Spirit of America Bookstore
Inventions of America
• Computers •
• Page Two •
A Few Important People
 | "Programmers At Work: Interviews With 19 Programmers Who Shaped The Computer Industry" [1986] by Susan M. Lammers 19 interviewees include Bill Gates (Microsoft), Andy Hertzfield (Macintosh OS), Jaron Lanier, C. Wayne Ratcliff (dBASE), and John Warnock (Postscript) Tempus Books pb [7/89] out of print/used Harper & Row pb [1986] out of print/used available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive Chinese-language Kindle Edition from Posts & Telecom Press [2012] for $7.19 |
 | "Great Men and Women of Computing" [1996] by Donald D. Spencer individuals covered include Howard Aiken, John Atanasoff, Charles Babbage, George Boole, Daniel Bricklin, William Burroughs, Vannevar Bush, Augusta Byron, Seymour Cray, Edsger Dijkstra, J. Presper Eckert, Dorr Felt, William Gates (Microsoft, Inc.), Herman Hollerith, Grace Hopper (U.S. Navy), Joseph Jacquard, Steven Jobs (Apple, Inc.), John Kemeny, Thomas Kurtz, Gottfried Leibniz, John Mauchly, John Napier, William Norris, Blaise Pascal, George Stibitz, Alan Turing, John von Neumann, Thomas Watson, Sr. (I.B.M., Inc.), Norbert Wiener, Maurice Wilkes, Niklaus Wirth, Stephen Wozniak (Apple, Inc.), and Konrad Zuse Camelot Publng 10x7½ pb [1999] out of print/used Camelot Publng 10x7½ pb [1996] out of print/used |
Paul Allen - co-founder of Apple, Inc.
Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff [1903-95]
deemed in 1973 as inventor of the electronic digital computer in October 1939
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vincent_Atanasoff
Charles Babbage [1791-1871]
Steve Ballmer
John Bardeen [1908-91] - co-inventor of the transistor in 1947
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bardeen
Tim Berners-Lee at C.E.R.N. in Switzerland.
English mathematician & philosopher George Boole 1815-64]
Boole is most famous for creating Boolean algebra in 1847, which is the basic concept that underlies all modern electronic digital computers.
Walter H. Brattain [1902-87] - co-inventor of the transistor in 1947
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Houser_Brattain
engineer Vannevar Bush [1890-1974]
As head of NDRC and OSRD and science advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bush initiated the Manhattan Project, and ensured that it received top priority
from the highest levels of government. He promoted the idea of the 'differential engine' from the 1930s and oversaw the building of several prototypes during World War II.
incomplete Vannevar Bush Store at Amazon •
entry at Wikipedia
more details (short profile, books & ebooks, movies & TV, links) on
Spirit of America Bookstore's engineer Vannevar Bush Page
Vannevar Bush's seminal essay "As We May Think" appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in July 1945, republished in an abridged version in LIFE Magazine in September 1945;
it may seem quaint today, but not too long ago it was required reading for library and information science students; in it Bush envisioned automated information retrieval
and a complex device called the Memex, and for that he has gained a place in history.
essay entry at Wikipedia •
available as free online etext at The Atlantic Monthly
Dynamic Diagrams distributed a sample of their product at the ACM SIGIR conference in 1995;
the content was a demo of Vannevar Bush's theoretical Memex system.
watch Memex animation video [11/2009 upload; 2:33] online at YouTube
 | "Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of The American Century" [1997] by G. Pascal Zachary The M.I.T. Press 9¼x6 pb [6/99] out of print/used Free Press 9¾x6¾ hardcover [9/97] out of print/used |
Vinton Gray 'Vint' Cerf [b. 1943] - co-inventor of the internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vint_Cerf
Douglas Carl Engelbart [1925-2013] - inventor of the computer mouse
Bill Gates - co-founder of Microsoft
Melinda Gates - co-chair Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Herman Hollerith [1860-1929] - inventor of the punched data card
Grace Hopper [] led the team that created the COBOL computer language
entry at Wikipedia
The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing [est. 1994]
official website •
entry at Wikipedia
"Grace Hopper: Computer Pioneer" [] by Joanne Mattern
http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Hopper-Computer-Pioneer-History/dp/0823965058/
"Grace Hopper: Admiral of the Cyber Sea" [] by Kathleen Broome…
http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Hopper-Admiral-Cyber-Sea/dp/1557509522/
 | "Grace Hopper and The Invention of The Information Age" [2009] by Kurt W. Beyer Kindle Edition from BookBaby [2/2015] for $11.99 M.I.T. Press 8x5½ pb [2/2012] for $18.60 M.I.T. Press 8x5½ hardcover [7/2009] out of print/many used |
"The Queen of Code" documentary film [2015] produced by FiveThirtyEight
Steve Jobs - co-founder of Apple, Inc.
