#history of computers

[prokopetz]

Wrong: Ada Lovelace invented computer science and immediately tried to use it to cheat at gambling because she was Lord Byron's daughter.

Right: Ada Lovelace invented computer science and immediately tried to use it to cheat at gambling because that was the closest you could get in 1850 to being a Super Mario 64 speedrunner.

[howtofixitnow]

History of Computers - Navigating the Evolution of Computing

Embark on a journey through the captivating evolution of computing, from the ingenious inventions of Charles Babbage to the transformative technologies of the modern era. Delve into pivotal moments and visionary thinkers that have shaped the course of computing history, revolutionizing the way we live, work, and connect with the world. History of Computers 1. The Ingenious Innovations of…

[foone]

So I'm watching someone play Still Wakes The Deep and it's neat and spooky and WAIT A FUCKING SECOND

IS THAT A FUCKING TRACKBALL? IN 1975?

Okay, look, trackballs date back to the 40s, but THAT IS NOT A 70'S TRACKBALL.

That is, in fact, a Reveal RA010 from 1993.

You're eighteen years off!

(And you made it look old, too, implying it isn't brand new in 1975. Damn it)

[whereserpentswalk]

[trashworldblog]

this is the funniest fucking thing, after you kinda murdered your professor you become friends and go to jcpenny for a friendship photoshoot

[nasa]

LaRue Burbank, mathematician and computer, is just one of the many women who were instrumental to NASA missions.

4 Little Known Women Who Made Huge Contributions to NASA

Women have always played a significant role at NASA and its predecessor NACA, although for much of the agency’s history, they received neither the praise nor recognition that their contributions deserved. To celebrate Women’s History Month – and properly highlight some of the little-known women-led accomplishments of NASA’s early history – our archivists gathered the stories of four women whose work was critical to NASA’s success and paved the way for future generations.

LaRue Burbank: One of the Women Who Helped Land a Man on the Moon

LaRue Burbank was a trailblazing mathematician at NASA. Hired in 1954 at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory (now NASA’s Langley Research Center), she, like many other young women at NACA, the predecessor to NASA, had a bachelor's degree in mathematics. But unlike most, she also had a physics degree. For the next four years, she worked as a "human computer," conducting complex data analyses for engineers using calculators, slide rules, and other instruments. After NASA's founding, she continued this vital work for Project Mercury.

In 1962, she transferred to the newly established Manned Spacecraft Center (now NASA’s Johnson Space Center) in Houston, becoming one of the few female professionals and managers there.  Her expertise in electronics engineering led her to develop critical display systems used by flight controllers in Mission Control to monitor spacecraft during missions. Her work on the Apollo missions was vital to achieving President Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon.

Eilene Galloway: How NASA became… NASA

Eilene Galloway wasn't a NASA employee, but she played a huge role in its very creation. In 1957, after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, Senator Richard Russell Jr. called on Galloway, an expert on the Atomic Energy Act, to write a report on the U.S. response to the space race. Initially, legislators aimed to essentially re-write the Atomic Energy Act to handle the U.S. space goals. However, Galloway argued that the existing military framework wouldn't suffice – a new agency was needed to oversee both military and civilian aspects of space exploration. This included not just defense, but also meteorology, communications, and international cooperation.

Her work on the National Aeronautics and Space Act ensured NASA had the power to accomplish all these goals, without limitations from the Department of Defense or restrictions on international agreements. Galloway is even to thank for the name "National Aeronautics and Space Administration", as initially NASA was to be called “National Aeronautics and Space Agency” which was deemed to not carry enough weight and status for the wide-ranging role that NASA was to fill.

Barbara Scott: The “Star Trek Nerd” Who Led Our Understanding of the Stars

A self-described "Star Trek nerd," Barbara Scott's passion for space wasn't steered toward engineering by her guidance counselor. But that didn't stop her!  Fueled by her love of math and computer science, she landed at Goddard Spaceflight Center in 1977.  One of the first women working on flight software, Barbara's coding skills became instrumental on missions like the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and the Thermal Canister Experiment on the Space Shuttle's STS-3.  For the final decade of her impressive career, Scott managed the flight software for the iconic Hubble Space Telescope, a testament to her dedication to space exploration.

Dr. Claire Parkinson: An Early Pioneer in Climate Science Whose Work is Still Saving Lives

Dr. Claire Parkinson's love of math blossomed into a passion for climate science. Inspired by the Moon landing, and the fight for civil rights, she pursued a graduate degree in climatology.  In 1978, her talents landed her at Goddard, where she continued her research on sea ice modeling. But Parkinson's impact goes beyond theory.  She began analyzing satellite data, leading to a groundbreaking discovery: a decline in Arctic sea ice coverage between 1973 and 1987. This critical finding caught the attention of Senator Al Gore, highlighting the urgency of climate change.

Parkinson's leadership extended beyond research.  As Project Scientist for the Aqua satellite, she championed making its data freely available. This real-time information has benefitted countless projects, from wildfire management to weather forecasting, even aiding in monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. Parkinson's dedication to understanding sea ice patterns and the impact of climate change continues to be a valuable resource for our planet.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space! 

[coupleofdays]

Margaret Hamilton, Director of the Apollo project Software Engineering Division, with a stack of papers containing the code to the Apollo Guidance Computer navigation software. The software that on this day, in 1969, guided Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they landed on the Moon.

[kommanderkeen2k]

The IBM 5150 is perhaps the most influential computer in history. Launched in 1981 under the name Personal Computer, the PC marked the beginning of an architecture that became the industry standard and brought innovations and features that continue to be present in the computers we use until today.

[humanoidhistory]

Vibration Lab at General Dynamics, July 19, 1968.

(SDASM)

[centralbunnyunit]

[afniel]

Not to be turboweird on main but old supercomputers smell really, really good.

[wisconsincomputerclub]

As an aside, Vintage Computer Festival Midwest this year was held at the Renaissance in Schaumburg Illinois. For all of you on Tumblr, this is the very room in which the infamous DashCon was held in 2014. The "ball pit" had been roughly where Free Geek Chicago's booth was this year, at least based on the visible fixtures. The VCFMW organizers honored this incredible coincidence with what many feel was a fitting tribute...

[kaiserouo]

Tired Ghost

[furiosophie]

i know someone must have done this already but--

based on this post by @chaotic-kass

[oldguydoesstuff]

The "Arithmometer", a mechanical digital calculator patented by French inventor Charles Xavier Thomas in 1820 could add, subtract, multiply and divide and is considered to be the first commercially successful office computing device.