Konrad Zuse and Switzerland

In 1941, the German engineer and inventor Konrad Zuse quietly fulfilled his dream of a fully automatic calculating machine and with the Z3, ushered in the era of the computer. The Z3 is considered the first fully automatic, program-controlled, and freely programmable calculating machine operating with binary floating-point arithmetic. After various successor models, all of which were custom-made, Konrad Zuse began what is likely the first series production of computers in Europe with the M9 in 1953, selling them exclusively to Switzerland.

Until now, not much was known about these connections between Konrad Zuse and Switzerland. In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Horst Zuse provides new and previously unpublished insights into the topic for the first time, presenting unique images. The lecture is framed by two demonstrations of a Z3 replica by Dr. Christof Traber. This replica is one of the very few fully electromechanical and demonstrable replicas in the world.

Program

4:00 PM – Welcome and introduction to the lecture by Felix Kunz, President of the Enter Foundation (Auditorium, Ground Floor)

4:15 PM – Lecture "Konrad Zuse and Switzerland" by Prof. Dr. Horst Zuse (Auditorium, Ground Floor)

5:15 PM – Z3 demonstration for the lecture attendees by Dr. Christof Traber (2nd Floor)

5:45 PM – Apéro offered by IEEE Switzerland (Bistro, Ground Floor)

Costs

CHF 40.- per person including day pass

Friends of Enter: CHF 30.- per person including day pass