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Pre-electronic Computing

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Dependable and Historic Computing

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 6875))

Abstract

This paper outlines the grand narrative of pre-electronic computing by briefly reviewing the evolution of pre-electronic technologies and devices. A shift is made from a technocentric view to a user-centred approach that identifies four main threads which underpin traditional accounts. A map of how these combine to inform the accepted canon is offered. Entwined with the account are the contributions made by Brian Randell to the history of computing both as a field of study and to its specific content.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Holloway University of London, UK

    Doron Swade

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  1. Doron Swade
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing Science, Newcaslte University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

    Cliff B. Jones

  2. School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    John L. Lloyd

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Swade, D. (2011). Pre-electronic Computing. In: Jones, C.B., Lloyd, J.L. (eds) Dependable and Historic Computing. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6875. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-24541-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-24541-1_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-24540-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-24541-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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