From Human Computation to Mainframes | Ep. 8

04/24/24 • 39 min

Ever wonder how we went from computation by hand to the complex and powerful computers, data centers, and cloud of today? In this episode of "Keyboard and Quill," hosts Tim Berglund and Rachel Pedreschi embark on part 1 (of 2) of a digital odyssey to trace the evolution of computing from its mechanical beginnings to the mainframes of the 1970s. We’ll explore historical milestones like Charles Babbage’s ambitious Difference Engine, through to the revolutionary advent of IBM’s mainframes, and the game-changing introduction of ARPANET and the early internet. Our journey doesn’t just look at hardware; it dives into the societal transformations driven by these technologies—how they’ve reshaped the way we work, communicate, and even think. Join us as we uncover how these technological leaps have fundamentally altered our digital landscape.

Keyboard and Quill is created and made possible by StarTree, hosts of the Real-Time Analytics Summit for data professionals. Get 30% off registration.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Rachel Pedreschi and Claritype
Link: https://www.claritype.com
Frank King
Link: https://computerhistory.org/blog/restoring-the-ibm-1401
Bill Inmon
Link: https://datavox.ai
Dr. Doron Swade
Book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-history-of-computing-a-very-short-introduction-9780198831754
Coastal Kites for the music you heard in our interlude.

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Story by Tim Berglund and Rachel Pedreschi
Produced by Peter Furia, Noelle Gallagher, and Tim Berglund
Edited by Noelle Gallagher and Peter Furia
Original music and sound by Jeff Kite, keyboardist for The Voidz

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Keyboard and Quill is created and made possible by StarTree, hosts of the Real-Time Analytics Summit for data professionals. Get 30% off registration.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

🎧 Subscribe to K&Q wherever you listen to podcasts.
▶️ Subscribe on YouTube, and hit the 🔔 to never miss new K&Q uploads
👍 If you enjoyed this video, please leave us a rating.
🧠 Real-Time Analytics Summit (for data professionals). Get 30% off registration.
🎧 Subscribe to our other podcast, Real-Time Analytics with Tim Berglund (for data professionals)

Previous Episode

From Covered Carts to DoorDash | Ep. 7

Isn’t it amazing that with just a few taps on your phone you can get a healthy, hot, delicious, multicultural meal prepared and delivered to your doorstep, all in less than an hour? And you can even track it, in real time, every step of the way. But how did we get here? And how are our eating habits changing as a result? In this episode of Keyboard and Quill, we journey through 250 years of history with Tim Berglund and Rachel Pedreschi as they explore how food preparation, consumption, and delivery have evolved from the first known food deliveries in Asia to the dawn of Domino’s Pizza in the 1960s to the global boom of real-time delivery apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and JustEat Takeaway. New episodes every Tuesday from March-June.
Keyboard and Quill is created and made possible by StarTree, hosts of the Real-Time Analytics Summit for data professionals. Get 30% off registration.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Rachel Pedreschi and Claritype
Link: claritype.com
Dr. Rachel Laudan
Book: Cuisine and Empire: Cooking in World History
Site: rachellaudan.com
Coastal Kites for the music you heard in our interlude.

🎧 Subscribe to K&Q wherever you listen to podcasts.
▶️ Subscribe on YouTube, and hit the 🔔 to never miss new K&Q uploads
👍 If you enjoyed this video, please leave us a rating.
🧠 Real-Time Analytics Summit (for data professionals). Get 30% off registration.
🎧 Subscribe to our other podcast, Real-Time Analytics with Tim Berglund (for data professionals)

Next Episode

From Microcomputers to the Cloud | Ep. 9

How did we go from the first slow, large, and heavy personal computers of the 1970s to the complex and powerful processors, data centers, and cloud of today? In this episode of "Keyboard and Quill," hosts Tim Berglund and Rachel Pedreschi navigate part 2 (of 2) of a digital odyssey to trace the evolution of computing from the first PCs to the omnipresent cloud of today. Discover how the personal computer began as a rare luxury and morphed into an indispensable fixture in homes and businesses worldwide. From the creation of microcomputers in 1975, sparking the home computing revolution, to the establishment of the internet, paving the way for web browsers and eventually leading to cloud computing in 2006—this journey explores how our digital landscape has transformed dramatically, enabling not just greater connectivity but also a seamless integration of technology into our daily lives.

Keyboard and Quill is created and made possible by StarTree, hosts of the Real-Time Analytics Summit for data professionals. Get 30% off registration.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Rachel Pedreschi and Claritype
Link: https://www.claritype.com
Bill Inmon
Link: https://datavox.ai
Coastal Kites for the music you heard in our interlude.

🎧 Subscribe to K&Q wherever you listen to podcasts.
▶️ Subscribe on YouTube, and hit the 🔔 to never miss new K&Q uploads
👍 If you enjoyed this video, please leave us a rating.
🧠 Real-Time Analytics Summit (for data professionals). Get 30% off registration.
🎧 Subscribe to our other podcast, Real-Time Analytics with Tim Berglund (for data professionals)