[New book] Newmag Winter Fest will feature "People and Machines: The history of the creation of the first Armenian computers" book presentation (trailer in Armenian)

With more than 20 years of experience, DataArt has branches in more than 20 countries. Years ago, DataArt came up with a project presenting the exhibition "Armenian Mathematical Machines" at the IT Museum. The documentary about the origin of Armenian cybernetics includes more than 400 exhibits.

The "Mathematical Machines of Armenia" project, the continuation of which is also the book "People and Machines", presents this remarkable story, completing it with archival documents and exclusive photos. The stories about the activities and projects of the institute are presented with information about the remarkable figures, events, cultural achievements, architectural monuments that took place in Armenia during that period. The goal is one - to reveal to the world the scientific, cultural atmosphere in which Armenia lived.

The book was written by 3 DataArt employees: Alexei Pomigalov, Alexander Andre and Ilya Korobov. According to Alexei Pomigalov, after they gathered the information, they were convinced that the history of the development of cybernetics in Armenia is very interesting, dramatic, and victorious.“When I say "Armenian cybernetics" abroad, many people say "You were probably confused, you should have said Armenian radio." I say it again and begin to explain that I mean Armenian cybernetics, which was out of competence in the entire Soviet Union.”

The history of Armenian cybernetics was created thanks to dedicated and unique faces such as Sergey Mergelyan, Artashes Shahinyan. Names that were known throughout the entire USSR. They turned Armenia into a new center for the development of the radio-electronic industry. In 1957 they received the first large order to upgrade a small universal M-3 electric calculator. 1967-77 the "Route 1" complex was developed in Armenia, the computer that automates the sale of railway tickets, for which the authors received the State Prize of the USSR. One of the most famous works created by them was the "Nairi" family of computers, the evolution of which ended with the creation of a full-fledged Soviet personal computer.

Then our machines and serial production devices, which were named after the city of Yerevan, Garni village, Mount Aragats, Hrazdan river, Lake Sevan, should have become known to the world. Maxim Hakobyan, a former employee of YSMIHI, says in the book that those names were not encouraged at all.  “When we presented the ''Garni "project, the ministry said: "We do not consider national names. Garni is the name of wine". I also said that this is not a national name, this is an acronym: Графическийавтоматический регистратор начерченной информации (Graphic Automatic Registry Nautical Information)”.

In the 1960s, a large class of technical intelligentsia was formed in Armenia, first of all in Yerevan. Physicists and mathematicians, electrical engineers and programmers were in a relatively privileged position. Modernist structures were built for the new institutions with individual projects. Even with modest salaries, scientists and designers who did research on major scientific topics could claim big prizes.

The presentation of this unique book will take place at the Newmag Winter Fest, in the Great Hall of the Congress Hotel, on February 19, at 12:00. All three authors of the book will take part in the presentation.

Immediately after the presentation, at 13:00, a panel discussion dedicated to the perspectives of the IT sphere in Armenia will start in the Discussion Hall. Representatives of leading IT companies will take part in the discussion.