HOW WAS THE FIRST COMPUTER DEVELOPED?

The first suggestion that a machine for mathematical computation could be built was made more than a hundred years ago by the mathematician Charles Babbage. Now we realize that he understood clearly all the fundamental principles of modern digital computers.

Babbage was born in Devonshire, England, in 1792. He did not receive good education but he himself taught mathematics so well that when he went to Cambridge he found that he knew more algebra than his tutor.

At that time mathematics in Cambridge was still under the influence of Newton and was quite unaffected by the contemporary developments on the Continent.

Babbage was an outstanding personality among his contemporaries because he insisted on the practical application of science and mathematics. For example, he wrote on the economic advantages of mass production, and on the development of machine-tools.

In 1812 he was sitting in his room looking at a logarithm table which he knew to be full of mistakes when the idea of computing all tabular functions by machinery occurred to him. Babbage constructed a small working model which he demonstrated in 1822. The Royal Society supported the project and Babbage was promised a subsidy.

In 1833 he began to think of building a machine which was, in fact, the first universal digital computer, as it is understood today. Babbage devoted the rest of his life to an attempt to develop it. He had to finance the work himself and he was only able to finish part of the machine though he prepared thousands of detailed drawings from which it could be made.

Babbage wrote more than 80 books and papers, but he was misunderstood by his contemporaries and died a disappointed man in 1871. He tried to solve by himself and with his own resources a series of problems which required the united efforts of two generations of engineers.

After his death his son continued his work and built the part of an arithmetic unit which printed out its results directly on paper.

XV. Дайте русские эквиваленты следующих словосочетаний и фраз.

the fundamental principles of a computer; to receive education; to be under the influence of; to be unaffected by; contemporary developments in science; to insist upon the application of mathematics; to write a paper on a problem; an idea occurred to him; to support a project; to devote efforts to; the rest of his life; to solve a series of problems; to build an arithmetic unit from drawings.

XVI. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих словосочетаний:

объединенные усилия, первое предположение, экономические преимущества массового производства, тысячи подробных чертежей, разочарованный человек.

XVII. Сгруппируйте следующие слова и словосочетания в синонимичные пары и переведите их.

1 basic laws 2. to be dominated by 3. prominent 4. to show; 5. to back 6. to give much time 7. to be not understood

a. to devote much time b. to demonstrate c. to be misunderstood d. to support e. fundamental principles f. outstanding g. to be under the influence of

XVIII. Перефразируйте следующие предложения, используя предыдущее упражнение. Предложения переведите.

1) Не understood all the basic laws of modern digital computers.

2) At that time mathematics in Cambridge was dominated by Newton.

3) Babbage was a prominent man among his contemporaries.

4) He showed a working model of his machine in 1822.

5) The Royal Society backed his project.

6) He gave much time to the development of his machine.

7) Babbage was not understood by his contemporaries.

XIX. Преобразуйте следующие предложения в соответствии с моделью.

Model: We use computers in research. Computers are used in research.

1) The Royal Society promised him a subsidy.

2) The contemporary developments on the Continent did not affect mathematics in Cambridge.

3) The Royal Society supported his project.

4) He did not finish the machine.

5) He constructed а small working model of a computing machine.

6) He demonstrated it in 1822.

7) His son continued his work.

XX. Подтвердите или опровергните следующие высказывания, используя речевые модели.

1) The idea of a computing machine was first suggested 50 years ago.

2) At that time mathematics in Cambridge was unaffected by the contemporary
developments on the Continent.

3) Babbage was a pure mathematician, he was against the practical application
of mathematics.

4) Babbage constructed a working model of the first universal digital computer.

5) He was given a large sum of money to complete his work.

6) He prepared many drawings from which the machine could be made.

7) Charles Babbage's life was a success and he died a happy man.

8) The arithmetic unit constructed by his son could print out its results directly
on paper.