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CHARLES BABBAGE. Father of computing. Had there been a “Gifted Program” at Trinity College in Cambridge, England in the year 1811, Charles Babbage would have been a prime candidate for the class. BORN BRILLIANT.
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CHARLES BABBAGE Father of computing
Had there been a “Gifted Program” at Trinity College in Cambridge, England in the year 1811, Charles Babbage would have been a prime candidate for the class
BORN BRILLIANT • Born in London on December 26, 1791, Babbage taught himself algebra when he was young. • By the time Babbage entered Trinity College, his math skills surpassed those of his tutors.
In 1812, Babbage Co-Founded the Analytical Society for the purpose of promoting Continental Mathematics. It is believed that this is when he first conceived the idea of an advanced calculating machine that could calculate and print mathematical tables. A MATHEMATICIAN IN THE CALCULUS OF FUNCTIONS
Elected a “Fellow” in 1816 at the age of 25. • Main criterion for election: scientific excellence. “…a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge including mathematics, engineering science and medical science." Fellow of the Royal Society
In 1821 Babbage invented an engine to manufacture error-free mathematical tables. Difference Engine No.1 was the world's first programmable automatic digital calculating machine. The only human intervention required was setting the machine to start the production of a table and then turning its handle. consumed with passion for calculating machinery!
For more twelve years Babbage labored over the design of Difference Engine #1. While recognized by respected scientific institutions, his invention exceeded the technology available at the time. Eventually government funding for the development of the Difference Machine was suspended and the project was abandoned.
Between 1847 and 1849 Babbage designed, but did not build, Difference Engine No.2 • Using Babbage’s plans and contemporary manufacturing capabilities, No. 2 was successfully constructed by the Science Museum of London in 1989-1991.
to create absolutely accurate mathematical tables, Babbage changed his focus to designing the Analytical Machine. . DRIVEN BY DESIRE…
The Analytical Engine • Built before the dawn of electronics, the Analytical worked by a series of gears and levers. • It could perform any kind of calculation (as opposed to just a single mathematical operation). • The Engine was programmed using punch cards.
lifelong quest comes to an end The Analytical Engine was only partially built by the time Babbage died in 1871. His son continued his work after his death, but the Analytical Engine was never successfully completed. At best it was capable of running only a few programs loaded with errors.
Despite their shortcomings, the Difference and Analytical Engines are among the most celebrated icons in the prehistory of computer technology. • Today Babbage is remembered for his efforts to reform organized science of his time by urging the government and the Statistical Society to give more money and importance to scientific endeavors. • While he is recognized for many achievements and contributions, the fact that he failed to actually construct his calculating machines left him a “disappointed and embittered man” in his later years. • Babbage died on October 18, 1871 in his home in London. Today, he is sometimes referred to as the “father of computing”. • Babbage's brain is preserved at the Science Museum in London.
Forerunner of the Modern Computer Click on the Image to watch a video of Babbage’s Engine in motion.
A Comparative View of the Various Institutions for the Assurance of Lives (1826) Table of Logarithms of the Natural Numbers from 1 to 108, 000 (1827) Reflections on the Decline of Science in England (1830) On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures (1832) Ninth Bridgewater Treatise (1837) Passages from the Life of a Philosopher (1864) Charles Babbage’s Published Works
AUTOMATE:to operate or control by mechanical process CALCULUS a method of calculation, esp. one of several highly systematic methods of treating problems by a special system of algebraic notations CONTINENTAL MATHEMATICS: a method of mathematical analysis using the Leibniz approach to calculus rather than Newton’s. FINITE: capable of being completely counted. INFINITE: unlimited or immeasurable in extent of space, duration of time, etc LEIBNIZ: focused more on the infinite and the abstract. NEWTON: based on limits and concrete reality. REFORM:the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory SUBASSEMBLIES:a structural assembly, as of electronic or machine parts, forming part of a larger assembly ZEALOT: an excessively zealous person; fanatic GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Who did Charles Babbage socialize with? What entertainment did he enjoy? What did Charles Babbage consider to be his greatest accomplishment given that the Difference and Analytical did not come to fruition during his lifetime? Tell Me More, Tell Me more…
Bellis, Mary. "The Analytical Engine a Computing Device." Charles Babbage. 13 Apr. 2009 <inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventors/a/Charles_Babbage.htm >. "Category:Fellows of the Royal Society - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 20 Apr. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fellows_of_the_Royal_Society>. "Charles Babbage's First Difference Engine - Charles Babbage's First Difference Engine." Charles Babbage's First Difference Engine - Charles Babbage's First Difference Engine. 21 Apr. 2009 <http://babbagedifferenceengine.googlepages.com/>. "Newton vs. Leibniz; The Calculus Controversy." Free Website Hosting – Angelfire free website templates to make your own free website. 21 Apr. 2009 <http://www.angelfire.com/md/byme/mathsample.html>. "The Babbage Engine | Computer History Museum." Computer History Museum. 21 Apr. 2009 <http://www.computerhistory.org/babbage/>. "The Fellowship and Foreign Membership of the Royal Society ." The Royal Society - the UK's national academy of science. 20 Apr. 2009 <http://royalsociety.org/page.asp?id=2210>. "Who Was Charles Babbage? ." Charles Babbage Institute. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://www.cbi.umn.edu/about/babbage.html, >. carte-de-visite, Henri Claudetalbumen, and 1962Photographs Collection. "National Portrait Gallery - Portrait NPG Ax18347; Charles Babbage." National Portrait Gallery - Home. 20 Apr. 2009 <http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp00196&rNo=3>. WORKS CITED
Applications of Technology in Schools, TIE 532 Spring 2009 juliaalsirt