Synopses & Reviews
Given the proliferation of computers and computer-related products, it is difficult to realize that the computer's history is, in fact, a very short one. René Moreau, Director of Scientific Development, IBM France, traces the evolution of the computer from its earliest stored-program stages in the 1940s to the introduction of the IBM 360 Series in 1963.Written for the nonspecialist, his book defines, explains, and dates those first formulations in computer science and covers the major phases in the evolution of the software and hardware. Moreau divides his history into three sections - The Birth of the Computer (up to 1950), The First Generation (1950-1959), and The Second Generation (1959-1963). He concludes by examining the current state of the computer industry and its future direction. Also included are a discussion of programming languages and an appendix which details early work on computers in the USSR.
Review
"There are remarkably few books on the recent history of computing.... The strength of this book lies in its comprehensive coverage of the myriad of technical developments leading up to what was, in effect, the modern main-frame computer. Almost all the most interesting computers of the period are described.... No one has yet done any better, or anywhere near as well in tackling the subject." Nature The MIT Press
Synopsis
Given the proliferation of computers and computer-related products, it is difficult to realize that the computer's history is, in fact, a very short one. Rena(c) Moreau, Director of Scientific Development, IBM France, traces the evolution of the computer from its earliest stored-program stages in the 1940s to the introduction of the IBM 360 Series in 1963. Written for the nonspecialist, his book defines, explains, and dates those first formulations in computer science and covers the major phases in the evolution of the software and hardware. Moreau divides his history into three sections - The Birth of the Computer (up to 1950), The First Generation (1950-1959), and The Second Generation (1959-1963). He concludes by examining the current state of the computer industry and its future direction. Also included are a discussion of programming languages and an appendix which details early work on computers in the USSR.
Synopsis
Written for the nonspecialist, his book defines, explains, and dates those first formulations in computer science and covers the major phases in the evolution of the software and hardware. Moreau divides his history into three sections - The Birth of the Computer (up to 1950), The First Generation (1950-1959), and The Second Generation (1959-1963). He concludes by examining the current state of the computer industry and its future direction. Also included are a discussion of programming languages and an appendix which details early work on computers in the USSR.
Synopsis
René Moreau, Director of Scientific Development, IBM France, traces the evolution of the computer from its earliest stored-program stages in the 1940s to the introduction of the IBM 360 Series in 1963.
Description
Bibliography: p. [209]-215.
About the Author
Yali Amit is Professor of Statistics and Computer Science at the University of Chicago.