Though it seems like all advancements in computing have occurred in the last few decades, in reality the technology behind computers dates back to early civilizations, such as our modern conception of numbers. Inventions in Computing: From the Abacus to Apple Computers discusses the history of the abacus, the Jacquard loom, computer animation programs, and the Apple computer in the order they were developed. The book shows how each subsequent invention was predicated on the invention before, how these innovations shaped the creative process, and how computers have come to play an integral role in our daily lives.
A strikingly illustrated overview of the computing machines that have changed our world—from the abacus to the smartphone—and the people who made them, by the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of Women in Science. “A beautifully illustrated journey through the history of computing, from the Antikythera mechanism to the iPhone and beyond—I loved it.”—Eben Upton, Founder and CEO of Raspberry Pi ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Public Library Computers are everywhere and have impacted our lives in so many ways. But who created them, and why? How have they transformed the way that we interact with our surroundings and each other? Packed with accessible information, fun facts, and discussion starters, this charming and art-filled book takes you from the ancient world to the modern day, focusing on important inventions, from the earliest known counting systems to the sophisticated algorithms behind AI. The History of the Computer also profiles a diverse range of key players and creators—from An Wang and Margaret Hamilton to Steve Jobs and Sir Tim Berners-Lee—and illuminates their goals, their intentions, and the impact of their inventions on our everyday lives. This entertaining and educational journey will help you understand our most important machines and how we can use them to enhance the way we live. You’ll never look at your phone the same way again!
This encyclopedic reference provides a concise and engaging overview of the groundbreaking inventions and conceptual innovations that have shaped the field of computing, and the technology that runs the modern world. Each alphabetically-ordered entry presents a brief account of a pivotal innovation and the great minds behind it, selected from a wide range of diverse topics. Topics and features: Describes the development of Babbage’s computing machines, Leibniz’s binary arithmetic, Boole’s symbolic logic, and Von Neumann architecture Reviews a range of historical analog and digital computers, significant mainframes and minicomputers, and pioneering home and personal computers Discusses a selection of programming languages and operating systems, along with key concepts in software engineering and commercial computing Examines the invention of the transistor, the integrated circuit, and the microprocessor Relates the history of such developments in personal computing as the mouse, the GUI, Atari video games, and Microsoft Office Surveys innovations in communications, covering mobile phones, WiFi, the Internet and World Wide Web, e-commerce, smartphones, social media, and GPS Presents coverage of topics on artificial intelligence, the ATM, digital photography and digital music, robotics, and Wikipedia Contains self-test quizzes and a helpful glossary This enjoyable compendium will appeal to the general reader curious about the intellectual milestones that led to the digital age, as well as to the student of computer science seeking a primer on the history of their field. Dr. Gerard O'Regan is a CMMI software process improvement consultant with research interests including software quality and software process improvement, mathematical approaches to software quality, and the history of computing. He is the author of such Springer titles as World of Computing, Concise Guide to Formal Methods, Concise Guide to Software Engineering, and Guide to Discrete Mathematics.
Explore the history and development of the computer and find out how a computer works. Learn about the inventors who helped influence the invention of the computer.
Describes precursors of the computer throughout history, the development of the technology that made personal computers possible, the advent of the Internet, and the spread of computers into nearly every aspect of daily life.
Explore the history and development of the computer and find out how a computer works. Learn about the inventors who helped influence the invention of the computer.
This book is intended to provide an introduction to, and an overview of, the computer industry - or the "Computer Age" - as well as the key people who created the computerised world we live in... without too many technical details. The idea is to offer a snapshot of the industry at this point in time and find out how it got where it is today, highlighting its most notable inventions and innovations and the pioneering people who are responsible for them.Extract: The original human computers used tools to help them calculate. The most well known calculating tool from antiquity is the abacus, which was usually made from wood and featured a frame containing sticks along which beads could be moved. It is believed that the abacus was invented some time between 2700-2300 BC, in Sumeria, and its forerunner was probably a system whereby stones or beads were moved along grooves in the sand or ground, or tablets of wood, stone or metal.
Here are some of the inventions that have made life easier. This book discusses information on cell phones, movies, computers and robots. How did these technological advancements begin and how did they evolve? Who invented them and how do they help improve daily living? You’ll know the answers to these questions once you start reading!
A strikingly illustrated overview of the computing machines that have changed our world—from the abacus to the smartphone—and the people who made them, by the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of Women in Science. “A beautifully illustrated journey through the history of computing, from the Antikythera mechanism to the iPhone and beyond—I loved it.”—Eben Upton, Founder and CEO of Raspberry Pi ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Public Library Computers are everywhere and have impacted our lives in so many ways. But who created them, and why? How have they transformed the way that we interact with our surroundings and each other? Packed with accessible information, fun facts, and discussion starters, this charming and art-filled book takes you from the ancient world to the modern day, focusing on important inventions, from the earliest known counting systems to the sophisticated algorithms behind AI. The History of the Computer also profiles a diverse range of key players and creators—from An Wang and Margaret Hamilton to Steve Jobs and Sir Tim Berners-Lee—and illuminates their goals, their intentions, and the impact of their inventions on our everyday lives. This entertaining and educational journey will help you understand our most important machines and how we can use them to enhance the way we live. You’ll never look at your phone the same way again!
