Inventions

Analogue Computers

An analogue computer is a type of computer that uses physical components and electrical signals to perform mathematical operations. These computers were prevalent from the 1930s to the 1960s and were used for a variety of applications, including scientific research, engineering, and military calculations. The earliest analogue computers used mechanical...

The IBM card

The IBM card, also known as the IBM punch card, was a standard for data storage and processing during the early days of computing. The cards were first introduced by IBM in the early 1920s and quickly became a widely used method for recording and storing data, from census data...

1890: The Tabulating Machine

In the late 19th century, the process of data processing was a slow and tedious task that required the use of manual labour and calculations. However, in 1890, the world of data processing was forever changed by the invention of the tabulating machine. The tabulating machine was invented by Herman...

1837: The Analytical Engine

The Analytical Engine, designed by Charles Babbage in 1837, is considered by many to be the first general-purpose digital computer. Babbage, a mathematician and inventor, had been working on designs for mechanical calculators since the early 1800s, but the Analytical Engine represented a significant leap forward in computing technology. The...

1725: Basile Bouchon and the Invention of the First Known Automated Loom

In 1725, French inventor Basile Bouchon created a revolutionary device that would change the face of textile production forever. Bouchon’s invention was the first known automated loom, the machine that could weave complex patterns automatically without the need for human intervention. Bouchon’s invention was inspired by the problem of efficiently...

1822: The Difference Engine

The Difference Engine is a fascinating piece of computing history, developed by the British mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage in 1822. The machine was designed to perform mathematical calculations automatically and was considered one of the earliest forms of mechanical calculators. The concept behind the Difference Engine was based on...

Early Encryption: The Scytale

The art of encryption, or the process of converting plaintext into ciphertext to protect it from unauthorized access, has been around for thousands of years. One of the earliest known methods of encryption is the scytale, a device used by the ancient Greeks to secure their messages. The scytale was...

What is Braille?

Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired to read and write. It was developed by Louis Braille in 1824, and is based on a series of raised dots that are arranged in patterns to represent letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. Braille is...

The First Integrated Circuit

The integrated circuit, or microchip, is an essential component of modern electronics, powering everything from computers and smartphones to cars and medical devices. But like all technological breakthroughs, the integrated circuit had to start somewhere. The first integrated circuit was developed in the late 1950s, and it revolutionized the field...