The Bit Limit That Nearly Broke Early Computers

In the early days of computing, a simple limit of just 15 address bits created a massive problem: computers could not easily access more than 32,768 words of memory. This video explores how early programmers struggled with this limitation using manual overlays, and how Tom Kilburn and his team at the University of Manchester eventually developed the revolutionary idea of virtual memory. From the IBM 704 to the Atlas computer, this is the story of the bit limit that nearly broke early computers — and the invention that made the problem disappear. #ComputingHistory #VirtualMemory #IBM704 #TomKilburn #ComputerHistory