Origins and Foundations of Computing

The author was among the pioneers in computing science, and he was deeply engaged in some of the developments outlined in the book.

• Preamble.- Numerical Calculations.- Calculations Using Symbols.- After 1890: In Thrall to Mechanical and Electromechanical Devices.- After 1935: Formal Languages and Algorithms, ‘Universal Machines’ and Electronic Solutions.- After 1960: Informatics Begins to Take Shape.- Conclusion: Informatics and Microelectronics Are Mutually Dependent.

From the reviews: "I read this book with great interest. It contains information about the history of computer science which is not normally available in such concise form, and in a style suitable for the broader public." (Niklaus Wirth, ETH Zurich) "The computing and historical communities are very fortunate to have this perspective on the origins of the computing field from one of the great minds from the beginning of the modern computing era." (William Aspray, University of Texas at Austin) "This treatment of the history of computing follows the historical path of computing as it originated in mathematics and logic and progressed into machine design and programming languages. ... Any individual involved in computing will want to complete this easy read. ... The numerous pictures and figures are appealing and draw the reader along from page to page. The book ends with a 'Selected Readings' section for readers who want a more detailed exploration of this rich history. I recommend this book." (Brad Reid, ACM Computing Reviews, November, 2010)