Robert Elliot 'Bob' Kahn [b. 1938] - co-inventor of the internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Kahn
Jack St. Clair Kilby [1923-2005] - co-inventor of the Integrated Circuit
Leonard Kleinrock [b. 1934] of U.C.L.A. - co-inventor of the internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Kleinrock
mathematician Ada Byron Lovelace [1815-52] - the first programmer
Born 10 December 1815; Charles Babbage corresponded with her often; he had an idea for a machine called the Analytical Engine, a sort of general-purpose computer that could, in theory, calculate any number of things; Lovelace saw that it had more potential than as just a number cruncher. In the 1840s, she had an inkling that algorithmic art was possible, envisioning that “music could be captured with mathematical rules and composed with a machine”. She died in November 1852 of cancer at age 46.
entry at Wikipedia
 | "Ada, The Enchantress of Numbers: Poetical Science" [1992] by Betty Alexandra Toole Kindle Edition includes all of Ada's fascinating letters to Charles Babbage, 55 pictures, and footnotes Kindle Edition from Critical Connection [10/2010] for $7.99 Strawberry Press 8x5¼ pb [2/98] out of print/many used ://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0912647094/nordellbookst-20" target="_blank">Strawberry Press 9¼x6½ hardcover [3/92] out of print/used |
 | "Ada's Algorithm: How Lord Byron's Daughter Ada Lovelace Launched The Digital Age Through The Poetry of Numbers" [2013] by James Essinger
Kindle Edition from Melville House [10/2014] for $12.99 Melville House pb [10/2015] for $13.14 Gibson Square Books Ltd. 8½x5¼ pb [10/2013] out of print/used Melville House 8½x5¾ hardcover [10/2014] for $19.23 |
 | "Ada Byron Lovelace and The Thinking Machine" [ages 5 & up; 2015] by Laurie Wallmark, Illustrated by April Chu 40-page Creston Books 11x9 hardcover [10/2015] for $12.78 |
 | "Enchantress of Numbers: A Novel of Ada Lovelace" [2017] by Jennifer Chiaverini Kindle Edition from Dutton/Penguin [12/2017] for $12.99 Dutton 9¼x6¼ hardcover [12/2017] for $17.70 |
 | "Dreaming In Code: Ada Byron Lovelace, Computer Pioneer" [2019] by Emily Arnold McCully Kindle Edition from Candlewick Press [3/2019] for $9.99 Candlewick Press 9¼x7¼ hardcover [3/2019] for $13.51 |
Robert Noyce [1927-90] - co-inventor of the Integrated Circuit
Lawrence G. Roberts [b. 1937] - co-inventor of the internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Roberts_(scientist)
William Bradford Shockley, Jr. [1910-89] - co-inventor of the transistor in 1947
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shockley
visionary Nikola Tesla [1856-1943] Page
at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Larry Tesler [1945-2020]
the inventor of cut/copy/paste and find/replace; worked at Xerox PARC 1973-80, Apple Computer 1980-2000, Amazon 2001-2005, and Yahoo! 2005-2008.
British computer genius Alan Turing [1912-54] Page
at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
"The Imitation Game" [StudioCanal/The Weinstein Company Nov 2014]
 |  | A reported break-in at his home brings Alan Turing to the attention of the police; the lack of a war record makes them think that Turing might be a Soviet spy, and they begin digging deeper; during an interrogation, Turing relates (via flashback) his secret work on Nazi cyphers at Bletchley Park; the authorities realize that Turing is homosexual, a serious crime in Britain; a conviction halts his government career, and Turing commits suicide • Directed by Morten Tyldum; co-produced & written by Graham Moore, based on the book by Andrew Hodges; starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech, Matthew Beard, James Northcote, Tom Goodman-Hill, Steven Waddington, Ilan Goodman, Jack Tarlton, Alex Lawther, Jack Bannon & Tuppence Middle-ton; won Oscar Award for Best Adapted Screenplay; Oscar noms for Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Actor {BC}, Best Supporting Actress {KK}, Best Original Music Score, Best Film Editing & Best Production Design; also won A.F.I. Movie of The Year Award, 3 Empire Awards in U.K., GLAAD Media Award, 4 Hollywood Film Awards, USC Scripter Award, W.G.A. Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, plus many film festival awards
