The US NSA archives contain a unique recording of a lecture by computer pioneer Grace Hopper, but the agency cannot reproduce it due to an outdated format. Researchers and enthusiasts are trying to find a way to preserve this important historical artifact.
Lost Lecture Hopper
Legacy of a Computer Genius
In the Vaults The United States National Security Agency has a tape recording of a speech by Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. This recording represents a valuable piece of programming history, but there was a serious problem: the NSA did not have the equipment to reproduce it.
Contribution to the development of computer science
Grace Hopper, a high-ranking officer in the US Navy, made an invaluable contribution to the development of computer science and stood at the origins of the computer era. She helped create FLOW-MATIC, the first programming language to use basic English words instead of numbers. Hopper later helped develop COBOL, a commercially oriented language that is still used in some computer systems today. In 1982, she gave a lecture at NSA headquarters, which the agency recorded and preserved.
Lost Entry Details
According to researcher Michael Ravnitzky of the non-profit organization, the contents of the 1982 lecture are divided into two parts - TVC 930A and TVC 930B, lasting 48 minutes 15 seconds and 40 minutes 39 seconds, respectively. These records contain not only historical data, but also likely valuable information about the development of technology and its impact on society.
Struggle for access to information
On October 12, 2021, Ravnitzky filed a request for access to these tapes. Three years later, the NSA announced the absence of relevant documents. However, the researcher, aware of the existence of the data, disputed this claim. In response, the agency acknowledged the existence of the recordings, but reported that it was impossible to reproduce them due to the lack of necessary equipment.
Technical difficulties and the search for a solution
At Ravnicki's request, the NSA provided photographs of the recordings. It turned out that the tapes were recorded on a 1-inch AMPEX VCR. There were three different standardized types of AMPEX machines. A preliminary search on eBay revealed a variety of devices potentially suitable for playing recordings.
Hope for Historic Preservation
Since MuckRock's article was published, several groups of enthusiasts have offered to help find suitable equipment. Michael Morisi, founder and CEO of MuckRock, reported various proposals for hardware that could help solve the problem. The process of searching for equipment continues, but time plays against the safety of magnetic tapes, which gives particular urgency to this task.
Glossary
- NSA - US National Security Agency, intelligence organization.
- Grace Hopper is an American computer scientist and rear admiral in the United States Navy, a pioneer in the field of computer technology.
- COBOL is one of the oldest programming languages designed for business applications.
- AMPEX is an American company that produces electronic equipment for recording and playback.
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Answers to questions
What kind of unique record is stored in the NSA archives?
Who is Grace Hopper and what contributions has she made to programming?
Why can't the NSA release the recording of Grace Hopper's lecture?
What steps did you take to gain access to the recording?
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Discussion of the topic – The Lost Lecture by Grace Hopper: How the NSA Lost a Piece of Coding History
The article talks about the problem of reproducing Grace Hopper's historical lecture, stored in the archives of the US NSA on outdated media. The significance of Hopper in the history of computer science and the difficulties of preserving digital heritage are highlighted.
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