How important is history to Digital Cultures?

Technology is always changing and as it does so, it is increasingly benefiting us. History has greatly influenced where we are today, not only has it positioned us in the state we are in, but it also allows us to grow with technology. It seems to us now, that there was no life before computers, but that is not the case. Long before there were digital computers, there were mechanical ones.

The earliest computers worked out mathematical sums and as apposed to being a piece of technology, they were instead women working out complex calculations. Furthermore, this reinforces the point that while men were seen to be the dominant ones, their involvement in technology was minimal. Anna Lovelace (10^th December 1815-27^th November 1852) is commonly known for her work on Charles Babbage’s early mechanical general-purpose computer, the analytical engine.

To conclude this post, it is important for us to be aware that the very first personal computer was developed by hobbyists in 1975 and the first microcomputer, the “Altair” was sold in kit form.