This book is brilliant if you want a excellent and comprehensive book on an introduction to a History of modern computing. I first used this book to complete a project on the world wide web and the Internet and I found it to be very detailed and it also has great pictures to accompany the text that is written in this book. This book can be used as a textbook, for courses like GCSE or A Level Information technology or computer studies or GNVQ in health and social care. (I personally used it for both, I have also used this book for the HND course that I am presently on). I think this book could also be used for people/ students who want a more detailed introduction into A history of modern computing
Synopsis of this book- A history of modern computing
This book covers everything that you need to know about the history of modern computing, from the development of the first digital computer though to the design and implementation of today’s world wide web.
This book has nine main chapters each with a period of time and what major developments happened over that period of time. The time span of this book is from 1945 to 1995.
Lets go into these in more detail. The heading and time spans in this book as follows:-
I have decied to concentrate in detail on the sections of the book with a astrix (*) next to the heading
The advent of the commercial computing 1945-1956 * Computing comes of age 1956-1964* The early history of software 1952-1968* From mainframe to minicomputer 1959-1969 The Go-Go years and the system/360 1961-1975 The chip and its impact 1965-1975 The personal computer 1972-1977 Augmenting Human Intellect 1975-1985* Workstations, UNIX and the Internet 1981-1995 *The advent of the commercial computing 1945-1956
This section contains everything that you need to know on the advent of the commercial computing between 1945 and 1956. This section of this book covers the following subject area’s in detail / headings as follows:- the computer revolution and the history of technology, punched cards, the card programmed calculator, the stored program principle. This section of the book also covers the following subjects as well;- Jon von Neumann’s role, Jon von Neumann’s architecture and it’s significance, IBM, and also drum machines.
Computing comes of age 1956-1964
This section contains everything that you need to know on Computing comes of age from 1956 to 1964. There are many subjects that are covered in this section of the book. Some of the main subjects are covered in a lot of detail, which include:- core memory, GE, a primer on computer architecture and the rise of IBM. Other subjects which are covered but not in much detail as the above include the following subject topics:- word length, number of address, philco, disk storage and also a description of 7094 installation. I found this section very detailed, comprehensive when using it to complete assignments/ essays.
The early history of software 1952-1968
This section contains everything that you need to know on the early history of software. I particularly found this section of the book very interesting and also useful. This section of the book uses a fair amount of technical terms, which are explained excellently. Subjects that are covered in this book include SHARE 1955, FORTRA also COBOL
From mainframe to minicomputer 1959-1969
This section contains everything that you need to know on mainframe to minicomputer from 1959 to 1969. This section of the book covers the subjects from NASA’s manned space program to the minicomputer. A very interesting chapter.
The Go-Go years and the system/360 1961-1975
This section contains everything that you need to know on The Go-Go years and the system/360 from 1961-1975. This section of the book covers the following subjects IBM system/360, the period of soaring stocks, leasing companies, compatible mainframes, and also software houses. A very interesting and comprehensive chapter.
The chip and its impact 1965-1975
This section contains everything that you need to know on the chip and its impact. It particularly focus on Herbert Grosh and J.Presper Eckert. A very interesting chapter.
The personal computer 1972-1977
This section contains everything that you need to know on The personal computer from 1972 to1977. Subjects that are covered in this section of the book include,:- calculators and corporate personal computer projects, the microprocessor, from the microprocessor to personal computer, and also system software- the final chapter. This chapter is very useful if you want to know the history behind the personal computer.
Augmenting Human Intellect 1975-1985
This section contains everything that you need to know on Augmenting Human Intellect (AHI). I found this section of the book interesting because it tells you in detail what change’s Augmenting Human Intellect have been through. This section of the book includes the following subjects in detail:- digital equipment corporation, personal computers- the second wave, 1977-1985, IBM PC, MS-DOS, and also Macintosh (1984).
Workstations, UNIX and the Internet 1981-1995
This section contains everything that you need to know on Workstations, UNIX and the Internet between the years of 1981 and 1995. I personally think that this is the best chapter in the whole of the book, because it covers the subject area’s brilliantly and in so much detail. The subject area’s that are covered in this book in detail are:- UNIX- from New Jersey to California, VAX strategy, RISC, Ethernet, Networking, Internet, World Wide Web and also , Mosic. I brilliant written chapter.
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