Objectives: After studying the Module 2 History Chip, you will be able to:

1. Recognize that computers have a long and interesting history.
2. Identify some features of the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine that are found in modern computers.
3. Explain Charles Babbage's importance to the history of computers.
4. Explain the contributions of at least one other computer pioneer.

YOUR LESSON

A Little More History

In the Module 1 History lesson, you met an interesting computer pioneer, Ada Lovelace, the "Enchantress of Numbers." It was very unusual for a woman in the 1800s to be a scientist or mathematician, but her status as Lord Byron's daughter enabled her to do both. She is widely regarded as the first "computer programmer" based on her work with Charles Babbage, another interesting character of the era.

Charles Babbage, born in 1791, has often been called the "father of computing" for his concepts of two calculating machines: the Difference Engine and the the Analytical Engine. He spent huge sums of money (for the times), but never actually completed either machine.

Computer Pioneer

Charles Babbage

• The Difference Engine, begun in 1823, was designed to calculate astronomical and mathematical tables. It was to be a mechanical device powered by steam driven gears and based on the decimal system (base 10). Although it was never completed, the one working part of the machine (consisting of 2000 parts) could calculate and print logarithm tables from 1 to 108,000. It is now widely regarded as the first automatic calculator.
• The Analytical Engine, conceived in the 1830s, was even more ambitious! On paper at least, it was to be the first analytical machine controlled by an external program. Babbage envisioned using punched cards (like ballots used in an election, but with no chads) to control his machine. The pattern of holes in the punched card would instruct the Analytical Engine what to calculate. It even had a memory to store and process instructions. Steam driven, the central processing unit was to consist of 1000 axle rods and 50,000 geared wheels! Using the decimal system, it would be able to calculate and print 50-digit numbers. Unfortunately, this machine was simply beyond the technical and financial resources of the times to build.

Does any of this sound familiar? Input, processing, and output are features found in today's computers almost 170 years later. And, that other computer pioneer...Ada Lovelace...wrote the first program for the Analytical Engine. Even though neither machine was ever completely built, Charles Babbage's concepts laid the foundation of the modern digital computer; however, there was one fatal flaw...the decimal system. But that's another story all together!

Although Babbage was not well liked by many people of London where he lived, his contributions to mathematics and engineering were important to the progress of the Industrial Revolution. The next time you use your inexpensive electronic calculator to perform a complex calculation, pause to remember the contributions of Charles Babbage...the "father" of modern computers.

Dig a Little Deeper 

Are you interested in learning more?  Then check this out:

In the last history assignment, you learned a little bit about a computer pioneer. Now choose a different person from our pioneers of the computer list. Read about a few of the people on this list to get an idea of their contribution to the history of computers.

Try to choose a second person who made a different type of contribution than your first pioneer. For example, you might choose someone from a different period of time. Or, if your first person worked with hardware, choose someone who worked with software.

Note: This activity is intended to enhance your learning experience. There is nothing to submit to your instructor for a grade.