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The Computer

A History from the 17th Century to Today
By Jens Müller
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Brief Description
The story of the evolution of machines in computer history is filled with the disruptive innovations that have led to today's world. From the early beginnings of computing, through the bulky mainframe era, to the rise of the personal computer era, we now find ourselves in... Read More
Format: Hardback
$12000
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Releases 15th November 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "The Computer" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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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 filled with the disruptive innovations that have led to today's world. From the early beginnings of computing, through the bulky mainframe era, to the rise of the personal computer era, we now find ourselves in an almost entirely digital age.

The Computer explores the journey from the first ideas of a calculating machine in the 19th century and early experiments with autonomous driving in the 1920s, to the oversized office computers of the 1950s, leading up to today's laptops and wearables. Jens Müller delivers a visual understanding of the emergence of the Information Age by 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 The book combines compelling visuals, historical documents, and in-depth explanations to reveal significant events in computer history, encompassing inventions in machines, coding, and software development, as well as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, while showcasing forgotten gadgets and prototypes that connect to iconic products such as the Apple Macintosh and the Sony Play Station. The book also remembers milestones in software development, video gaming, and the web. Infographics elucidate 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.

As 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 arrived at our current technological age and helps us pose better questions about where we will be tomorrow.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783754406755

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 07 November 2026

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Edition: Multilingual edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 210.0mm

Height: 315.0mm

Weight: 2324g

Pages: 472

Collections

Arts & Culture Computing & Technology Education & Reference Jens Müller Non-Fiction Non-Fiction Pre-Orders Pre-order Books Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date

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 a partner of Vista design studio in Düsseldorf and professor of corporate design at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

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