The History of computers
Description
The history of computers is not just the story of a specialized machine but of a great idea and the people who made it happen. Initially designed as large-scale calculators, computers have quickly become indispensable tools in every field of endeavor. This fascinating program traces the course of technological innovations leading up to today's computers, from Charles Babbage and his analytical engine of the 1860s to 21st-century PCs. All the major concepts, advances, and companies are explored using demonstrations, expert commentary, and historic film footage and interviews. The program shows how ideas such as Boolean logic, the binary system, magnetic/iron core memory, and microprocessors have dramatically increased the capacity of computers while drastically reducing their size, a phenomenon known as Moore's Law. The personal computer or PC boom is easily seen as an inevitable event, with software programmers such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates emerging as its leaders.
Runtime
26 min
Subjects
Genre
Date of Publication
[2005], c2001
Database
Films on Demand
Direct Link
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