Origins and Foundations of Computing: In Cooperation with Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum
The Heinz Nixdorf Museum Forum (HNF) is the world’s largest c- puter museum and is dedicated to portraying the past, present and future of information technology. In the “Year of Informatics 2006” the HNF was particularly keen to examine the history of this still quite young discipline. The short-lived nature of information technologies means that individuals, inventions, devices, institutes and companies“age” more rapidly than in many other specialties. And in the nature of things the group of computer pioneers from the early days is growing smaller all the time. To supplement a planned new exhibit on “Software and Inform- ics” at the HNF, the idea arose of recording the history of informatics in an accompanying publication. My search for suitable sources and authors very quickly cameupwith the right answer, the very rst name in Germany: Friedrich L. Bauer, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the TU in Munich, one of the - thers of informatics in Germany and for decades the indefatigable author of the“Historical Notes” column of the journal Informatik Spektrum. Friedrich L. Bauer was already the author of two works on the history of informatics, published in different decades and in different books. Both of them are notable for their knowledgeable, extremely comp- hensive and yet compact style. My obvious course was to motivate this author to amalgamate, supplement and illustrate his previous work.
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Origins and Foundations of Computing: In Cooperation with Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum
The Heinz Nixdorf Museum Forum (HNF) is the world’s largest c- puter museum and is dedicated to portraying the past, present and future of information technology. In the “Year of Informatics 2006” the HNF was particularly keen to examine the history of this still quite young discipline. The short-lived nature of information technologies means that individuals, inventions, devices, institutes and companies“age” more rapidly than in many other specialties. And in the nature of things the group of computer pioneers from the early days is growing smaller all the time. To supplement a planned new exhibit on “Software and Inform- ics” at the HNF, the idea arose of recording the history of informatics in an accompanying publication. My search for suitable sources and authors very quickly cameupwith the right answer, the very rst name in Germany: Friedrich L. Bauer, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the TU in Munich, one of the - thers of informatics in Germany and for decades the indefatigable author of the“Historical Notes” column of the journal Informatik Spektrum. Friedrich L. Bauer was already the author of two works on the history of informatics, published in different decades and in different books. Both of them are notable for their knowledgeable, extremely comp- hensive and yet compact style. My obvious course was to motivate this author to amalgamate, supplement and illustrate his previous work.
37.99 In Stock
Origins and Foundations of Computing: In Cooperation with Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum

Origins and Foundations of Computing: In Cooperation with Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum

Origins and Foundations of Computing: In Cooperation with Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum

Origins and Foundations of Computing: In Cooperation with Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum

Hardcover(2010)

$37.99 
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Overview

The Heinz Nixdorf Museum Forum (HNF) is the world’s largest c- puter museum and is dedicated to portraying the past, present and future of information technology. In the “Year of Informatics 2006” the HNF was particularly keen to examine the history of this still quite young discipline. The short-lived nature of information technologies means that individuals, inventions, devices, institutes and companies“age” more rapidly than in many other specialties. And in the nature of things the group of computer pioneers from the early days is growing smaller all the time. To supplement a planned new exhibit on “Software and Inform- ics” at the HNF, the idea arose of recording the history of informatics in an accompanying publication. My search for suitable sources and authors very quickly cameupwith the right answer, the very rst name in Germany: Friedrich L. Bauer, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the TU in Munich, one of the - thers of informatics in Germany and for decades the indefatigable author of the“Historical Notes” column of the journal Informatik Spektrum. Friedrich L. Bauer was already the author of two works on the history of informatics, published in different decades and in different books. Both of them are notable for their knowledgeable, extremely comp- hensive and yet compact style. My obvious course was to motivate this author to amalgamate, supplement and illustrate his previous work.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9783642029912
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date: 11/17/2009
Edition description: 2010
Pages: 142
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

The author was among the pioneers in computing science, and he was deeply engaged in some of the developments outlined in the book.

Table of Contents

Preamble 1

The Roots of Informatics 3

Informatics and Mathematics 3

Numerical Calculations 7

Arithmetic Computation and Its Mechanization 7

Computation in the Binary Number System 14

Floating-Point Arithmetic 18

Calculations Using Symbols 23

Cryptology 23

Logical Calculation 27

Codes Used in Data Transmission Technology 30

The Principle of Binary Coding 35

Mathematical Roots of the Burgeoning Science of Informatics 36

After 1890: In Thrall to Mechanical and Electromechanical Devices 41

Mechanization and Automation of Digital Calculations 41

Mechanical and Electrical Cryptological Instruments 46

Message Coding Technology and Information Theory 53

Instruments and Machines for Propositional Calculus, Signaling and Safety Technology 55

Digression into Analog Computers 57

Musical Boxes and Other Precursors of Automata 62

Automata, the Principle of Automatic Machines 63

Process Control as a Precursor of Program Control 64

Universal Program Control 67

Feedback and Regulation 70

After 1935: Formal Languages and Algorithms, ‘Universal Machines’ and Electronic Solutions 73

Basic Data Structures 76

Binary Arithmetic 77

Floating-Point Arithmetic 80

Unlimited Integer Arithmetic 81

The Binary Principle 83

Recursive Data Structures and Syntax Diagrams 84

Basic Operative Structures 86

Algorithms 86

Algorithmic Languages 88

Recursion 90

The von Neumann Machine 91

Sequential Formula Translation and Pushdown Mechanisms 93

High-Level Programming Languages and Algorithms 95

Machine-Oriented Programming 98

The End of Analog Computers 100

Systems 100

Recognition Systems 101

Cryptanalysis 104

Effects of Cryptanalysis 106

Networked Systems 107

Digression into Electronic Circuits, Devices and Machines 111

After 1960: Informatics Begins to Take Shape 113

Applications 114

Constructive Logic – ‘Proofs as Programs’, ‘CIP’ 115

Programming Languages 116

Software Engineering 118

The Transition to Minicomputers and Highest-Performance Computers 119

Conclusion: Informatics and Microelectronics Are Mutually Dependent 123

Index 129

Index of Figures 139

Selected Readings 141

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