The Universal Machine

In less than a human lifetime, computers are transforming economies and societies like no other human invention. This book looks past technology to introduce comuputing pioneers: Babbage, Turing, Wozniak and Jobs, Bill Gates, Tim Berners-Lee, Mark Zuckerberg.

The computer unlike other inventions is universal; you can use a computer for many tasks: writing, composing music, designing buildings, creating movies, inhabiting virtual worlds, communicating...
This popular science history isn't just about technology but introduces the pioneers: Babbage, Turing, Apple's Wozniak and Jobs, Bill Gates, Tim Berners-Lee, Mark Zuckerberg. This story is about people and the changes computers have caused. In the future ubiquitous computing, AI, quantum and molecular computing could even make us immortal. The computer has been a radical invention. In less than a single human life computers are transforming economies and societies like no human invention before.

An entertaining and approachable story of the evolution of the computer Introduces the curious characters behind the greatest computer innovations Prepares the reader for astounding developments yet to come Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Ian Watson is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He has published two textbooks and over one hundred scientific papers, on various aspects of artificial intelligence and is a regular speaker at computer science conferences worldwide. He also makes regular contributions to the popular NZ computer magazine NetGuide.

Inhalt
What is a Universal Tool?.- Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.- Office Automation.- Computers go to War.- Computers go to Work.- Deadheads & Propeller Heads.- The Computer gets Personal.- The Computer Revolution.- Weaving the Web.- Apple is Reborn.- Over the Horizon.- Resources.- Competitors.- About the Author.- Published books.