Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

This book is a splendid account of the history of computing machines. From Jacquard's punch card loom to today's Dick Tracy-like Internet connectors, the book provides a wealth of fascinating historical and technological information, especially for first-time readers. Campbell-Kelly (emer., Univ. of Warwick, UK) and W. Aspray (Univ. of Texas, Austin) authored the first two editions (2nd ed., CH, Apr'05, 42-4686; 1st ed., CH, Jan'97, 34-2793); N. Ensmenger (Indiana Univ. Bloomington) and J. Yost (Univ. of Minnesota) are new coauthors for this significantly revised/updated version. Part 1 discusses the days before computers existed. The need for mechanical calculating machines was not always apparent, but economic forces paved the way to a new mode of thinking for a recalcitrant public. Part 2 shows how the evolution of electrical technology and the dramatic effects and demands of WW II spurred the beginnings of electronic computers. Ingenuity and tireless effort finally resulted in viable machines that could be sold on the open market. Part 3 explains the rise of the software industry and those companies that had the vision to adapt and flourish in this wonderfully abstract world of zeroes and ones. Part 4 is a tribute to a sophisticated industry that puts networked computers in people's pockets. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. M. Connell SUNY College at Cortland

Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

This is a new edition (1st ed., CH, Jan'97, 34-2793) of a very readable history of computation, computers, and information technology by Campbell-Kelly (Univ. of Warwick, UK) and Aspray (Indiana Univ.). Much has changed in these areas in the eight years since the first edition was published. That having been said, relatively few changes have been made to the core of the book. The last chapter has been rewritten to reflect the rise in the World Wide Web and e-mail. Corrections and a few enhancements were made to the other chapters. If a library does not have the first edition, the second is recommended. If a library does have the first edition, then the changes offered by the second edition are not sufficient to recommend replacing the first. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. D. Z. Spicer University System of Maryland