Charles Babbage — Father of the Digital Computer

Abstract

A recent book by Anthony Hyman sets the work of Babbage into a broader context than that revealed by earlier writers and in particular emphasises the importance of his contacts with the international scientific community. This present paper reflects these new insights. It is offered as an example to young engineers.

Technology and manufacturing‐and‐service operations since the Industrial Revolution

“…Charles Babbage invented the first mechanical computer (Halacy, 1970) The material out of which the manufactured article is produced, must, in the several stages of its progress, be conveyed from one operator to the next in succession: this can be done at least expense when they are all working in the same establishment.…”