King George's Computers

by David Shaw

This story is based on a single piece of pure speculation. Suppose the transistor had been invented in the United Kingdom in 1937, instead of in the United States in 1947? There is no reason why it could not have been. Semi-conductors had been used in "cat's whisker" radios since the 1920's. And once transistors were available computers would soon follow -- computers born in a desperate war.

Nook

First published December 13, 2009