When Computers Were Human
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Auteur:
David Alan Grier
David Alan Grier
- Engels
- Paperback
- 9780691133829
- 16 september 2007
- 424 pagina's
Samenvatting
Offers an introduction to the world of women and men who did the hard computational labor of science. This book tells us about the surveyors of the French Revolution, describes the calculating machines of Charles Babbage, and guides readers through the Great Depression to marvel at the giant computing room of the Works Progress Administration.
Before Palm Pilots and iPods, PCs and laptops, the term "computer" referred to the people who did scientific calculations by hand. These workers were neither calculating geniuses nor idiot savants but knowledgeable people who, in other circumstances, might have become scientists in their own right. When Computers Were Human represents the first in-depth account of this little-known, 200-year epoch in the history of science and technology. Beginning with the story of his own grandmother, who was trained as a human computer, David Alan Grier provides a poignant introduction to the wider world of women and men who did the hard computational labor of science. His grandmother's casual remark, "I wish I'd used my calculus," hinted at a career deferred and an education forgotten, a secret life unappreciated; like many highly educated women of her generation, she studied to become a human computer because nothing else would offer her a place in the scientific world. The book begins with the return of Halley's comet in 1758 and the effort of three French astronomers to compute its orbit. It ends four cycles later, with a UNIVAC electronic computer projecting the 1986 orbit. In between, Grier tells us about the surveyors of the French Revolution, describes the calculating machines of Charles Babbage, and guides the reader through the Great Depression to marvel at the giant computing room of the Works Progress Administration. When Computers Were Human is the sad but lyrical story of workers who gladly did the hard labor of research calculation in the hope that they might be part of the scientific community. In the end, they were rewarded by a new electronic machine that took the place and the name of those who were, once, the computers.
Before Palm Pilots and iPods, PCs and laptops, the term "computer" referred to the people who did scientific calculations by hand. These workers were neither calculating geniuses nor idiot savants but knowledgeable people who, in other circumstances, might have become scientists in their own right. When Computers Were Human represents the first in-depth account of this little-known, 200-year epoch in the history of science and technology. Beginning with the story of his own grandmother, who was trained as a human computer, David Alan Grier provides a poignant introduction to the wider world of women and men who did the hard computational labor of science. His grandmother's casual remark, "I wish I'd used my calculus," hinted at a career deferred and an education forgotten, a secret life unappreciated; like many highly educated women of her generation, she studied to become a human computer because nothing else would offer her a place in the scientific world. The book begins with the return of Halley's comet in 1758 and the effort of three French astronomers to compute its orbit. It ends four cycles later, with a UNIVAC electronic computer projecting the 1986 orbit. In between, Grier tells us about the surveyors of the French Revolution, describes the calculating machines of Charles Babbage, and guides the reader through the Great Depression to marvel at the giant computing room of the Works Progress Administration. When Computers Were Human is the sad but lyrical story of workers who gladly did the hard labor of research calculation in the hope that they might be part of the scientific community. In the end, they were rewarded by a new electronic machine that took the place and the name of those who were, once, the computers.
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Inhoud
- Taal
- en
- Bindwijze
- Paperback
- Oorspronkelijke releasedatum
- 16 september 2007
- Aantal pagina's
- 424
- Illustraties
- Nee
Betrokkenen
- Hoofdauteur
- David Alan Grier
- Tweede Auteur
- David Alan Grier
- Hoofduitgeverij
- Princeton University Press
Vertaling
- Originele titel
- When Computers Were Human
Character
- Personage
- Marvel
Overige kenmerken
- Editie
- illustrated edition
- Extra groot lettertype
- Nee
- Product breedte
- 152 mm
- Product lengte
- 235 mm
- Studieboek
- Nee
- Verpakking breedte
- 152 mm
- Verpakking hoogte
- 25 mm
- Verpakking lengte
- 229 mm
- Verpakkingsgewicht
- 612 g
EAN
- EAN
- 9780691133829
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