The Computing Universe
A Journey through a Revolution

This exciting and accessible book takes us on a journey from the early days of computers to the cutting-edge research of the present day.

Tony Hey (Author), Gyuri Pápay (Author)

9780521150187, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 December 2014

411 pages, 596 colour illus. 20 tables
25.3 x 20.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.85 kg

'This is a highly engaging book, which will be greatly valued by both computer scientists and the general reader alike. It fills a longstanding lacuna in the literature, ably covering the history and evolution of computers and computing, leading to the modern subject known as computer science. It shows how closely the development of computer science is interleaved with our wider understanding of the world we inhabit. The book will undoubtedly prove to be a source of inspiration for future generations of computer and computational scientists.' Peter Coveney, University College London

Computers now impact almost every aspect of our lives, from our social interactions to the safety and performance of our cars. How did this happen in such a short time? And this is just the beginning. In this book, Tony Hey and Gyuri Pápay lead us on a journey from the early days of computers in the 1930s to the cutting-edge research of the present day that will shape computing in the coming decades. Along the way, they explain the ideas behind hardware, software, algorithms, Moore's Law, the birth of the personal computer, the Internet and the Web, the Turing Test, Jeopardy's Watson, World of Warcraft, spyware, Google, Facebook and quantum computing. This book also introduces the fascinating cast of dreamers and inventors who brought these great technological developments into every corner of the modern world. This exciting and accessible introduction will open up the universe of computing to anyone who has ever wondered where his or her smartphone came from.

1. Beginnings of a revolution
2. The hardware
3. The software is in the holes
4. Programming languages and software engineering
5. Algorithmics
6. Mr. Turing's amazing machines
7. Moore's Law and the silicon revolution
8. Computing gets personal
9. Computer games
10. Licklider's intergalactic computer network
11. Weaving the World Wide Web
12. The dark side of the Web
13. Artificial intelligence and neural networks
14. Machine learning and natural-language processing
15. The end of Moore's Law
16. The third age of computing
17. Computers and science fiction – an essay.

Subject Areas: Computer science [UY], Computer security [UR], Computer programming / software development [UM], Digital lifestyle [UD], Information technology: general issues [UB], Computing & information technology [U], Popular science [PDZ], History of science [PDX], Impact of science & technology on society [PDR], Mathematics [PB]