The Innovation in Computing Companion

This encyclopedic reference provides a concise and engaging overview of the groundbreaking inventions and conceptual innovations that have shaped the field of computing, and the technology that runs the modern world. Each alphabetically-ordered entry presents a brief account of a pivotal innovation and the great minds behind it, selected from a wide range of diverse topics.

Topics and features:

• Describes the development of Babbage's computing machines, Leibniz's binary arithmetic, Boole's symbolic logic, and Von Neumann architecture
• Reviews a range of historical analog and digital computers, significant mainframes and minicomputers, and pioneering home and personal computers
• Discusses a selection of programming languages and operating systems, along with key concepts in software engineering and commercial computing
• Examines the invention of the transistor, the integrated circuit, and the microprocessor
• Relates the history of such developments in personal computing as the mouse, the GUI, Atari video games, and Microsoft Office
• Surveys innovations in communications, covering mobile phones, WiFi, the Internet and World Wide Web, e-commerce, smartphones, social media, and GPS
• Presents coverage of topics on artificial intelligence, the ATM, digital photography and digital music, robotics, and Wikipedia
• Contains self-test quizzes and a helpful glossary

This enjoyable compendium will appeal to the general reader curious about the intellectual milestones that led to the digital age, as well as to the student of computer science seeking a primer on the history of their field.

Dr. Gerard O'Regan is a CMMI software process improvement consultant with research interests including software quality and software process improvement, mathematical approaches to software quality, and the history of computing. He is the author of such Springer titles asWorld of Computing, Concise Guide to Formal Methods, Concise Guide to Software Engineering, and Guide to Discrete Mathematics.

Auteur
Dr. Gerard O'Regan is a CMMI software process improvement consultant with research interests including software quality and software process improvement, mathematical approaches to software quality, and the history of computing. He is the author of such Springer titles as World of Computing, Concise Guide to Formal Methods, Concise Guide to Software Engineering, Guide to Discrete Mathematics, Introduction to the History of Computing, Pillars of Computing, Introduction to Software Quality, Giants of Computing, and Mathematics in Computing.

Contenu

Background

ABC Computer

Ada Programming Language

Agile Methodology

Amdahl 470 and 580

Analytic and Difference Engines

Apple II and Macintosh

Artificial Intelligence and Applications

Atari Video Games

Automated Teller Machine

AXE System

Binary Number System

Boolean Algebra and Digital Computing

C and C++ Programming Languages

Cloud Computing and Distributed Systems

CMMI and Software Process Improvement

Colossus and Code Breaking at Bletchley Park

Commodore PET and 64

COBOL and Compilers

Databases

DEC PDP 11 and VAX 11/780 Minicomputers

Digital Photography

EDVAC and ENIAC Computers

Eliza Program

Email Communication

E-Commerce

Formal Methods

GPS System

Graphical User Interface and Human Computer Interaction

Harvard Mark I Computer

Hollerith's Tabulating Machine and the birth of IBM

Integrated Circuits

Internet

Iridium System

Java Programming Language

LEO Computers

Manchester Baby and Mark I Computers

Microprocessor

Mobile Phone

Mouse

MP3 Player and Digital Music

MS/DOS Operating System

Office Software

Open Source Software

Object-Oriented Paradigm

Personal and Home Computers

Robotics

Smartphones and Social Media

Software Inspections Software Lifecycles

The System/360 Revolution

Transistor

UNIX Operating System

Von Neumann Architecture

WiFi Technology

Wikipedia

World Wide Web

Z3 and Z4 Computers

Epilogue