ENIAC anniversary culminates in gala event

Capping a day of media frenzy, security checks and festive ceremonies, more than 1,000 guests toasted technology's past and future at a gala tribute last Wednesday night. The affair completed the day-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of ENIAC, the first programmable computer. Attendees included Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, University President Judith Rodin, Unisys Chief Executive Officer James Unruh and an array of guests representing international, national and local computing communities. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Gregory Farrington, relaxing after what he called a "magnificent" day, confessed that the turning point came with the flip of a switch. "Most importantly, when Vice President Gore flicked the switch, ENIAC turned on," Farrington admitted in mock relief. While celebrating the birth of modern computing 50 years ago, guests also cast a look ahead to the untold secrets of the technological future. The event served as a tribute to the individuals who made Eniac a reality. Mike Diccicco, president of Letven Diccicco Battista -- a Philadelphia advertising and public relations firm -- said he attended the event to say a simple "thank you" to the innovators of ENIAC. "If you've ever used a typewriter and also used a word processor, you know why we have to say thank you," he said. "The whole world owes a 'thank you' to these people." Army technical liaison to the ENIAC project Herman Goldstine said ENIAC and modern computers are "from different worlds." "This is an exciting, wonderful occasion," Goldstine said. Akrevoe Emmarouilides, who served as Goldstine's secretary, traveled from Los Angeles to attend the gala. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world," Emmarouilides said. In a festive banquet hall equipped with two video screens and strobe lights, Rodin welcomed guests by linking the innovation of 50 years ago to the breakthroughs of the modern information age. "The creators of ENIAC started an information revolution that has truly changed our world," Rodin said. "Today another revolution is in the making -- one that will transform the world of the 21st century even more than ENIAC changed our 20th century world." Rendell proudly compared the original ENIAC machine -- which weighed 30 tons and spanned approximately 100 feet -- with modern laptop computers, which he said resemble "overgrown calculators." "ENIAC looks like a computer [and] has substance," Rendell said. "You can feel secure with ENIAC. If you had ENIAC in your home, no one would dare come in and burglarize your home. "What's a little laptop computer going to do?" he added. Following the salad course, called "first bytes" on the menu, U.S. Postal Service Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President Loren Smith unveiled a postage stamp saluting ENIAC's anniversary with a dramatic laser light video display. Production of the stamp will begin in late spring. After enjoying a gourmet "mainframe" course and a "DOSsert" of a 3.5-inch Sacher torte with raspberry sauce, guests listened to several pioneers and leaders in computer technology, who focused on the role computing will play as the Information Age enters the 21st century. Association of Computing Machinery President Stuart Zweben discussed the parallel celebration to ENIAC's birthday -- ACM's technological gains. Unruh and Zweben announced the several science and technology awards, whose recipients are leaders in the computing field. In this technological age, Unruh, who served as the celebration's co-chairperson with Rendell and Rodin, noted during his speech, "50 years is but a blink of an eye." Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos stressed that technology will serve as a link between the University and its alumni. "When students leave the University, we hope that they will be electronically attached to Penn," Vagelos said. "Once you're here at Penn, you're forever connected to Penn." The evening culminated in a digital animation display called "Visual 2000." Light and music accompanied a video showing the advances currently being made in technology and computing.