The Computer: An Illustrated History From its Origins to the Present Day

From handheld smart phones to vast scientific simulators, computers are integral to our lives and are developing at ever-increasing speed. In The Computer, uber-technogeek Mark Frauenfelder traces the evolution of this vital machine from its earliest roots through its exciting application in code breaking during the Second World War, and from its initial use in the workplace and home to its current status as a ubiquitous—and increasingly portable—part of twenty-first century life. This highly illustrated social history of the computer examines its profound impact on every sphere of life.

 

Mark Frauenfelder is a former editor of Wired, the cutting-edge and award-winning magazine launched in 1993 to cover the digital revolution, and the founding editor-in-chief of Wired Online. In 1988 he and his wife cofounded Boing Boing, a zine about pop culture and fun with technology. Mark wrote a monthly column for Playboy called "Living Online"; was coeditor of The Happy Mutant Handbook (Riverhead Trade), a do-it-yourself handbook for enjoying our media-saturated world; and author of The Mad Professor (Chronicle Books), His articles about technology and culture have appeared in Wired, the New York Times Magazine, Popular Science, MIT Technology Review, Playboy, Business 2.0, and the Industry Standard.