What is the ENIAC replica built by students?

Eighty autistic students at PS Academy Arizona recreated the ENIAC, the world's first general-purpose electronic computer, as a non-functional replica to showcase its historical scale and significance.

How long did it take students to build the ENIAC replica?

The ENIAC replica project took five and a half months to complete, from August 2025 to January 2026, involving the creation of 22,000 custom parts.

What was the historical significance of the original ENIAC?

The original ENIAC, debuting in 1946, was credited as the world's first general-purpose electronic computer, capable of being reprogrammed to solve a multitude of problems.

Home / Education / Autistic Students Recreate 30-Ton ENIAC Computer

Autistic Students Recreate 30-Ton ENIAC Computer

28 Jan

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Summary

Eighty autistic students built a replica of the 30-ton ENIAC computer.
The project involved 22,000 custom parts and took five and a half months.
The replica offers an immersive experience of the original computer's scale.

Autistic Students Recreate 30-Ton ENIAC Computer

Eighty autistic students, primarily between 12 and 16 years old, at PS Academy Arizona in Gilbert have successfully recreated the ENIAC, a computer that originally occupied an entire room and weighed over 30 tons. This ambitious project, spanning five and a half months from August 2025 to earlier this month (January 2026), utilized 22,000 custom-made parts and 1,600 hot glue sticks.

Though their creation does not function as a computer, the ENIAC replica provides an immersive experience, featuring hundreds of LEDs and a soundtrack replicating the original machine's hum. The students achieved historical accuracy through extensive research, consulting with an ENIAC historian and descendants of its co-creator.

The project significantly boosted the students' confidence and understanding of computing history. They were reportedly astonished to learn that the original ENIAC was less powerful than their mobile phones. This experience fostered a greater appreciation for modern technology and inspired them with a sense of accomplishment.