Charles Babbage
And the Engines of Perfection
Published on 7. January 1999
Book
Hardback
128 pages
978-0-19-508997-4 (ISBN)
Description
Charles Babbage, "the grandfather of the modern computer," did not live to see even one of his calculating machines at work. A dazzling genius with vision extending far beyond the limitations of the Victorian age, Babbage successfully calculated a table of logarithms during his years at Cambridge University, allowing mathematical calculations to be executed with extreme precision. Only the possibility of human error prevented complete accuracy, and Babbage
understood that the only way to attain perfection is to leave the human mind entirely out of the equation. He devoted most of his life and spent most of his private fortune and government stipend trying to
improve his difference engines and analytical engines.Bruce Collier and James MacLachlan chronicle Babbage's education and scientific career, his remarkably active social life and long string of personal tragedies, his forays into philosophy and economics, his successes and failures, and the biggest disappointment of his life-- his ingenious inventions were centuries ahead of the primitive capabilities of Victorian technology.Oxford Portraits in Science is an
on-going series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or
her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.
understood that the only way to attain perfection is to leave the human mind entirely out of the equation. He devoted most of his life and spent most of his private fortune and government stipend trying to
improve his difference engines and analytical engines.Bruce Collier and James MacLachlan chronicle Babbage's education and scientific career, his remarkably active social life and long string of personal tragedies, his forays into philosophy and economics, his successes and failures, and the biggest disappointment of his life-- his ingenious inventions were centuries ahead of the primitive capabilities of Victorian technology.Oxford Portraits in Science is an
on-going series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or
her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.
Reviews / Votes
"Intertwining Babbage's personal life with his work as an inventor, this book tells the story of the mathematician's conception of and work on the first computers.... Informative photos and diagrams illustrate the principles of Babbage's designs. Libraries...will find this book nearly essential."--School Library Journal"A fascinating portrait of Charles Babbage... Generous black and white illustrations enliven the work... Recommended."--Book Report
"One contemporary of Babbage added that 'he more, perhaps, than any other man who ever lived, narrowed the chasm [between] science and practical mechanics'.... A fascinating biography that students are sure to enjoy."--Sarah S. Fox, Books.com
"A fascinating portrait of Charles Babbage... Generous black and white illustrations enliven the work... Recommended."--Book Report
"One contemporary of Babbage added that 'he more, perhaps, than any other man who ever lived, narrowed the chasm [between] science and practical mechanics'.... A fascinating biography that students are sure to enjoy."--Sarah S. Fox, Books.com
"Intertwining Babbage's personal life with his work as an inventor, this book tells the story of the mathematician's conception of and work on the first computers.... Informative photos and diagrams illustrate the principles of Babbage's designs. Libraries...will find this book nearly essential."--School Library Journal
"The book reads easily and drives home Babbage's contribution to the development of the modern computer... As with so many other well-done young adult science books, [this book's] audience could extend to any reader with matching abilities and interests."--Children's Literature
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 12 to 17 years
ISBN-13
978-0-19-508997-4 (9780195089974)
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Schweitzer Classification