In this episode of the CompCast, we discuss Charles Babbage and his Difference Engines. In the early to mid 1800s, Charles Babbage designed and attempted to build several automata, called “Difference Engines”. These machines served as precursors to more modern calculators and arithmetic processing units, solving complex polynomial equations and square roots. Although proven to be functional, the Difference Engines were never fully constructed in Babbage’s lifetime due to various funding and technological hurdles. Babbage’s work would become instrumental in the advancement of mechanical processing and printing, as well as serving as an inspiration for the basic structure of modern electrical processors.
Credits
- Noor Helbaoui: script, research, logo design, podcast recording
- Alex Chung: script, research, podcast recording
- Mason Rowland: research, website, podcast editing
Bibliography
- “The Engines.” The Engines | Babbage Engine | Computer History Museum, Computer History Museum, http://www.computerhistory.org/babbage/engines/.
- Freiberger, Paul A., and Michael R. Swaine. “Difference Engine.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 June 2017, http://www.britannica.com/technology/Difference-Engine.
- Park, Edwards. “What a Difference the Difference Engine Made: From Charles Babbage’s Calculator Emerged Today’s Computer.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Feb. 1996, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-a-difference-the-difference-engine-made-from-charles-babbages-calculator-emerged-todays-computer-109389254/.
- “Difference Engine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difference_engine.
- “Analytical Engine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_Engine.
- “The Babbage Difference Engine #2 at CHM.” YouTube, Computer History Museum, 23 July 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be1EM3gQkAY.
CompCast: The Babbage Difference Engine 