Maurice Wilkes

The EDSAC was a testament to what a small, dedicated team could achieve.

The importance of clear communication in any scientific or engineering project.

The computer has transformed almost every aspect of modern life.

We were pioneers in a new field, and that was a very exciting feeling.

I think it is fair to say that the EDSAC was the first computer to be put into service that could be called a general-purpose stored-program computer.

The early days of computing were a bit like the Wild West – a lot of unexplored territory and a fair amount of shooting from the hip.

Debugging is like being the detective in a crime movie where you are also the murderer.

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

The purpose of a computer is to make complex things simple, not simple things complex.

I was once asked if I thought computers would ever be able to think. I replied, 'They already do, but they're not very good at it yet.'

The most important thing in science is not to get ahead, but to get it right.

We built the EDSAC because we needed a computer. We didn't build it because we thought it would be a good idea to build a computer.

The trouble with computers is that they do exactly what you tell them to do, not what you want them to do.

If you want to be a pioneer, you have to be prepared to make mistakes. And we made plenty.

The future of computing is not about bigger and faster machines, but about making them more useful.

I've always believed that the best way to learn is by doing. And by making mistakes.

The early days of computing were a lot of fun. We were making it up as we went along.

The great thing about being a computer scientist is that you get to play with expensive toys.

The computer is a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or ill.

I'm not sure what the future holds for computing, but I'm sure it will be interesting.