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The science of computing has come a long way since the late 1930s, when
John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry began work on the first electronic
digital computer. One marvels to see how the science has advanced
from the days of Charles Babbage, who developed the Difference Engine
in the 1820s, and, later proposed the Analytical Engine. Computer science
was and continues to be an intriguing field filled with interesting stories,
colorful personalities, and incredible innovations.
Ever since their invention, computers have had a profound impact on
society and the ways in which humans conduct business and financial matters,
fight wars and maintain peace, provide goods and services, predict events
(e.g., earthquakes, the weather, global warming), monitor security and safety,
and a host of other applications too numerous to mention. Plus, the personal
computer revolution, beginning in the 1980s, has brought computers into
many homes and schools. This has helped students find new ways to prepare
reports, conduct research, and study using computerized methods. In the new
millennium, the role that computers play in society continues to grow. |