The story of the
evolution of machines in computer history
is full of the disruptive innovations that have led to today’s world. From the
early beginnings
of computing to the
bulky mainframe
to the
personal computer era
, we now live in an almost entirely
digital age
.
The Computer
explores steps from the first ideas of a calculating machine in the 19th century and early experiments with autonomous driving in the 1920s to oversized office computers in the 1950s to laptops and wearables of today.
Jens Müller delivers a visual understanding
of the emergence of the Information Age that hasn’t been shown before. Tracing the
stories of tech visionaries, pioneers, and entrepreneurs
, the book combines
compelling visuals, historical documents, and in-depth explanations
to reveal significant events in computer history. Encompassing the invention of machines, coding, and software development, as well as technology's influence on today's political landscape.
This survey presents creations from
Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage, Alan Turing, Grace Hopper, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs
. Showcasing forgotten gadgets and prototypes connecting iconic products such as the Apple Macintosh and the Sony Play Station. As well as remembering milestones in software development, videogaming, and the web. Infographics explain wireless communication and other fundamental technical concepts, while the history of corporations such as
IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Atari, Amazon, and Google
is retraced through rare photographs and advertising campaigns.
A fascinating read, this book acknowledges the computer’s stupendous power and social impact. For techies and
everyone interested in culture, economics, politics, and science
, it illustrates how we got here today and helps us ask better questions about where we will be tomorrow.