Chapter 147: No Vacuum Tubes, Straight to Transistors?

"Theoretically, yes," Li Mingyuan replied, "although the capabilities of this first-generation machine are limited, it can indeed perform basic physical simulations and data analysis."

The entire Academy of Sciences delegation could no longer sit still; they stood up one after another, surrounding the screen, vying to examine every detail of the Computer, their discussions rising and falling.

Even the old academician who had been skeptical at first was now trembling with excitement; his assistant had to support him to prevent him from falling due to excessive agitation.

"Wait, there are more functions here," Li Mingyuan turned to the next page, showcasing the application scenarios of the Computer.

"Besides scientific computing, this machine can also be used for computer-aided engineering design, data processing, resource allocation optimization, and many other scenarios."

A Chief Engineer among the Ministry of Industry representatives stood up abruptly: "Computer-aided design? Do you mean this machine can help us design products?"

"That is correct," Li Mingyuan explained, "It can calculate the optimal design scheme based on input parameters and constraints. For example, given material strength, weight limits, and usage conditions, it can calculate the best structure for a bridge; given Engine parameters and aerodynamic conditions, it can optimize the shape of an aircraft wing."

The Chief Engineer's face flushed, and he turned to the other Ministry of Industry representatives: "This... this will completely change our design process! What used to take months or even years of repeated testing might now only take a few days to complete a preliminary design!"

The entire conference room had fallen into a state of near-frenzy; representatives from all sides stood up, discussing animatedly, some waving their arms in excitement, others quietly shedding tears, clearly deeply shocked by the prospects of the technology.

Just then, Li Mingyuan coughed lightly, the room immediately fell into Silence, and everyone's gaze focused on him once again.

"Actually, the Vacuum Tube Computer is only the first step," he said calmly, taking out a new blueprint and placing it on the projector, "This is the next-generation Computer design based on Transistor Technology."

What appeared on the screen was a machine with a much smaller volume, but its internal structure was more complex and precise.

"A transistor computer has three major advantages over a vacuum tube computer: smaller size, higher reliability, and lower power consumption." Li Mingyuan pointed to the comparative data on the blueprint.

"With the same computing power, the volume of a transistor computer is only one-tenth that of a vacuum tube computer, the power consumption is only one-twentieth, and the mean time between failures is fifty times that of a vacuum tube computer."

Once this data was presented, the entire conference room fell into a deathly Silence.

A few seconds later, a burst of exclamations and gasps erupted.

"This... this is impossible!" the computer expert from the Academy of Sciences said with a hoarse voice, "We haven't even fully mastered vacuum tube computers yet, how could we possibly leap to the transistor stage?"

Li Mingyuan pointed to the Transistor sample displayed earlier: "It is precisely this little thing that allows computer technology to make a revolutionary leap. One transistor can replace the function of one vacuum tube, but its volume is only one-thousandth, its energy consumption is only one-hundredth, yet its lifespan is dozens of times longer."

The old academician from the Academy of Sciences was completely stunned; he stared at the small Transistor sample, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets: "This... this..."

He could not utter a complete sentence and could only point at the screen with trembling fingers, like a country elder seeing an automobile for the first time.

Li Mingyuan continued to explain: "The computing speed of a transistor computer can reach 50,000 basic operations per second, which is ten times that of a vacuum tube computer. More importantly, its reliability is greatly improved, and it is no longer prone to downtime due to vacuum tube burnout."

He turned to the next page, showcasing the application prospects of the transistor computer: "With this machine, we can handle more complex scientific problems, perform more precise engineering design, and even develop automatic control systems, laying the foundation for industrial automation."

Among the Academy of Sciences representatives, several young physicists had already stood up, their bodies visibly trembling, and a fanatical light flashing in their eyes.

One of them even began to pace unconsciously, muttering to himself, as if performing some kind of frantic calculation.

The conference room was deathly quiet; everyone was deeply shocked by the technical blueprint Li Mingyuan had displayed, and the previous disputes and doubts had vanished into thin air.

In everyone's heart surged the same thought: these technologies would completely change the face and destiny of the country.

The Military leader, the old academician from the Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Industry representative stood up simultaneously; they looked at each other, seemingly communicating in silence.

Finally, the Military leader spoke on behalf of the three parties:

"Chief Engineer Li, we apologize to you for our previous arbitrariness. Now we fully understand your persistence. These systems should indeed be planned and developed as a unified whole. Please tell us, what kind of support do you need to turn these blueprints into reality as quickly as possible?"

Li Mingyuan looked around at everyone in the conference room; every face was filled with shock and anticipation.

"Leaders, experts," his tone was sincere and firm, "To turn these technologies from blueprints into reality, we need three core conditions: a first-class talent team, sufficient resource guarantees, and a relatively independent research and development environment."

The Military leader nodded immediately: "In terms of talent, we can transfer the most outstanding engineers from within the military-industrial system to assist."

The old academician from the Academy of Sciences also stated: "The Academy of Sciences can send experts in fields such as theoretical physics, mathematics, and materials science to work closely with the engineers."

The Ministry of Industry representative added: "In terms of resource guarantees, we can prioritize the allocation of the required raw materials and equipment to ensure there will be no supply shortages."

Minister Zhao had been listening silently and finally found an opportunity to interject: "Everyone, I have a proposal."

Everyone's gaze turned to him.

"These systems of Chief Engineer Li have extremely high strategic value and are not suitable for development in an ordinary factory environment. I suggest establishing a specialized research and development base, led by the Rolling Mill, to integrate resources from all sides and concentrate efforts on tackling key problems."

This proposal was immediately echoed by the Military leader: "Minister Zhao is quite right. Such major projects require a dedicated base, which can both ensure security and provide a good research and development environment."

The old academician from the Academy of Sciences also expressed agreement: "Concentrating superior forces and avoiding fragmentation is indeed an effective way to conduct scientific research."

The Ministry of Industry representative, however, raised a practical question: "But building such a base takes time; will it delay the research progress?"

Li Mingyuan thought for a moment: "Actually, there is an idle area behind the Rolling Mill that was originally planned for a new workshop, and the foundation has already been laid. If it can be renovated quickly, preliminary research and development conditions can be formed within a month or two."