Computers: An Illustrated History [Hardcover]

Christian Wurster (Author)

Book Description

Series: Architecture & Design | Publication Date: February 2002

The computer as calculating aide, as military wonder weapon, as electronic data processor that rationalises workplaces, as plaything and partner, as the tool for creativity and communication, as a memory and intelligence booster, and finally as a super- or hyper-medium - the computer has been accorded all of these roles and daims during its brief history. Its potential as a universally configurable machine and tool for other tools appears unfathomable. Yet precisely this versatility and the enormous variety of its allotted tasks and functions emphasise the necessity of tapping them and being using them purposefully and effectively, which makes ease of use the key criterion of a computer. The interface between the computer and the human being is not simply a kind of space, surface or point for interacting with the computer, but also the locus where the two historical dimensions of its usage, programming and applications, grew closer and closer until they finally merged. This publication will be the first book ever to tackle the history of this interface - from the perspective of both the computer and the design. A detailed text and a wealth of illustrations forge the appropriate link between art and technology. The work can be used as a scientific reference book, but equally enjoyed as a book on design and photography and its layout and structure will do justice to both these purposes. With its approximately one thousand illustrations, the book not only describes the constantly altering concepts and situations for that determine computer use; it also serves as a precise and vivid record of people's continuously changing surroundings in their working and private lives, whilst simultaneously highlighting the design, fashion and photography of their times...The history of the human computer interface main sections of the book are as follows:- 1.0 the scientific and military computer 2.0 the mainframe computer 3.0 the mini computer 4.0 the micro computer 5.0 the personal computer 6.0 the desktop computer 7.0 the net computer 8.0 convergence and evaporation The 8 sections, which are told parallel to the history of the computer, set down the changes and development of the user interface on both the text- and picture-level.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christian Wurster (born 1969) was graduated in Media-Sciences at the Technical University Berlin. He lives and works in Berlin as an independent Art-Director and Designer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Taschen (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822812935
• ISBN-13: 978-3822812938
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,041,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly Researched, but pretty, August 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Computers: An Illustrated History (Hardcover)

The book itself is pretty, but poorly researched, with errors a plenty and a style that doesn't work with the topic.
The works of Paul Cerruzzi, Michael Williams or Bill Asprey are much better as an introduction to the concepts, and have at least a bit of accuracy when it comes to the material.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wonderful images, don't worry about the text, November 15, 2002

By 

Jill Walker Rettberg (Bergen, Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computers: An Illustrated History (Hardcover)

This is absolutely not a book to buy for a thorough written history of computers. It's a book to leaf through for a different sort of understanding - there are *so* many wonderful photos here, from Babbage through all of the twentieth century. It's wonderfully laid out and presented. The perfect book for a computerlover's coffeetable, or just for someone who likes retro photos.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor book, December 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Computers: An Illustrated History (Hardcover)

History just as it didn't quite happen. This book is full of historical errors, easy shortcuts and misses the interesting details. The pictures, which should be its main strength, are of poor quality, low resolution and blogged with jpeg artefacts.