Introduction
• Computer = person
– 1945–changed to a machine
– Invented to solve math problems for
war – “to compute”
• Rate of Advance - computing
technology
– Not matched by other innovation
& Keeps going
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e.g. Automobile
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Ubiquitous
Costs more - less gas mileage
Luxurious, new technology BUT…
Automobile = transportation
Computer  Many things, Everywhere,
In everything, Intrusive, Cheaper yet
Better
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Approach – Driving Forces
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Inventions – many, not just one
Political – Governments, NASA
Technological view
Economic view – Post WWII
Social view – “Us” – “Flat World”
– How did “we” drive the development
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Book Chronological
• Don’t memorize a bunch of trivia
• Turning Points – Defining Moments
– 1940’s – science to commercial
– 1960’s – small systems
– 1970’s – personal computing
– 1985+ – networking
– 1990’s – Internet & WWW
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* What since?? What next ???
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Major Themes - Ideas
• von Neumann Architecture
– 3 Generations
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Role of the government & military
Established vs. Start-up Companies
Software (1990’s) vs. Hardware
Information in a Democratic Society
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Three Generations
Vacuum Tubes – Transistor – Integrated Circuit
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Focus of Study
• Mostly U.S.
• England
– Colossus @Bletchley Park
– Alan Turing
• Western Europe
• Japan
• Soviet Union
– Post Cold War
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- Reverse Engineering
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* Recent History *
The World is Flat
A Brief History of the
Twenty-First
Century
By Thomas L. Friedman
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