Back to Evan's homepage.

Why should you study computer history?

"What history does is it teaches you to read, write and think analytically, to question and to formulate answers not just to the facts of what happened, but to the why. What did it mean? What was the impact of those events? And if you can think that way ... then it's going to help you whether you're an engineer or a biologist or a computer scientist." -Neil Maher, NJIT history department

That's what we learn by studying the history of computing. Whatever your major or eventual career, you will do better and be wiser if you understand the roots of your field. By learning about the people, technology, timeframes, locations, reasons, methods, and big picture of computing, you'll appreciate what works, avoid making old mistakes, and recognize lessons of the past.

Did you know?

• "Computor" originally meant the person doing the math
• Von Neumann didn't design Von Neumann architecture
• Early mobile computers filled multiple tractor-trailers
• Timesharing, a concept of the 1960s-1970s, led to cloud computing
• "Mini"computers once meant "smaller than a box truck"
• There were compelling personal computers before Apple existed
• Apple "borrowed" almost everything it did, rarely invented
• The transistor, UNIX, and C were all developed in New Jersey
• People at NJIT invented one of the first social networks

Last updated by Evan Koblentz, Feb. 22, 2024 *** Contact: evank{at}njit.edu