24-10-2012, 11:05 AM
Didn’t see the prog, so can’t comment.
On any programme about the origins and history of computing, I’d have thought that Charles Babbage, (1791 – 1871), was worth a mention, for it was he who originated the concept of a programmable computer and is widely considered to be the "father of the computer” having been credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs.
Parts of his 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. An amazingly complex and most impressive piece of equipment, not to be missed on any visit to the Science Museum.
As to Caxton, though he introduced printing to England, he didn’t actually invent the printing press – credit for that must go to Johannes Gutenberg (1398 – 1468) who was the first European to use movable type printing. In around 1439 he introduced printing to Europe and it rapidly throughout Europe and later the rest of the world. His invention of mechanical movable type printing started the Printing Revolution - arguably the most important invention in the last 600 years. It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment and laid the foundations to spread of learning to the masses.
In his honour, the ‘Gutenberg Project’ has collated more than 4,000 books which can be downloaded FOC:
http://www.gutenberg.org/
William Caxton (1415-1422? – 1492) was of course hugely important and is thought to be the first English person to work as a printer and the first to introduce a printing press into England. He was also the first English retailer of printed books (his London peers in the same trade were all Flemish, German or French).
Caxton had an enormous influence at a time when the English language was in a state of flux, and he’s credited with standardising the English language (homogenising regional dialects) through printing. This facilitated the expansion of English vocabulary, the regularisation of inflection and syntax, and a widening gap between the spoken and the written word, which until then, didn’t have much in the way of standardised spelling.
On any programme about the origins and history of computing, I’d have thought that Charles Babbage, (1791 – 1871), was worth a mention, for it was he who originated the concept of a programmable computer and is widely considered to be the "father of the computer” having been credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs.
Parts of his 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. An amazingly complex and most impressive piece of equipment, not to be missed on any visit to the Science Museum.
As to Caxton, though he introduced printing to England, he didn’t actually invent the printing press – credit for that must go to Johannes Gutenberg (1398 – 1468) who was the first European to use movable type printing. In around 1439 he introduced printing to Europe and it rapidly throughout Europe and later the rest of the world. His invention of mechanical movable type printing started the Printing Revolution - arguably the most important invention in the last 600 years. It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment and laid the foundations to spread of learning to the masses.
In his honour, the ‘Gutenberg Project’ has collated more than 4,000 books which can be downloaded FOC:
http://www.gutenberg.org/
William Caxton (1415-1422? – 1492) was of course hugely important and is thought to be the first English person to work as a printer and the first to introduce a printing press into England. He was also the first English retailer of printed books (his London peers in the same trade were all Flemish, German or French).
Caxton had an enormous influence at a time when the English language was in a state of flux, and he’s credited with standardising the English language (homogenising regional dialects) through printing. This facilitated the expansion of English vocabulary, the regularisation of inflection and syntax, and a widening gap between the spoken and the written word, which until then, didn’t have much in the way of standardised spelling.
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
