Introduction to the History of Computing: A Computing History Primer

ISBN-13: 9783319331379 / Angielski / Miękka / 2016 / 296 str.

Gerard O'Regan

Opis

Tracing the story of computing from Babylonian counting boards to smartphones, this inspiring textbook provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of computing, together with discussion exercises to stimulate deeper investigation into this fascinating area. Features: provides chapter introductions, summaries, key topics, and review questions; includes an introduction to analogue and digital computers, and to the foundations of computing; examines the contributions of ancient civilisations to the field of computing; covers the first digital computers, and the earliest commercial computers, mainframes and minicomputers; describes the early development of the integrated circuit and the microprocessor; reviews the emergence of home computers; discusses the creation of the Internet, the invention of the smartphone, and the rise of social media; presents a short history of telecommunications, programming languages, operating systems, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and databases.

Recenzje

"The work is conceived of as a text for an undergraduate computer science class. Basic definitions are covered, and the book is more comprehensive than other standard history of computing works because it covers analog and pre-digital computing innovations. The text then is written for a basic student introduction, which includes an abstract, key topics, review questions, and summary for each chapter. Also included are abundant pictures, illustrations, graphics, and references for each topic reviewed." (G. Mick Smith, Computing Reviews, November, 2016)

Spis treści

What is a Computer?

Computing in Early Civilizations

Foundations of Computing

The First Digital Computers

The First Commercial Computers

Early Commercial Computers and the Invention of the Transistor

The Invention of the Integrated Circuit and the Birth of Silicon Valley

The IBM System/360

Minicomputers and Later Mainframes

The Microprocessor Revolution

Home Computers

The IBM Personal Computer

A Short History of Telecommunications

The Internet Revolution

The Smartphone and Social Media

History of Programming Languages

History of Operating Systems

History of Software Engineering

History of Artificial Intelligence

History of Databases

O autorze

Dr. Gerard O'Regan is a CMMI software process improvement consultant with research interests including software quality and software process improvement, mathematical approaches to software quality, and the history of computing. He is the author of such Springer titles as A Brief History of Computing, Pillars of Computing, Giants of Computing, Mathematics in Computing, Introduction to Software Quality, Introduction to Software Process Improvement, and Mathematical Approaches to Software Quality.

Blurb

Tracing the story of computing from Babylonian counting boards to smartphones, this inspiring textbook/reference provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of computing, together with discussion exercises to stimulate deeper investigation into this fascinating area.

Topics and features:

• Provides chapter introductions, summaries and key topics, as well as review questions and a glossary
• Includes an introduction to analogue and digital computers, and to the foundations of computing
• Examines the contributions of the ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Islamic civilisations to the field of computing
• Covers the first digital computers, and the earliest examples of commercial computers, mainframes and minicomputers
• Describes the invention and early development of the integrated circuit and the microprocessor
• Reviews the emergence of home computers, and the introduction of the IBM personal computer
• Discusses the technological revolutions initiated by the creation of the Internet, the invention of the smartphone, and the rise of social media
• Presents a short history of telecommunications, programming languages, operating systems, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and databases

This engaging and easy-to-read work serves as an introductory textbook for students of computer science interested in the historical basis of the field. The curious reader will also find the book to be ideal as a self-study primer on the origins of the fundamental theory and early applications of the technology which has now become ubiquitous in modern society.