Description
Book SynopsisTracing 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.
Trade Review“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)
Table of ContentsWhat 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
