The education of a computer

Abstract

While the materialization is new, the idea of mechanizing mathematical thinking is not new. Its lineage starts with the abacus and descends through Pascal,Leibnitz, and Babbage, More immediately, the ideas here presented originate from Professor Howard H. Aiken of Harvard University, Dr. John W. Mauchly of Eckert-Mauchly and Dr. M. V. Wilkes of the University of Cambridge. From Professor Aiken came, in 194-6, the idea of a library of routines described in the Mark I manual, and the concepts embodied in the Mark III coding machine, from Dr. Mauchly, the basic principles of the "shortorder code" and suggestions, criticisms, and untiring patience in listening to these present attempts; from Dr. Wilkes, the greatest help of all, a book on the subject. For those of their ideas which are included herein, I most earnestly express my debt and my appreciation.