The Computer: A History From The 17th Century to Today Taschen Book

In the beginning was the Computer

A history from early calculating machines to today.

The story of theevolution of machines in computer historyis full of the disruptive innovations that have led to todays world. From theearly beginningsof computing to thebulky mainframeto thepersonal computer era, we now live in an almost entirelydigital age.

The Computerexplores steps from the first ideas of a calculating machine in the 19th century and early experiments with autonomous driving in the 1920s to oversized office computers in the 1950s to laptops and wearables of today.Jens Mller delivers a visual understandingof the emergence of the Information Age that hasnt been shown before. Tracing thestories of tech visionaries, pioneers, and entrepreneurs, the book combinescompelling visuals, historical documents, and in-depth explanationsto reveal significant events in computer history. Encompassing the invention of machines, coding, and software development, as well as technology’s influence on today’s political landscape.

This survey presents creations fromAda Lovelace, Charles Babbage, Alan Turing, Grace Hopper, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs. Showcasing forgotten gadgets and prototypes connecting iconic products such as the Apple Macintosh and the Sony Play Station. As well as remembering milestones in software development, videogaming, and the web. Infographics explain wireless communication and other fundamental technical concepts, while the history of corporations such asIBM, Apple, Microsoft, Atari, Amazon, and Googleis retraced through rare photographs and advertising campaigns.

A fascinating read, this book acknowledges the computers stupendous power and social impact. For techies andeveryone interested in culture, economics, politics, and science, it illustrates how we got here today and helps us ask better questions about where we will be tomorrow.

The author

Jens Mllerwas born in Koblenz, Germany, in 1982 and studied graphic design. Recipient of numerous national and international design awards, he is creative director of Vista design studio in Dsseldorf and professor of corporate design at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Author and editor of several books, Mller researches the history of graphic design and corporate identity.

The editor

Julius Wiedemannstudied graphic design and marketing and was an art editor for newspapers and design magazines in Tokyo before joining TASCHEN in 2001. His titles include theIllustration Now!andRecord Coversseries, as well as the infographics collection and books about advertising and visual culture.

Hardcover, 9.7×14.6in,8.6 lb,472pages