Programming for Absolute Beginners: Using the JavaScript Programming Language

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to APress Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023

J. BartlettProgramming for Absolute Beginnershttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-8751-4_2

2. A Short History of Computers

Jonathan Bartlett¹  

(1)

Tulsa, OK, USA

 

The history of computers is weird and wonderful. What started as an abstract philosophical quest ended up setting the course for society for over a century and continues to be one of the most profound parts of modern life. The goal of this chapter is to trace an outline of where computing started, where it has been, and where it is now.

2.1 The Prehistory of Computers

Humans have always had tools. Humans have built fires, made spears, and built houses from the beginning. At first, however, technology ...