Book details of 'A History of Computing Technology, 2nd Edition'

Title	A History of Computing Technology, 2nd Edition
Author(s)	Michael R. Williams
ISBN	0818677392
Language	English
Published	March 1997
Publisher	Wiley-IEEE Computer Society Pr

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Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
Yet another timeline from the Pascaline to Babbage to ENIAC? Not so. How refreshing, and fascinating, to see a history that really tells us how we got here. Chapter one talks about the development of numeration itself, and the various forms of representing numbers (as well as a few systems of calculation). Early aids to calculation, starting with fingers and moving through to slide rules, are described in chapter two. Throughout the book, Williams has included frequent references to how calculating tools and techniques have given rise to common phrases. The definition of "point blank" is particularly fascinating, involving not only a particular gunnery instrument, but also the distrust of the Arabic numeral zero, which paranoia would have been uniquely strong at that specific time. Mechanical calculators are discussed in chapter three, covering much more than the usual reference to the Pascaline. Chapter four outlines Babbage's machine; noting that he was more social than is usually thought, and that he succeeded in a number of fields (inventing, for example, the cow catcher); explains why the Difference Engine is known as such, and further mentions that it was hardly a failure, but spawned a bit of a building spree that lasted over twenty years. Analog, rather than digital, computers are often neglected, but chapter five notes a number of significant devices. The large mechanical or electro-mechanical machines of the 1940s are frequently seen as the beginning of the computer revolution, so it is interesting that the book is half complete before chapter six takes a look at the Zuse machines, the Bell relay machines, and Aiken's line. Chapter seven moves into the electronic world with reviews of the Atanasoff/Berry computer, ENIAC, and the Colossi. Given the importance of the work at Bletchley Park in terms of character manipulation (in cryptanalysis) it is interesting that other forms of text manipulation technology have not been addressed up to this point. The early computers dealing with stored programs are reviewed in chapter eight. As could be expected, the development of memory technologies is a major component of this material. Chapter nine finishes off with a review of some other early mainframe type computers. We tend to pass over the history of computing with varying degrees of interest. Having a detailed examination of the development of both ideas and technologies of the basics of computing is both fascinating and helpful. Those who ignore the history of computing are likely to buy it again, repackaged under a new name. Professionals willing to understand the foundations of the industry and operations of the machinery will be in a much better position to judge what will (and what will not) be of importance in the future. copyright Robert M. Slade, 2004
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Book description:

This second edition of the popular reference and textbook outlines the historical developments in computing technology. The book describes historical aspects of calculation and concentrates on the physical devices used to aid people in their attempts at automating the arithmetic process. A History of Computing Technology highlights the major advances in arithmetic from the beginning of counting, through the three most important developments in the subject: the invention of the zero, logarithms, and the electronic computer. It provides you with an understanding of how these ideas developed and why the latest tools are in their current forms. In addition, it tells many of the interesting stories about both the machines and the scientists who produced them. It focuses on the extraordinary accomplishments of those computer pioneers whose work will stand as proof of their genius and hard work.