U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for June 15

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15: 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVAC I

Profile America -- Wednesday, June 15th.  Sixty years ago today, a device was demonstrated in Philadelphia that sparked a revolution in the way most Americans now live and work.  The device was the first commercial electronic computer -- UNIVAC I.  Built for the U.S. Census Bureau to tabulate the 1950 Census, UNIVAC I ended the use of punch cards after many decades and heralded the information age.  The public first became aware of the computer when it was used on television election night in 1952 to predict that Dwight Eisenhower would win the presidential contest.  Now U.S. schools have an average of one computer for every four students and nearly 85 percent of schools have access to high speed Internet.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 320

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 259

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau