The goals of archaeology are to document and explain the origins and
development of human culture, understand culture history, chronicle
cultural evolution, and study human behavior and ecology, for both
prehistoric and historic societies. It is considered, in North America,
to be one of the four sub-fields of anthropology.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology>
Industrial Archeology is a sub-discipline of Archeology. Google <
"Industrial Archeology" + digital>
and one easily finds a list
of cases where digital technology is used to preserve the industrial
past..... On page 5 one starts to find several references to <
Digital Reconstruction>
(VR and CAD) ..... One also finds a few references to the role of
digital processes in (modern) technology -but an archeology of
the digital industry itself seems less easy to find under this heading.
In order to trace the history of computers and
computing
one apparently needs to search specifically on these topics. This
reveals a lot of historical material which is perhaps sometimes biased,
depending on how one defines the first Computer:
- Konrad
Zuse: The Z3 was build with relays and
finished in 1941. While never used in production, it was the world's first
program controlled computer, pre-dating ENIAC by two years.
-
"ENIAC: The Army-Sponsored Revolution"
, by William T. Moye.
An executive summary of the history of computing.
A complete and concise presentation of the origins of the BRL and the ENIAC,
with names, places, and dates. (4 pages)
Specialized Digital Topics:
People:
General Sources:
A Taxonomy of Interactions?
History is not a simple (logical)
progression -but a series of complex interactions involving different
viewpoints from various participants in a continuing dialogue. At best
this can imply an ecology of equilibria and at worst a naked
power struggle between the various participants, their aims and
available tools.
Perhaps these viewpoints fall into the following main categories -some
of which may well contradict viewpoints in other categories:
a: Technical
b: Social
c: Commercial
d. Personal
However, other epistemological elements are possuible:
-
Environment (physical and social, mental)?
-
Social Structure (language, philosophy, science, technology, economic)?
- Actors, aims and Tools?
What do we mean by "Technical", "Culture", "Society", etc....
As often happens, the key to the discovery of recurring patterns that
can enhance our understanding lies in the language we use -particularly
the analysis and definition of the world that gives structure and
meaning to that language.
It would seem that the first step towards "understanding" involves the
construction of an epistemological taxonomy of fundamental concepts.
Some Basic Evolutionary Patterns?
Despite the methodological problems involved in creating a "definitive"
(objective?) history-it would seem that some basic "patterns" might
exist:
a. Concepts and processes are often discovered or invented much earlier than one might imagine:
It can sometimes take quite a while
before the implications of a discovery can be understood and tested in
practice. There are also various (social, commercial, ideological)
factors that might speed up or delay general appliation and acceptance.
b. Adaption and adoption seem to be more common than fundamental invention:
It seems that many "inventors" did not
directly "invent" that which they are famous for. "Analogy" seems to be
an important creative tool which allows processes and ideas that common
in one area to be mapped and applied creatively in another area. Trully
"fundamental" thinking is not only rare but also seems to be
discouraged -perhaps because of the havoc it can cause in the existing
system.
c.
Conceptual development is not Linier:
Although some concepts and processes
might be clarified as a result of a wide range of empirical
experience -in many cases the clarity of the original concepts can
become obscured by subseqent layers of "pragmatic" adaption to fit
naturally changing circumstances. Sometimes, trying to "re-invent" the
wheel can be very clarifying.
Methodological Problems:
Sources can be biased, based on
incorrect or incomplete information and knowledge. Even if honest and
well intentioned, people's experiences of the same event can vary
according to differences in time, place and cultural background.
However, as more people get involved, more material emerges and the
more complete (and complex) the picture becomes.
------------------------------------
The History of Computing Project:
Starting up.
The project's origin lays in 1986 when somebody asked the
original author (Cornelis
Robat) during a course he gave: a kind of "101
introduction to computing".
At that time he did not have a solid answer. Because who thought about
that in those days. Computer people were all very, very busy to keep up
with things changing around them at the speed of light. The computer
revolution hadn't really started yet! Let alone that someone was
interested in the history of it, there was no history.
Is this a complete (his)story?
By all means NO! Mainly because data on a certain period is still missing,
or contributors omitted some info not known at the time they have sent us their
material. Another lacuna in our story is for example computer history from Russia, China
and Japan. There is little known about these areas. Though in the last few years
information is slowly coming on line. And what happened in Africa and South
America in this field. No, the story will never be complete.
The above is the main reason that this material is published in electronic form
and not as a hardcopy; that would be a book of some 2000 pages thick. ;=) So
it is relatively easy to make corrections and publish it, just costing a few
bytes on the internet.
------------------------------------
The Lemelson-MIT Program:
The
Lemelson-MIT Program celebrates those inventors
who have turned their ideas into accomplishments. We foster an enthusiasm
for asking—and answering—the questions that change lives.
Learn how our acclaimed
awards and
outreach
programs inspire the next generation of inventors, and explore our
unique
Invention Dimension.
------------------------------------
Search Pages: