Babbage's Difference and Analytical Engines
In 1822, Charles Babbage began working on the Difference Engine. His hope was that this device would calculate numbers to the twentieth place and then print them at 44 digits a minute. The original purpose was to be used to navigate ships, since the navigation tables were so inaccurate...but because of mechanical problems, the Difference Engine never worked properly. Still, he is know as the "Father of Computers".

Babbage then began working on the Analytical Engine. This machine performed calculations by following a set of instructions, or "programs" entered into it using punched cards similar to Jacquard's. It to was not successful, however, its design was to serve as a model for the modern computer. The punched card was one of the first ways to input data into a computer. A punch represented a one and no punch represented a zero.

His chief collaborator on the Analytical Engine was Lady Ada Augusta, Countess of Lovelace, the daughter of Lord Byron. She sponsored the Engine because of her interest in mathematics. She is also known as the first programmer.

Babbage had hoped that the Analytical Engine would be able to play chess, thinking out and making brilliant moves. Lady Lovelace said the engine could never "originate anything." She did not believe that a machine, no matter how powerful, could think. That remains true to this day.
 


Babbage

The First Programmer

Punched Cards

Difference and Analytical Engines

Previous Page

History of Computers Home Page

Next Page