intersting obituary for techies,geeks and nerds

steeljack · 25-06-2008, 01:02

one of the pioneers of computer software
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...d-Caminer.html

BERNADETTE · 25-06-2008, 01:22

Interesting and enlightening reading, I have read quite a few books based on the "nippies" and thouroughly enjoyed them. Funny how we all think that computer systems are new when they have been going albeit in a small way for many years!!!

WillowTheWhisp · 25-06-2008, 07:42

What a pity Leo Computers didn't have enough investment backing to compete with the likes of IBM. Too many good things seem to fail for the simplest of reasons. I always thought V2000 was the best video format but it got overshadowed by VHS and even Betamax too. Now of course it's all DVDs. It isn't always a case of how good something is but how well it takes off.

jaysay · 25-06-2008, 09:05

I think that the latest inovations are nearly out of date when the hit the selves, new ideas are coming out on a dailly base, and the next inovation puts its predecessor in the shade

jambutty · 25-06-2008, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

one of the pioneers of computer software
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...d-Caminer.html

I think that the claim to being the first computer, of a sort, would go to the inventor of the Jacquard Loom invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1801.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_loom

Which doesn’t detract from the achievements of David Caminer.

But 6,000 valves? No need for central heating then.

jambutty · 25-06-2008, 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

What a pity Leo Computers didn't have enough investment backing to compete with the likes of IBM. Too many good things seem to fail for the simplest of reasons. I always thought V2000 was the best video format but it got overshadowed by VHS and even Betamax too. Now of course it's all DVDs. It isn't always a case of how good something is but how well it takes off.

Commodore’s Amiga wiped the floor with the early IBM PC’s for stability, ease of use and programming but sadly the tight wads at Commodore didn’t put much money into research and development, so it got left behind.

It was left to Apple to forge ahead but by then Microsoft had become established and it is going to take something extra special to make MS loosen it’s grip on the computer world.

Eric · 25-06-2008, 18:08

I always thought that the first computer was developed at Bletchly Park during WWll in order to resolve the problems caused when the Nazis added a fourth wheel to their Enigma machine

MikeSz · 26-06-2008, 04:37

That machine was called colossus. And it was a computer. There is much debate on this issue and its unclear as to what people want to term as a computer, i.e. independent operation, the ability to run software, re-programming etc. The first widely accepted instance of a computer which can run software and be a "true" computer in its sense was the "Baby" which was assembled in Manchester for the University and ran its first "Program" in 1948.

Of course there have been machines to carry out tasks since long before that, but the difference here was that Baby could accept different programs. It wasnt designed to do just one thing and could be hailed as the start of computers and computer programming as we know it.

jambutty · 26-06-2008, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeSz

That machine was called colossus. And it was a computer. There is much debate on this issue and its unclear as to what people want to term as a computer, i.e. independent operation, the ability to run software, re-programming etc. The first widely accepted instance of a computer which can run software and be a "true" computer in its sense was the "Baby" which was assembled in Manchester for the University and ran its first "Program" in 1948.

Of course there have been machines to carry out tasks since long before that, but the difference here was that Baby could accept different programs. It wasnt designed to do just one thing and could be hailed as the start of computers and computer programming as we know it.

So could the Jacquard loom. You just loaded a different set of punched cards.

I suppose that people could argue that a musical box is programmable by changing the drum to give a different tune. In fact the forerunner of a Juke Box was a device in which you loaded a huge metal disk that had holes punched in it and as the disk was rotated the holes triggered a note. To make the machine work you inserted an old penny.

However I think that the true definition of a computer is as you stated.

Have some Karma.