent basic principle, the development of electronic computers would be nothing more than a castle in the air.

Song Hongfei certainly understood that, historically, the great breakthrough in digital computing theory in the evolution from analog to digital electronic computers began with Claude Shannon, the founder of information theory who published "Shannon's Laws".

In his 1938 master's thesis, "Symbolic Analysis of Relay and Switching Circuits," Shannon first proposed using Boolean algebra to analyze and describe switching circuits. He represented the "true value" and "false value" in logical operations with binary digits "1" and "0," and performed the operations through relay circuits, thus corresponding "1" and "0" with "on" and "off" in the circuit.

This thesis, hailed as "the most important and famous master's thesis of the twentieth century," elucidated how Boolean logic could be applied in electronics, thus laying the theoretical foundation for digital circuits and paving the way for the development of modern digital electronic computers.

In the midst of his racing thoughts, Song Hongfei had already made a decision—in the name of the nation!