Analytical Engine: Difference between revisions
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The '''Analytical Engine''', proposed and extensively prototyped, but never competed, by [[Charles Babbage]] was an advanced [[computing device]], the first [[program]]mable (and thus ''necessarily'' general-purpose) computing device ever. It was entirely [[digital]], but all mechanical; prototyping began in the 1860's. Its program was fixed, and stored on [[punched card]]s. | The '''Analytical Engine''', proposed and extensively prototyped, but never competed, by [[Charles Babbage]], was an advanced [[computing device]], the first [[program]]mable (and thus ''necessarily'' general-purpose) computing device ever. It was entirely [[digital]], but all mechanical; prototyping began in the 1860's. Its program was fixed, and stored on [[punched card]]s. | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
* L. F. Menabrea, [https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Lovelace/menabrea.htm ''Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage, Esq.''] - not the most comprehensible description, | * L. F. Menabrea, [https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Lovelace/menabrea.htm ''Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage, Esq.''] - not the most comprehensible description, but the only record of Babbage's only attempt to publicly describe the high-level goals of the Analytical Engine work; very famous, in part because of the following 'Notes' | ||
** Augusta Ada Byron King, Countess of Lovelace, [https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Lovelace/lovelace.htm ''Notes by the Translator''] - extensive (over twice the length of the original!) technical notes to the above by Lady Ada | ** Augusta Ada Byron King, Countess of Lovelace, [https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Lovelace/lovelace.htm ''Notes by the Translator''] - extensive (over twice the length of the original!) technical notes to the above by Lady Ada, based on her private discussions with Babbage | ||
<!-- https://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/sketch.html - another transcription --> | <!-- https://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/sketch.html - another transcription --> | ||
* [https://repository.ou.edu/uuid/6235e086-c11a-56f6-b50d-1b1f5aaa3f5e#page/1/mode/2up ''Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage, Esq.''] - scan of the original 1843 publication | * [https://repository.ou.edu/uuid/6235e086-c11a-56f6-b50d-1b1f5aaa3f5e#page/1/mode/2up ''Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage, Esq.''] - scan of the original 1843 publication | ||
* Philip and Emily Morrison, ''Charles Babbage and his Calculating Engines'', Dover Publications, New York, 1961 | * Philip and Emily Morrison, ''Charles Babbage and his Calculating Engines'', Dover Publications, New York, 1961 - also contains reprints of other material | ||
* Bruce Collier, [http://robroy.dyndns.info/collier/ ''The Little Engines that Could've: The Calculating Machines of Charles Babbage''], Harvard University, Cambridge, 1970 - includes a good description of the machines | * Bruce Collier, [http://robroy.dyndns.info/collier/ ''The Little Engines that Could've: The Calculating Machines of Charles Babbage''], Harvard University, Cambridge, 1970 - includes a good description of the machines | ||
Latest revision as of 14:47, 1 December 2024
The Analytical Engine, proposed and extensively prototyped, but never competed, by Charles Babbage, was an advanced computing device, the first programmable (and thus necessarily general-purpose) computing device ever. It was entirely digital, but all mechanical; prototyping began in the 1860's. Its program was fixed, and stored on punched cards.
Further reading
- L. F. Menabrea, Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage, Esq. - not the most comprehensible description, but the only record of Babbage's only attempt to publicly describe the high-level goals of the Analytical Engine work; very famous, in part because of the following 'Notes'
- Augusta Ada Byron King, Countess of Lovelace, Notes by the Translator - extensive (over twice the length of the original!) technical notes to the above by Lady Ada, based on her private discussions with Babbage
- Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage, Esq. - scan of the original 1843 publication
- Philip and Emily Morrison, Charles Babbage and his Calculating Engines, Dover Publications, New York, 1961 - also contains reprints of other material
- Bruce Collier, The Little Engines that Could've: The Calculating Machines of Charles Babbage, Harvard University, Cambridge, 1970 - includes a good description of the machines
External links
- Plan 28 Blog - a group of people, led by Doron Swade, planning to build an Analytical Engine
