Abstract
The processing of analog-type data obtained from phenomena exhibiting complex wave patterns, was performed manually in the past. The processing of large quantities of data required an expenditure of considerable time and labor. There also existed an insurmountable limitation in the speed of processing. This condition offers many disadvantages especially when a prediction of the future state of the system, based on the information contained in the data, is required. Thus, automatic processing, based on electronic data processing methods, has been developed in order to increase the processing speed and to reduce the number of man-hours within the limited time available.
The automatic data processing machine, MERIAC-1-F, is an electronic computer for Fourier analysis designed to cope with diverse situations which can arise in the routine observations of ocean waves. Its operating principles and design are described in this article. MERIAC-1-F can be used as an information machine, and it can also perform integrated data processing.
