Ideas worth spreading

The birth of the computer

1,033,780 views |

George Dyson |

TED2003

• March 2003

Historian George Dyson tells stories from the birth of the modern computer -- from its 17th-century origins to the hilarious notebooks of some early computer engineers.

Historian George Dyson tells stories from the birth of the modern computer -- from its 17th-century origins to the hilarious notebooks of some early computer engineers.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

George Dyson

Historian of science

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In telling stories of technologies and the individuals who created them, George Dyson takes a clear-eyed view of our scientific past -- while illuminating what lies ahead.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.