The Machine That Changed the World
The Machine That Changed the World is a 1992 documentary series on the history of electronic digital computers, from the dawn of the computer in the 1800s to the early 1990s. The series consists of five episodes: the first episode "Giant Brains" tells the story of the birth of computers; the second episode "Inventing the Future" chronicles the rough times experienced by the computer pioneers; the third episode "The Paperback Computer" looks at the development of the personal computer and user interfaces; the fourth episode "The Thinking Machine" explores the topic of artificial intelligence; and the fifth and final episode "The World at Your Fingertips" focuses on global information networks including the Internet, and the communication benefits and privacy risks they create.
| Episode 1 - Giant Brains |
Episode 1 - Giant Brains
This episode tells the story of the birth of computers, from Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace in the 1800s to the first working computers of the 1940s.
Episode 2 - Inventing the Future
This episode chronicles the rough times experienced by the computer pioneers, until the industry took off and changed the way the world does business.
Episode 3 - The Paperback Computer
This episode looks at the development of the personal computer and user interfaces, from Doug Engelbart and Xerox PARC to the Apple and IBM PCs.
Episode 4 - The Thinking Machine
This episode covers the history of artificial intelligence and the challenges that come from trying to teach computers to think and learn like us.
Episode 5 - The World at Your Fingertips
This episode focuses on global information networks including the Internet, and the communication benefits and privacy risks they create.
| Related Links |
| Computer - wikipedia A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. |
| A History of Computing in Three Parts This program will explore the history of computing from three novel standpoints. Jonathan Bowen reflects on the life and work of Alan Turing. Martin Campbell-Kelly reconstructs a history of computing from colour depictions. And Doron Swade will give a lecture tracing the origins of the core concepts of modern computing. |
| Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace The central figure of 19th-century computing was Charles Babbage (1791-1871), who may be said to have pioneered the modern computer age with his 'difference engines' and his 'analytical engine'. |
| Computer Pioneers and Pioneer Computers This is a two part program hosted by computer pioneer Gordon Bell, on the evolution of electronic computing from its pre-World War II origins through the development of the first commercial computers. |
| The Creation of the Computer Rudimentary calculating devices first appeared in antiquity and mechanical calculating aids were invented in the 17th century. |
| Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires This is a PBS documentary series hosted by Bob Cringely, telling a history of personal computers from its beginning in the 1970s to the release of Windows 95 in the mid 1990s. |
| Personal Computing: Historic Beginnings The roots of "personal computers" - that is, machines that are not shared between users - date back to at least the late 1950s. |
| The Secret Life of Machines (Series 3) This is a television series presented by Tim Hunkin and Rex Garrod, concentrating on office-related technology such as word processors, photocopiers and fax machines. |