Content

Computer pioneers

Drawing from US3138743A

Jack Kilby
Integrated Circuit: The 'big bang' of microelectronics

65 years ago, on February 6, 1959, Jack Kilby applied for a patent for "Minituarised electronic circuits" (US3138743A) - the first integrated circuit. It made him "father of microelectronics".

Read more

Charles Babbage
The lady and the calculator

On 18 October 1871, an all-round genius died who is now considered the "father of the computer": Charles Babbage. His "Analytical Engine" anticipated many features of modern computers. But hardly anyone recognised the true potential of this invention at the time - except Ada Lovelace.

Read more

Konrad Zuse
Writing technological history in the living room

80 years ago, Konrad Zuse presented an apparatus in his Berlin flat that is now considered as the world's first functioning, freely programmable computer based on the binary number system and binary circuit technology.

Read more

Portrait Lovelace

Ada Lovelace
Against all odds: The overture of the age of computer

She never completely fell into oblivion, as she was the daughter of a famous man. But it took more than 100 years after her death until her own achievements were recognized and Ada Lovelace finally became famous because of them.

Read more

Foto of Enigma

Enigma
Cryptography, computers and war

Enigma: This is the exciting story of an ingenious machine for encrypting messages and the brilliant minds who cracked it - and thus crucially influenced the course of the Second World War.

Read more

Zhe Antikythera mechanism

The Antikythera mechanism
The "first computer" - an ancient miracle of technology

Spring 1900 in the Aegean Sea: Off the coast of the small Greek island Antikythera men dive for sponges. They reach into depths of 50 meters and more. One of them, Ilias Stadiatis, returns from his dive with the bronze arm of an ancient statue. He has found an ancient shipwreck on the seabed.

Read more

Public Domain, iStock

Last updated: 29 January 2024