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The Computer. A History from the 17th Century to Today

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( 15 ratings, 4 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Computer. A History from the 17th Century to Today traces the fascinating evolution of computing machines from their conceptual birth in the 19th century to the digital devices that dominate modern life. Jens Müller presents a richly illustrated journey through the milestones of technology, highlighting pioneers like Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage, and Alan Turing as well as corporate giants such as IBM, Apple, and Google. The book melds compelling visuals, rare photographs, and infographics to explore the invention of hardware, software development, videogaming, and the profound social and political impact of computing innovations over three centuries.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for technology enthusiasts, historians, and anyone curious about the cultural, economic, and political dimensions of computing history. This visually rich account appeals to a broad audience interested in understanding the development and societal impact of computers from past to present.

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From analog to digital, mainframes to mobile phones-with photos, ads, and concept drawings of inventions that ushered in the digital era, this visual survey of the Information Age reveals how the computer and the Internet irreversibly transformed our world.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The story of the evolution of machines in computer history is full of the disruptive innovations that have led to today's world. From the early beginnings of computing to the bulky mainframe to the personal computer era, we now live in an almost entirely digital age.

The Computer explores steps from the first ideas of a calculating machine in the 19th century and early experiments with autonomous driving in the 1920s to oversized office computers in the 1950s to laptops and wearables of today. Jens Müller delivers a visual understanding of the emergence of the Information Age that hasn't been shown before. Tracing the stories of tech visionaries, pioneers, and entrepreneurs, the book combines compelling visuals, historical documents, and in-depth explanations to reveal significant events in computer history. It encompasses the invention of machines, coding, and software development, as well as technology's influence on today's political landscape.

This survey presents creations from Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage, Alan Turing, Grace Hopper, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs. It showcases forgotten gadgets and prototypes connecting iconic products such as the Apple Macintosh and the Sony PlayStation, while also remembering milestones in software development, videogaming, and the web. Infographics explain wireless communication and other fundamental technical concepts, while the history of corporations such as IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Atari, Amazon, and Google is retraced through rare photographs and advertising campaigns.

A fascinating read, this book acknowledges the computer's stupendous power and social impact. For techies and everyone interested in culture, economics, politics, and science, it illustrates how we got here today and helps us ask better questions about where we will be tomorrow.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised as an "addicting illustrated history" by the Chicago Tribune, and described as "a museum exhibit of sorts, held between covers," this book is celebrated for its quality and scope. Design Week highlights its coverage from mainframes to personal devices, while Retro Gamer commends its sheer quality. The Creative Review calls it a glorious detail of 300 years of tech progress, and the Telegraph notes its engaging focus on tech visionaries and pioneers. Additionally, Wallpaper* describes it as a monumental and visually captivating survey of society's relationship with technology.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783836573344

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 06 April 2023

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Edition: Multilingual edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 47.0mm

Width: 246.0mm

Height: 372.0mm

Weight: 4100g

Pages: 472

About the Author

Jens Müller was born in Koblenz, Germany, in 1982 and studied graphic design. Recipient of numerous national and international design awards, he is creative director of Vista design studio in Düsseldorf and professor of corporate design at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Author and editor of several books, Müller researches the history of graphic design and corporate identity.

Julius Wiedemann studied graphic design and marketing and was an art editor for newspapers and design magazines in Tokyo before joining TASCHEN in 2001. His titles include the Illustration Now! and Record Covers series, as well as the infographics collection and books about advertising and visual culture.

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