TX-2
 Circuit module from the TX-2 | |
| Developer | MIT Lincoln Laboratory |
|---|---|
| Product family | TX |
| Release date | 1958 |
| Predecessor | TX-0 |
The MIT Lincoln Laboratory TX-2 computer was the successor to the Lincoln TX-0 and was known for its role in advancing both artificial intelligence and human–computer interaction. Wesley A. Clark was the chief architect of the TX-2.[1]
Specifications
[edit]The TX-2 was a transistor-based computer using the then-huge amount of 64K 36-bit words of magnetic-core memory. The TX-2 became operational in 1958.[2][3] Because of its powerful capabilities, Ivan Sutherland's revolutionary Sketchpad program was developed for and ran on the TX-2.[4][5] One of its key features was the ability to directly interact with the computer through a graphical display.[6]
The TX-2 had 32 modes of predication, innovative bitmanipulation instructions [7] and is likely one of the very first processors with SIMD within a register, used in Sutherland's Sketchpad:
...the Lincoln Lab’s TX-2 computer offered instructions that operated on the ALU as either one 36-bit operation, two 18-bit operations, or four 9-bit operations... Sketchpad did in fact take advantage of these SIMD instructions, despite TX-2 appearing before invention of the term SIMD.[8]
The compiler (today we would say assembler) was developed by Lawrence Roberts while he was studying at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.[9]
In 1964 the TX-2 was extended with the APEX time-sharing system. This included a hardware memory-management unit named SPAN which employed thin-film memory.[10]
Relationship with DEC
[edit]Digital Equipment Corporation was a spin-off of the TX-0 and TX-2 projects. The TX-2 Tape System was a block addressable 1/2" tape developed for the TX-2 by Tom Stockebrand which evolved into LINCtape and DECtape.
Role in creating the Internet
[edit]Dr. Leonard Kleinrock developed the mathematical theory of packet networks which he successfully simulated on the TX-2 computer at Lincoln Lab.
Decommissioning
[edit]TX-2 was taken out of operation and dismantled in 1977.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Joseph November (2012). "The LINC Revolution". Biomedial Computing, Digitizing Life in the United States. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 144.
- ^ Computers and People. Berkeley Enterprises. 1961. p. 312.
- ^ Boast, Robin (2017-03-15). The Machine in the Ghost: Digitality and Its Consequences. Reaktion Books. pp. 131–132. ISBN 9781780237879.
- ^ Reilly, Edwin D. (2003) Milestones in Computer Science and Information Technology Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 9781573565219 pg 261
- ^ Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004) Architecture's New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-aided Design MIT Press ISBN 9780262112840 pg 66
- ^ Naughton, John (1999): A brief history of the future: the origins of the internet, London, p. 71
- ^ "TX-2 users handbook - Chapter 3: Operation code" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-16.
- ^ "SIMD Computers: Attractive Idea, Many Attempts, No Lasting Successes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-22.
- ^ Lawrence, Roberts G. (June 1963). "Machine perception of three dimensional solids". PhD Thesis: 82.
- ^ Forgie, James W. "A time- and memory-sharing executive program for quick-response on-line applications". Proceedings of the November 30—December 1, 1965, Fall Joint Computer Conference, part I. 1965 Fall Joint Computer Conference. Las Vegas Nevada: Association for Computing Machinery. pp. 599–609. doi:10.1145/1463891.1463956. ISBN 978-1-4503-7885-7. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ Bell, C. Gordon; Mudge, J. Craig; McNamara, John E. Computer Engineering: A DEC view of hardware systems design (PDF). Digital Press. p. 128. ISBN 0-932376-00-2. OCLC 1007723296. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
TX-2 operated until 1977, when it was dismantled.
External links
[edit]- TX-2 documentation at bitsavers.org
- Interview with UCLA's Dr. Leonard Kleinrock
- Extensive documentation on the TX-2
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