Since antiquity, man been tempted para elucidate answers to anticipate the future. In this search has developed cognitive foundations that have given meaning, security and veracity of claims, projections of events, experiences and knowledge transmitted to the rest of the society and culture general.
The Philosophy as the mother of knowledge, preceded the mathematics and marcor two essential routes that are the cornerstones of cognitive thought human, rationalism empirical, based on knowledge tangible direct and Platonism, based on ideas immaterial, absolute, perfect, infinite, eternal and immutable, independent of the physical world. In one way stricter, the differentiation of the particular and the universal. Thus the knowledge or theories knowledge in its origin and branching develop the wide range of branches today know it.
Computer Science and the Information Technology (IT) have, so to speak, a genealogical same dilemma. The Western world, believes that the birth of these arises from a branch consisting of mathematics, however, their Genesis has two good starting points defined.
The history us sample as, from the beginning of the modernity there was an interest in applying the geometry and mathematics to mechanics, obtaining so, machines or processes by which could produce or reproduce actions repetitive consistent results. In the eagerness mechanical created the first machines that could produce estimates automatically. This will conform to its concept that computer or computing, arose solely from the logical conceptualization of the process algebraic mathematicians.
However, history shows otherwise. The concept defined above, appears to be framed in the mystification of the genesis of computing as a science. In fact, it is through the abstraction mathematical is reached conceptualize the computer, but through the particularly accurate solutions for processes or operations order specific practicality.
The company, which will mark the history of computing and establish a large part to the terminology used today computer and computer, was born in 1911, the conjunction of four companies pioneers, the engine company. The company born that year, was Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR), Whose name from 1924 was the International Business Machine,Inc.
(IBM), who combines the four mechanical experience, coupled with the new electromechanical processes and electromagnetic and made it possible to produce the required for automatic data processing nascent and alphanumeric information, using as a home memory the cards tape or punched using as the input and output machines.
The years following the Great Recession and before the Second War, Scored for the IBM, the impulse to develop new technologies, which led to away from its initial business of the commission by the Social Security (U.S. Department of Social Security) to record and beneficiaries massive computing system “State Welfare / Wallfare ” and then the calculation Ballistic Force Navy (U.S. Navy).
It is up to 30 years of the twentieth century that scientific, technical and process studies computer, using mechanical means, mathematical and geometric (algebra and trigonometry) to obtain data quantifiable observations, research and practical applications. We looked for concrete results facts, to bring into the surrounding reality. Not there is a quest for absolute truths and abstract by the mere fact of obtaining a differentiation elucidated.
In 1933, J. Eckert, designed and controlor through a first program the electromechanical functions two of the unison machines operated by a cable. The Eckert works gave rise to investigations computer-scientific University of Columbia, NY.
John V. Atanasoff, meanwhile, in collaboration with his assistant Clifford E. Berry, built at the University of Iowa in 1939, the first processor no-analog, the which called ABC (Atanasoff-Berry-Computer) with three beginning basic use binary system the independence memory and digital operation, non-mechanics for general use calculation.
At the same time, Howard H. Aiken, designs and builds the Mark I (ASCC – Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator -) at the Institute of Technology Massachusetts, Harvard University, under the sponsorship and investment IBM, for the U.S. Navy (U.S. Navy) for the calculation of ballistic trajectories military.
The five-year program required (1939-1944), using the concepts of Charles Babbage and programming via punch cards. It was not until 1973, when it was shown that we plagiarized Mark designs and concepts intellectual property Atanasoff, was considered the first computer automatically.
The “Rule of Computation”, based on calculation logarithmic and optical instruments, allowed to quickly calculate the trajectory of a bomb dropped from the sky by the original aircraft or a shell from land or sea to break down or hit a target, but depended on the skill of the operator, which did not produce a reproducible accuracy of 100%. This led to many losses, both human and economic.
The U.S. Department of Defense (US-Defence Department) and Navy (U.S. Navy), in an effort to minimize loss of life and better efficiency economic military, entrusted, through the availability of funds for research, making a calculation device improvement and effectiveness ballistics of your equipment military continued project Mark I, more improved and optimized.
The effect, initially studied and reported by Frederick Guthrie, then more widely developed Thomas Edison (Edison effect), gave way to valves of vacuum component used to amplify, switch or modifying an electrical signal by controlling of movement of electrons in an “empty” space at very low pressure or in the presence of gases especially selected. This component allowed to develop and build the first machines programmable analog or computers primitive (or first computer generation).
The project began with Mark I in 1939, culminate with the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) in 1949, with the help of Von NeumannEckert and Mauchly, based on research and technology Atanasoff, after going through several developments analogues of Mark I, Mark II and the ENIAC.
Programmers or operators, used to be mathematicians working with a primer or manual of operations. At that time it was common for parts of programs and procedures recurring regularly, have been previously written on notepads, giving rise to the libraries programs, sets of programs or routines (libraries subroutines).
After the war ended, he began a new era for scientific computing research. The resources devoted to the war were released and dedicated to the science of information and technology. In particular, the Navy Department and the Atomic Energy Commission, U.S. decided to continue sponsoring the development of computers whose main goal was statistical and calculation and prediction numerical (statistical calculation) of climate the fluid mechanics (hydraulics), the avionics, the study of resistance of ships to waves, the study of particles, nuclear energy, the calculations of reactors, the modeling of automobiles, etc..
Already alluded to, refers to the segment developed in the U.S.. We also understand that the science, as its language it is product of their society and time. In this sense, scientists computer or computer, are considered themselves simply mathematicians, engineers electronic or technical.
The class dominant political conductive the Europe of early twentieth century, advocated a science positivist, with features romantic and great influence intellectual heritage culture of the times Illustration. Expeditions to exotic lands or remote locations, extensive research of the Science Exact Natural, crowded gatherings intellectual the courts Europe, stagnated in the achievements of the first Industrial Revolution century predecessor.
Concomitant with this, was in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century and lasted until the twenties, an ideal or spiritual struggle, as opposed to positivism the previous century, and a mixture of scientism, evolutionism and materialism, Leading to positions closer to philosophy and philology, which at pragmatism mechanistic driver of technological changes to facts.
Scientific studies of early European Twentieth century and include concepts such as scientific Physics and Chemistry (M. Curie) Medicine (A. Fleming) Quantum Physics (M: Planck) Radio (G. Marconi) Gödel, Russell, Lamaître, Ruska-Knol, etc.., For just to name a few.
In Europe, developed in parallel and sometimes predecessor, gestation, creation and construction concepts and models computer similar to the Americans. Some of the time, with projects very original, surpassing design and conceptualization to its American peers. The little or no communication and the professional care of the Americans and their laboratories university clearly show that influenced directly or by providing ideas, or providing models to their European counterparts.