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A Science of OperationsBabbage’s Engines

A Science of Operations: Babbage’s Engines [Charles Babbage was a significant figure in English mathematics at the start of the 19th century, but he is now principally remembered for his work on the design and development of a series of what he described as mechanical calculating engines. He devoted a large amount of time and money to these projects, none of which was ever fully completed. Babbage’s machines, and in particular the Analytical Engine, are often portrayed as isolated precursors of the modern computer, and Babbage as an anachronistic genius who had the misfortune to live at a time when technology was insufficiently developed to enable him to fully implement his vision. When viewed in context, however, a rather different picture emerges. Babbage engaged whole-heartedly with the scientific, industrial and even political life of his time, and this chapter describes how his calculating engines can be seen in their historical context.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A Science of OperationsBabbage’s Engines

Part of the History of Computing Book Series
Priestley, Mark
A Science of Operations — Nov 12, 2010
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References (17)

Publisher
Springer London
Copyright
© Springer-Verlag London Limited 2011
ISBN
978-1-84882-554-3
Pages
17 –51
DOI
10.1007/978-1-84882-555-0_2
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[Charles Babbage was a significant figure in English mathematics at the start of the 19th century, but he is now principally remembered for his work on the design and development of a series of what he described as mechanical calculating engines. He devoted a large amount of time and money to these projects, none of which was ever fully completed. Babbage’s machines, and in particular the Analytical Engine, are often portrayed as isolated precursors of the modern computer, and Babbage as an anachronistic genius who had the misfortune to live at a time when technology was insufficiently developed to enable him to fully implement his vision. When viewed in context, however, a rather different picture emerges. Babbage engaged whole-heartedly with the scientific, industrial and even political life of his time, and this chapter describes how his calculating engines can be seen in their historical context.]

Published: Nov 12, 2010

Keywords: Difference Engine; Arithmetical Operation; Analytical Engine; Outer Cycle; English Mathematics

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