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be gay, do computers (mander.xyz)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] 13 points 1 year ago (6 children)

The ENIAC was before that and Charles Babbage's difference engine was before the ENIAC, though I don't think he actually got it out of design

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Also before the ENIAC was the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Yeah, there were plenty of precursors (hence the MB was arguably the first). But the Manchester Baby was the first stored-program general purpose computer. Gotta pick a point somewhere.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I think it's a fun debate between all of them. It doesn't really matter, but I enjoy reading the reasoning behind each argument.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    Yeah, the whole history is fascinating. I also like to remind my college students that computer science/engineering is one of the rare branches of science/engineering that was founded at least in equal part by women, if not more (again, an arguable point, but undeniable that there is a larger influence from women compared to other scientific disciplines).

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