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2012 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

2. What Is a Computer?

Author: Gerard O’Regan

Publisher: Springer London

Published in: A Brief History of Computing

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Abstract

Computers are an integral part of modern society, and new technology has transformed the world into a global village. Communication is now conducted using text messaging, e-mail, mobile phones, video calls over the Internet using Skype and social media sites such as Facebook. The new technology makes it easier for people to keep in touch with friends and family around the world and allows business to be conducted in a global market.

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The Whirlwind computer (developed in the early 1950s and discussed in Chap. 4) occupied an entire building. One room contained the operating console consisting of several input and output devices.

Leibniz is credited (along with Newton) with the development of the calculus.

Germanium is an important semiconductor material used in transistors and other electronic devices.

Mor:65.

Moore, G.: Cramming more components onto integrated circuits. Elect. Mag. 38, 14–117 (1965)

VN:45.

von Neumann, J.: First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC. University of Pennsylvania (1945)

Title

What Is a Computer?

Book

A Brief History of Computing

Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-2358-3

Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4471-2359-0

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2359-0

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2359-0_2

Author:

Gerard O’Regan

Publisher

Springer London

Sequence number

Chapter number

Chapter 2