Harvard Mark I

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Harvard Mark I
Character Information
Common Names	Harvard Mark I
Other Names	IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator, "ASCC"
Human Name(s)	Bessy
Faction	Deceased
Lineage	Harvard
Rival(s)	N/A
Appearance
Height	5'5
Hair Color	Brown
Eye Color	Light green
Design
First Appearance	Apr 2010/Sep 2025 (rework)
Technical Information
System Personified	Harvard Mark I/IBM ASCC
Developer(s)	IBM, Harvard University
Debut	February 1944
Latest release	Unknown

Technical details

The Harvard Mark I was an early general purpose, electro-mechanical computer designed by Howard Aiken and manufactured by IBM for Harvard University. It was used by the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships during the final part of WWII.

Character details

Physical

Harvard Mark I-tan is depicted as a doll-like automaton. She is of average height, with red-brown hair tied into two buns at the sides of her face, pale skin, and light green eyes. She has exposed metal frame on her lower legs and arms, while her chest is encased in glass revealing clockwork mechanisms inside.S She is powered by a wind-up key lodged into her upper back.

Her typical expression is calm and a touch smug.

She dresses in 1940s clothing refashioned in the shape of Victorian-era garb, with her preferred colorways tending toward light green, cream and bronze. She wears a pearl necklace with one sapphire bead, paper tape headbands and florettes, and wide paper tape ribbon on her bustle.

Owing her New Yorker, Bostonian and "Victorian English" heritage, she has a pronounced transatlantic accent. Combined with her extremely slow cadence of speech, she can be a bit hard to follow, but has excellent penmanship and written communication.

Personality

Her demeanor is antiquated in an elevated, almost regal way. She's rather demanding of her servants and confident about her way of doing things. Her indecisiveness combined with her other quirks makes her come off as spacey, but she is, in reality, detail-oriented to the point of obsession.

She moves through life at her own pace, unbothered by what others are doing. She is extremely secure in herself and has no sense of inferiority, even if she's not as fast or powerful as some of her contemporaries.

Unlike her contemporary ENIAC-tan, she is not contemplative or ruminative about the nature of computers, her place in the world or legacy, only happy to be here doing what she does best.

Relationships and family

Harvard Mark I-tan is the oldest of four sisters. Her relationship with Harvard Mark II & Harvard Mark III is pleasant, but hindered by the geographical distance between them. She maintains a close, but more fraught relationship with her youngest sister, Harvard Mark IV. She is estranged with her cousin SSEC-tan

She maintains a close friendship with Whirlwind-tan despite their differences, and is charmed by the smaller and simpler mechanical computer GENIAC-chan.