History of Computing - A Very Short Introduction

List of contents

• Acknowledgements


• List of Illustrations


• 1: History and computing


• 2: Calculation


• 3: Automatic computation


• 4: Electronic computing


• 5: The computer boom


• 6: Revolution


• 7: The future of history


• Further reading

About the author

Doron Swade is an engineer, a historian, and a museum professional. He was Curator of Computing at the London Science Museum (1985-1999), and Assistant Director and Head of Collections there (1999-2003). He is a leading authority on computer pioneer Charles Babbage, and masterminded the construction of Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2 built to original 19th-century designs. He was formerly Visiting Professor at Royal College of Art, and Guest Curator at the Computer History Museum, California (2006-2008). He has published widely on curatorship, Babbage, and the history of computing, and his books include The Dream Machine: Exploring the Computer Age (1991, with Jon Palfreman) and The Cogwheel Brain: Charles Babbage and the Quest to Build the First Computer (2001).

Summary

This Very Short Introduction discusses the central events, machines, and people that feature in established accounts of the history of computing. It then recontextualises them, critically examining received perceptions and providing a fresh look at the nature and development of the modern electronic computer.

Product details

• Authors: Doron Swade, Doron (Honorary Fellow Swade, Swade Doron
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 25.08.2022
• EAN: 9780198831754
• ISBN: 978-0-19-883175-4
• No. of pages: 160
• Series: Very Short Introductions
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Business > Individual industrial sectors, branches; COMPUTERS / Hardware / General, COMPUTERS / History, computer hardware, Information technology industries, History of engineering & technology, Information technology: general issues, Information technology: general topics, History of Computing, digital and information technologies