Austrian computer visionary Zemanek dies aged 94

Austrian computing pioneer Heinz Zemanek, who designed Europe's first computer, has died in Vienna aged 94, his university said on Thursday.

Zemanek created the "Mailuefterl" processor in 1955, the first machine to be connected entirely by transistors, which subsequently calculated a prime number higher than five billion in little over an hour.

The computer weighed more than half a tonne (1100 pounds) and was twice as wide as a king-sized bed. It has been on display at the Technical Museum of Vienna since 1973.

Born in Vienna on New Year's Day 1920, Zemanek worked for American tech firm IBM and founded the Austrian Computing Society after designing the Mailuefterl.

He was honoured in 2013 by search engine giant Google as one of the fathers of modern computing.

© 2014 AFP