The UNIVAC 1050 was a variable wordlength (1 to 16 characters) decimal and binary computer.

Instructions were fixed length (30 bits – 5 characters), consisting of a 5 bit "op code", a 3 bit index register specifier, one reserved bit, a 15 bit address, and a 6 bit "detail field" whose function varies with each instruction. An instruction set, or instruction set architecture (ISA), describes the aspects of a computer architecture visible to a programmer, including the native datatypes, instructions, registers, addressing modes, memory architecture, interrupt and exception handling, and external I/O (if any). ... Microprocessors perform operations using binary bits (on/off/1or0). ... An index register in a computer CPU is a processor register used for modifying operand addresses during the run of a program, typically for doing vector/array operations. ...

Like the IBM 1401, the 1050 was commonly used as an off-line peripheral controller in many installations of both large "Scientific Computer"s and large "Business Computer"s. In these installations the big computer (e.g., a UNIVAC III) did all of its input-output on magnetic tapes and the 1050 was used to format input data from other peripherals (e.g., punch card readers) on the tapes and transfer output data from the tapes to other peripherals (e.g., punch card punches or the lineprinter). The IBM 1401 was a variable wordlength decimal computer that was announced by IBM on October 5, 1959 and marketed as an inexpensive Business Computer. It was withdrawn on February 8, 1971. ... The UNIVAC III, designed as improvement to the UNIVAC I and UNIVAC II, was introduced in 1962. ... Magnetic tape is a non-volatile storage medium consisting of a magnetic coating on a thin plastic strip. ... The punch card (or Hollerith card) is a recording medium for holding information for use by automated data processing machines. ... Fragment of lineprinter cylinder with the type of % The Line printer is a form of high speed impact printer in which a line of type is printed at a time. ...

A version used by the U.S. Air Force, the U1050-II real-time system, had some extra peripherals. The most significant of these was the FASTRAND 1 Drum Storage Unit. This physically large device had 2 contra-rotating drums mounted horizontally, one above the other in a pressurised cabinet. Read-write heads were mounted on a horizontally moving beam between the drums, driven by a voice coil servo external to the pressurised cabinet. This high speed (for the time) access subsystem allowed the real-time operation. Another feature was the communications subsystem with modem links to remote sites. A Uniservo VI-C provided an audit trail for the transactions. Other Peripherals were the card reader and punch, and printer. The operator's console had the 'stop and go' buttons(!) and a ASR33 teleprinter for communication and control. FASTRAND was a magnetic drum mass storage system built by Sperry Rand Corporation for their UNIVAC 1100 series computers. ...

External link

• UNIVAC 1050 documents at bitsavers.org