A History of Modern Computing (History of Computing) - Softcover

Ceruzzi, Paul E

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0262531690 ISBN 13: 9780262531696

Publisher: MIT Press, 2000

Synopsis

This history covers modern computing from the development of the first electronic digital computer through the advent of the World Wide Web. The author concentrates on four key moments of transition: the transition of the computer in the late 1940s from a specialized scientific instrument to a commercial product; the emergence of small systems in the late 1960s; the beginning of personal computing in the 1970s; and the spread of networking after 1985. Within this chronological narrative, the book traces several overlapping threads: the evolution of the computer's internal design; the effect of economic trends and the Cold War; the long-term role of IBM as a player and as a target for upstart entrepreneurs; the growth of software from a hidden element to a major character in the story of computing; and the recurring issue of the place of information and computing in a democratic society. The focus is on the United States (though Europe and Japan enter the story at crucial points), on computing per se rather than on applications such as artificial intelligence, and on systems that were sold commercially and installed in quantities. The author balances stories of individuals with those of institutions and emphasizes those factors that conspired to bring about the decisive shifts in the story.

About this title

Review

"[A] wonderful tale. . . . Ceruzzi has written the definitive account."--Michael Cross, "New Scientist""Paul Ceruzzi explores the mostly unmapped history of computing since 1945. Readers seeking to understand a half century of turbulent and complex history will find him an informed and thoughtful guide. A pathbreaking book."--Thomas P. Hughes, author of "Rescuing Prometheus and American Genesis"

From the Author

A narrative history of computing since 1945.
I wrote this book in response to a question that people often ask me: Is there a single volume that gives a full history of the invention and spread of digital computing since the Second World War? I could not honestly say there was, so I decided to write this book.

The essence of my argument is that the "computer" was invented and reinvented several times in the past 50 years--each time transformed into something else. The first transformation was from a device that solved complex mathematical problems (the definition of "computer" that dictionaries still give) to a machine for business data processing. That was followed by a transformation to an interactive device, then to a personal device, and most recently to a window to a world wide communications network. No doubt the future will bring further transformations, as the process shows no signs of slowing down.

The book examines the people and companies that played key roles in making these transformations: UNIVAC and IBM for the first, Digital Equipment Corporation for the second, Intel for the third, and so on. I devote a lot of attention to the founding and early years of Microsoft, and its relationship to MITS, the company that produced the Altair personal computer; to DEC, which wrote early software for small computers; and to Digital Research, which produced early personal computer operating systems.

With everything seeming to operate now in "internet time," all of this history may seem as prologue to tomorrow's developments. But at least I will have given the reader a sense of the foundations on which all that will be based.

Edition details

• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0262531690
• ISBN 13: 9780262531696
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 412