Colossus

Period: 1943–1944

Summary

Colossus, developed during World War II, was the world’s first programmable digital electronic computer. Designed by engineer Tommy Flowers and his team at Bletchley Park, Colossus was instrumental in breaking the Lorenz cipher used by the German military. Its ability to process data at unprecedented speeds marked a significant technological leap, laying the foundation for modern computing. Colossus demonstrated the power of automated systems in solving complex problems, shaping the future of cryptography and computation.