Critical Analysis: Computers (pp. 1-83)

The first half of Computers by: Eric G. Swedin and David L. Ferro is a very thorough introduction of how early technologies have introduced our tech savvy world today. This detailed read can be categorized into a couple genres based on the many facts consisted in each sub-chapter. Each new invention that has contributed to the developments of computers have a brief biography of the man most responsible for the founding, along with some history facts of what occurred at the time of the invention. Within the 83 pages, there were a few main concepts (inventions/developments) that I find critical to the development of computers.

First, America's involvement in wars in the 1900's seems to have a large responsibility for the rapid developments in technology. Both World War II and The Cold War ignited technological advancements. From the "ABC Computer" that primarily did calculations invented by John Vincent Atanasoff, the "ENIAC" which "created artillery ballistic tables" (p.39) invented by J. Presper Eckert, and projects that benefited Air Force tactics such as "Project Whirlwind and Sage" (p.48) are a few developments to be acknowledged. Like Swedin says, "without this Cold War- induced spending, computer technology would have developed more slowly." (p. 48) Moreover, I give a lot of credit to the early governments that ran America as they funded and continued research for better technologies. Because of the demand for more efficient technology, the American government, including the Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Department Bureaus supported inventors in their projects to a certain extent. For example, "the governments of the United States, the Soviet Union, and their allies recruited their best and brightest to serve in defense-related research and development. Scientists and engineers developed more advanced computers, computer networks, the Internet, better medicines, better alloys, industrial ceramics, and technologies with no civilian use, like the neutron bomb." (p. 48) Another prime example of government involved projects was Project Whirlwind and Sage. "The Navy agreed with Forrester and cond continued to fund the expanded project...and the Navy also realized that the digital computer would be used in many other applications besides flight simulators." (p. 48)

On the other hand, Swedin and Ferro mention developments in technology that are the foundations of American culture. For instance, Silicon Valley, California, currently a technology concentrated area of the United States was the spot for developing computer hardware, and transistors. Now, Apple, Adobe Systems, HP, Intel and Yahoo! are just a few large companies based out of Silicon Valley. Not only did early technological advancements establish technology regions, but it structured the higher education system as inventors and scientists studied at schools that are now considered Ivy League. Herman Hollerith, Grace Murray Hopper and John Von Neumann are examples of ones who attended schools like Harvard, MIT and Princeton to create the elite schools they are today.