The Historical Etymology of "Computer": From Human Calculators to Machines
By
bobbiechen
An everything bagel for the brain. Substantive, layered, well-seasoned.
Summary
The article explores the historical etymology of the term "computer," tracing its origins to human beings who performed complex calculations before the advent of electronic machines. It examines how the word originally referred to people who computed mathematical problems, particularly in contexts like the British East India Company where "computers" were human clerks calculating duties and taxes. The piece discusses the transition from human computers to mechanical and electronic computers, highlighting how technology transformed the meaning of the term from human labor to machines.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe Controller and the Computer of the Duties on unrated India Goods attend the Sales of the East India Company, and take an Account of the Goods sold, and the Price; this Account is agreed with the Company, then the Controller and Computer cast the Duties, and the Receiver enters them upon the Warrant.
The Computation is become so difficult, from the Number of Branches of Duties, and from the various Rules now necessarily made use of in casting them.
Before Macs or mainframes, computers were people: a brief etymology of people becoming tools.
One common complaint about computers is that they're too hard to understand.
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