Anchor Bay widescreen color Blu-ray [3/2015] for $17.49 Anchor Bay widescreen color DVD [3/2015] for $12.96 full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official trailers online at YouTube: 7/2014 trailer [2:32] • 9/2014 international trailer [1:48] • 11/2014 trailer [1:06] • 1/2015 trailer [2:16] |
 | "Alan Turing: The Enigma" New York Times bestseller [1983] by Andrew Hodges, Foreword by Douglas Hofstadter 'The Book That Inspired The Film The Imitation Game' Kindle Edition from Princeton Univ Press [11/2014] for $9.99 Princeton Univ Press 8x5 pb [11/2014] for $14.16 Vintage Books 7¾x5¼ pb [11/2014] for $16.41 Simon & Schuster hardcover [11/1983] out of print/used Random House UK hardcover [1/1983] out of print/used |
engineer & speaker Bret Victor - 'Purveyor of Impossible Dreams'
no books published yet • official website •
entry at Wikipedia
“Inventing On Principle” talk at Turing Complete conference on 20 January 2012
watch lecture [54:19] online at YouTube
“Drawing Dynamic Visualizations” lecture [May 2013]
watch lecture [35:15] online at YouTube
“The Future of Programming” lecture at Dropbox's DBX conference on 9 July 2013
watch lecture [32:55] online at YouTube
“Stop Drawing Dead Fish: Making Art On Computers” lecture
watch lecture [8/2013 upload; 53:32] online at YouTube
 | "John Von Neumann and Norbert Wiener: From Mathematics To The Technologies of Life and Death" [1980] by Steve Joshua Heims
The M.I.T. Press 9x6 pb [6/82] out of print/used The M.I.T. Press 9¼x6½ hardcover [10/80] out of print/used see also the Norbert Wiener [1894-1964] Page at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore |
"John Von Neumann: The Scientific Genius Who Pioneered The Modern Computer, Game Theory,
Nuclear Deterrence, and..." [10/1999] by Norman MacRae
http://www.amazon.com/John-Von-Neumann-Scientific-Deterrence/dp/082182676X/
"The MANIAC" [10/2023] by novelist Benjamín Labatut
a fictionalization of the life of John von Neumann that centers on the dark side of scientific genius
Steve Wozniak - co-founder of Apple, Inc.
Mark Zuckerberg - co-founder of Facebook
 | "Historical Dictionary of Data Processing: Biographies" [1987] by James W. Cortada Biographies of more than 160 individuals extending in time from antiquity through the 1980s Greenwood 9¼x6 hardcover [8/87] for $140.00 |
 | "International Biographical Dictionary of Computer Pioneers" [1995] by John A.N. Lee over 270 entries, reference work published by Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Routledge/I.E.E.E. 10½x7½x2¼" thick {4.3 pounds!} hardcover [11/95] for $395.00 {sic} I.E.E.E. 9¼x6½x2" thick {2.9 pounds!} hardcover [6/95] out of print/used |
A Few Important Dates
Artificial Intelligence / Chatbots
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatbot
"We cannot be 'for' or 'against' [artificial intelligence technology], insofar as it is already here and not likely to disappear any time soon."
— anthropologist Régis Meyran, in 2021
This section grew rapidly and was cut to its own page in August 2023.
Movies & Television, Stageplays, Other Media
"Desk Set" [May 1957]
starring Tracy and Hepburn fighting over the company's new EMERAC computer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desk_Set
"Alphaville" [May 1965]
Set in a distant, dystopian future controlled by a sentient cloud-like dictatorial computer named Alpha 60
Jean-Luc Godard's science fiction and film noir thriller stars veteran tough guy Eddie Constantine
http://www.rialtopictures.com/alphaville.html
"Hot Millions" [MGM Sept 1968]
co-written by & starring Peter Ustinov, also starring Maggie Smith & Karl Malden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Millions
"Colossus: The Forbin Project" [1970]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus:_The_Forbin_Project
"Demon Seed" [April 1977]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon_Seed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon_Seed_(novel)
"WarGames" [M.G.M. June 1983] directed by John Badham /tt0086567/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WarGames
http://www.amazon.com/WarGames-Blu-ray-Broderick/dp/B0089J2818/
"WarGames: The Dead Code" sequel [DVD release July 2008]
A sequel was directed by Stuart Gillard, starring Matt Lanter;
a hacker named Will Farmer faces off with a government supercomputer called RIPLEY.
"WarGames" remake [M.G.M.; in development] /tt1976650/
Announced 2013?: filmmaker Dean Israelite and screenwriter Arash Amel are signed on to the reboot of the 1980s techno-thriller.
