I don’t know a lot about the history of computers or what it takes to make one function but after reading the first section in Computer: The Life Story of a Technology, I have a much better idea. Seeing how the concept for the idea of a computer was created and how this idea has evolved and changed so much over the years shows us how amazing technology really is. Most people don’t think about the various other uses of a computer when they’re sitting at home using theirs, but I got to see the involvement computers have had on our society throughout history. This section talked about how computers were used in World War II to assist with battles. It also talked about ENIAC and the Zuse computers being born which showed how various people in different parts of the world were building and evolving the basic ABC computers. Reading about the UNIVAC was also interesting because it showed how the census was using bigger computers and how this computer could predict the outcome of the presidential election. Seeing how a computer transitioned from vacuum tubes to transistors was interesting because it showed us how powerful computers were really becoming. The use of these computers with the SAGE system allowed for computers to communicate with one another along with military bases, airplanes, ships and other places that had computers linked to the wavelength. Seeing how this evolved from the simple computer shows how fast technology can grow. Also, reading about the different types of programming language and how that too evolved from a simple binary code to words that allowed to computer to perform more functions was interesting. Along with these new codes, the birth of software and Microsystems also showed how quickly computers can change.
Computers have changed so much over the years. The authors of this book make it easy to understand how one machine can go through various transitions to become one powerful machine. Seeing how they can take one large machine and eventually make it into something small and compact that can perform the same, if not more functions is amazing. The use of computers over the years goes beyond someone sitting at home on theirs for personal use. They have changed the way we work, the way the military runs, the way the census has changed, etc. When you use your computer you don’t think of the functions and programming codes that go along with making your computer work. You don’t realize all the behind the scenes work a computer does to allow your life to be that much simpler. Just learning about the history and beginnings of computers, gives me a better understanding of how amazing these machines really are.
