The Computer

The development of machines in the computer age is a story of groundbreaking innovation. From the early beginnings of computer technology through bulky mainframes to the era of personal computers, more than 300 years of technological history converge into our nearly fully digitized world today.

The computer takes us from the first analog calculating machines of the 19th century to early experiments with autonomous driving in the 1920s and oversized office computers of the 1950s, all the way to today's laptops and wearables. With over 1,000 illustrations, Jens Müller creates an unparalleled visual understanding of the rise of the information age. Documentary photos, snapshots from the media of the time, historical documents, and detailed explanations tell the stories of tech visionaries, pioneers, and entrepreneurs whose ingenuity in hardware and software development led to milestones in computer history.

Discover groundbreaking innovations from Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage, Alan Turing, Grace Hopper, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs, including not only classics like the Apple Macintosh and the Sony PlayStation but also forgotten gadgets, prototypes, and the brilliant breakthroughs in the development of software, video games, and the World Wide Web. Infographics explain fundamental technical concepts such as wireless communication, while rare photos and advertising campaigns bring the history of companies like IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Atari, Amazon, and Google to life.

This fascinating read honors the immense achievement of the computer and its impact on the social and political landscape. For technology enthusiasts and anyone interested in culture, economics, politics, and science, this journey into the past illustrates how we can not only ask questions about the future better but perhaps also answer them more effectively.