"Electric Dreams" [M.G.M. July 1984]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Dreams_(film)
"The Net" [Columbia Pictures 1995] /tt0113957/
Directed by Irwin Winkler; written by John Brancato & Michael Ferris; starring Sandra Bullock, Jeremy Northam, Dennis Miller
http://www.amazon.com/Net-Sandra-Bullock/dp/B000CEV3M8/
spinoff TV series
"The Net 2.0" direct-to-video sequel [2006]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Net_2.0
"Hackers" [1995] /tt0113243/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackers_(film)
http://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Jonny-Lee-Miller/dp/6305047456/
http://www.amazon.com/Hackers-20th-Anniversary-Edition-Blu-ray/dp/B00X8ROQHA/
"Track Down" [studio 2000]
Skeet Ulrich (Actor), Russell Wong (Actor)
http://www.amazon.com/Track-Down-Skeet-Ulrich/dp/B0002L57YQ/
"Antitrust" [Jan 2001]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitrust_(film)
"The First $20 Million Is Always The Hardest" [Fox June 2002]
based on a novel by technology-culture writer Po Bronson; starring Adam Garcia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_$20_Million_Is_Always_the_Hardest
"dot" [The Asylum Dec 2002]
 | Spinal Tap-style mockumentary feature film about three pals who put together an internet startup company for the express purpose of making a fortune, even though they have no product and no business plan. "A comic look at a period in our culture so far ahead of itself that its present is already passé." • Co-produced, co-written & co-directed by Simeon Schnapper & Brett Singer; starring Michael Mazzara, Stephen Eugene Walker, Simeon Schnapper, Jamie McMillan, Katherine Martinez Ripley & Matthew O'Neill
• full credits at IMDb
Vanguard Cinema color DVD [12/2002] out of prodn/used |
"Echelon Conspiracy" [Feb 2009]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echelon_Conspiracy
"Control Alt Delete" [DVD release June 2010]
Starring Tyler Labine, Sonja Bennett, Geoff Gustafson, ()
http://www.amazon.com/Control-Delete-Blu-ray-Tyler-Labine/dp/B003BV8HZK/
"The Social Network"
[Relativity Media / Columbia Oct 2010]
 | "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies": The story of the college student who created the Facebook phenomenon and six years later became the youngest billionaire in history • Directed by David Fincher; based on the book by Ben Mezrich; starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timber-lake, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Max Minghella, Rooney Mara & Joseph Mazzello
Sony Pictures widescreen color Blu-ray [1/2011] 2 disks for $18.59 Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [1/2011] 2 disks for $9.76 Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [1/2011] 2 disks for $11.05 full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
 | "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook - A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal" [2009 bestseller] by Ben Mezrich Lacking access to central figure Mark Zuckerberg, the author fictionalized many important parts of the story, as well as sensationalizing college life; the result is a questionable but nonetheless exciting tale. Anchor 8¼x6 pb [5/2010] for $10.85 Doubleday 9¼x6 hardcover [7/2009] for $16.50 |
"Computer Chess" [studio July 2013]
"Her" [Warner Bros. Dec 2013]
produced, written & directed by Spike Jonze
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_(film)
"The Imitation Game"
[StudioCanal/The Weinstein Company Nov 2014]
 | A reported break-in at his home brings Alan Turing to the attention of the police; the lack of a war record makes them think that Turing might be a Soviet spy, and they begin digging deeper; during an interrogation, Turing relates (via flashback) his secret work on Nazi cyphers at Bletchley Park; the authorities realize that Turing is homosexual, a serious crime in Britain; a conviction halts his government career, and Turing commits suicide • Directed by Morten Tyldum; co-produced & written by Graham Moore, based on the book by Andrew Hodges; starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech, Matthew Beard, James Northcote, Tom Goodman-Hill, Steven Waddington, Ilan Goodman, Jack Tarlton, Alex Lawther, Jack Bannon & Tuppence Middleton; won Oscar Award for Best Adapted Screenplay; Oscar noms for Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (BC), Best Supporting Actress {KK}, Best Original Music Score, Best Film Editing & Best Pro-duction Design; also won A.F.I. Movie of The Year Award, 3 Empire Awards in U.K., GLAAD Media Award, 4 Hollywood Film Awards, USC Scripter Award, W.G.A. Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, plus many film festival awards
Anchor Bay widescreen color Blu-ray [3/2015] for $17.49 Anchor Bay widescreen color DVD [3/2015] for $12.96 full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official trailers online at YouTube: 7/2014 trailer [2:32] • 9/2014 intl trailer [1:48] • 11/2014 trailer [1:06] • 1/2015 trailer [2:16] |
"Eighteen Zeros: The Power and Possibilities of Exascale Computing"
[Hewlett Packard Oct 2017]
watch 10/2017 promo video [6:43] at YouTube
Image Gallery
here on 'The Computer' Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
top of Page 1 • general books • ancient times • historical computers • mainframe computers • personal computers • software, security • links
top of Page 2 • a few important people • a few important dates • other media • image gallery
top of Page 3: Social Media • books • companies • movies & TV, other media ••• Page 4: Artificial Intelligence
Cyber Film Festival at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store
Working Minds / Things To Worry About / Internet Freedom Page
Personal Computers & Accessories Dept. at Amazon
: :
Inventors of America Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
top of Page 1 • short history • general links • general books • inventors, A-Z • Afro-American inventors
top of Page 2 • teams & other inventions • Kindle Editions • other media
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