Customer Reviews

Computers: The Life Story of a Technology (Greenwood Technographies)

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Basically a book written for someone knowing little about computers. It teaches both the history of computing and also the key ideas present in today's computers. So the authors describe the fumbling early starts. Exemplified by Babbage and Lovelace and the Difference Engine. Over a century ahead of their time, as the hardware was inadequate.

But in World War 2 came the von Neumann architecture, still the basis of most current computers. And then the solid state transistor at Bell Labs in 1948. Progress seemed so slow, in retrospect. But then the narrative speeds up, as Moore's Law took effect in the late 60s.

Thus, the book shows the rise of the personal computer in the 80s, and then the Web in the 90s. Searing changes that helped shape today's world.

Swedin's coverage has no surprises to a reader already in this field. But he has done his homework. It's accurate and covers all the main events and persons.

Swedin and Ferro have their work cut out for them, as the story of computer technology, although relatively brief, is complex, involving not merely technology, but also politics, personalities and the clash of cultures from various engineering disciplines. They succeed wonderfully at sorting out this tangle and laying a clean--and, one must note--astonishingly dramatic narrative. From Babbage's "Engine," to ENIAC to 'total information awarenesss,' it's a fascinating story that you'll read and *re*read, and it's a book you'll keep in a prominent place on the shelf.

Recently I finished a story on pop culture and technology. I discussed how the transitor became lineage for the present day computer chip. I am fascinated with technology and history which made me love reading this book. The book presents a timeline for computer technology and yes, I admit, I am a computer geek who reminisce in technology of the past. I sit back remembering when I won my very first transitor radio and I smile thinking about my old 286 computer chip. The book was an interesting read because it took me on a trip to my past. I still marval at how technology changes and how much I use it today.