Who Invented the Computer?
English mathematician Charles Babbage (1792–1871) designed a mechanical computing machine called the “analytical engine.” It is considered the forerunner of the digital computer, a programmable electronic device that stores, retrieves, and processes data. While attending Cambridge University in 1812, Babbage conceived of the idea of a machine that could calculate data more rapidly than existing computing methods, and without human error. The Industrial Revolution (a period of technological development; c. 1750–c. 1850) had been underway for more than half a century, and the world was becoming increasingly complex. Human errors in mathematical tables posed serious problems for many rapidly growing industries. After graduating from Cambridge, Babbage returned to the idea of developing a device to facilitate computation. Beginning work in 1834, he spent the rest of his life and much of his…
Throughout history, numerous people have created devices that helped to lead to development of this valuable machine. These go far back into time and many date the first important invention to the fourth century BCE when the Babylonians developed the abacus. Other important concepts that would help lead to computers occurred in early days and include the adoption of Arabic numerals and the concept of zero, and in the 17th century, the development of the first mechanical calculators by Wilhelm Schickard and Blaise Pascal. Another milestone along the way was the plans created by Charles Babbage in the early 19th century to create a steam-powered “Difference Engine.” Though it was never built successfully, the intent of the device was to calculate astronomical tables. Babbage then turned to the idea of creating an Analytical Engine, which would be designed to solve all math problems. Babbage’s ideas led to the writings of Augusta Ada Byron on the Analytical Engine. She clearly delineated
But the meaning of the word has changed in time. In the 1930s and 1940s “a computer” still meant a person doing calculations. There is a nice historical example of this usage here. So to indicate a machine doing calculations you would say “automatic computer”. In the 1960s people still talked about the digital computer as opposed to the analog computer. But nowadays, I think it is better to reserve the word “computer ” for the type of machine which has swept everything else away in its path: the computer on which you are reading this page, the digital computer with “internally stored modifiable program.
