Charles Babbage (nonfiction): Difference between revisions
(Created page with "'''Charles Babbage FRS''' (/ˈbæbɪdʒ/; 26 December 1791 –18 October 1871) was an English polymath (nonfiction. A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical...") |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Charles Babbage FRS''' (/ˈbæbɪdʒ/; 26 December 1791 –18 October 1871) was an English [[polymath (nonfiction]]. | '''Charles Babbage FRS''' (/ˈbæbɪdʒ/; 26 December 1791 –18 October 1871) was an English [[polymath (nonfiction]]. | ||
A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage is best remembered for originating the concept of a programmable computer. | == Legacy == | ||
A [[mathematician (nonfiction)]], philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage is best remembered for originating the concept of a programmable computer. | |||
Considered by some to be a "father of the computer", Babbage is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs. | Considered by some to be a "father of the computer", Babbage is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs. | ||
| Line 16: | Line 18: | ||
* [[Ada Lovelace (nonfiction)]] | * [[Ada Lovelace (nonfiction)]] | ||
* [[Mathematician (nonfiction)]] | |||
* [[Polymath (nonfiction)]] | * [[Polymath (nonfiction)]] | ||
| Line 21: | Line 24: | ||
* [[Ada Lovelace]] | * [[Ada Lovelace]] | ||
* [[Mathematician]] | |||
* [[Polymath]] | * [[Polymath]] | ||
Revision as of 12:12, 19 December 2015
Charles Babbage FRS (/ˈbæbɪdʒ/; 26 December 1791 –18 October 1871) was an English polymath (nonfiction.
Legacy
A mathematician (nonfiction), philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage is best remembered for originating the concept of a programmable computer.
Considered by some to be a "father of the computer", Babbage is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs.
His varied work in other fields has led him to be described as "pre-eminent" among the many polymaths of his century.
John Tucker, Professor of Computer Science at Swansea University, however, argues that it was the Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde who first laid down the foundations of these concepts.
Parts of Babbage's uncompleted mechanisms are on display in the London Science Museum.
In 1991, a perfectly functioning difference engine was constructed from Babbage's original plans. Built to tolerances achievable in the 19th century, the success of the finished engine indicated that Babbage's machine would have worked.
Nonfiction cross-reference
Fiction cross-reference
External links
- Charles Babbage @ Wikipedia