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guyanonymous · 02-01-2010, 06:21 PM

I think of the term computer as being on the same level as the term mammal. There are many sub-classifications, and perhaps arguing over how to classify them would be more productive than over the broadest most encompassing term imaginable.

computer
1640s, "one who calculates," from compute. Meaning "calculating machine" (of any type) is from 1897; in modern use, "programmable digital electronic computer" (1945; theoretical from 1937, as Turing machine). ENIAC (1946) usually is considered the first. Computer literacy is recorded from 1970; an attempt to establish computerate (adj., on model of literate) in this sense in the early 1980s didn't catch on. Computerese "the jargon of programmers" is from 1960, as are computerize and computerization.

A calculator is a computer, for all intensive purposes.

02-01-2010, 06:21 PM	#28
guyanonymous Guru Posts: 692 Karma: 27532 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Ebookwise 1150 / 1200	I think of the term computer as being on the same level as the term mammal. There are many sub-classifications, and perhaps arguing over how to classify them would be more productive than over the broadest most encompassing term imaginable. computer 1640s, "one who calculates," from compute. Meaning "calculating machine" (of any type) is from 1897; in modern use, "programmable digital electronic computer" (1945; theoretical from 1937, as Turing machine). ENIAC (1946) usually is considered the first. Computer literacy is recorded from 1970; an attempt to establish computerate (adj., on model of literate) in this sense in the early 1980s didn't catch on. Computerese "the jargon of programmers" is from 1960, as are computerize and computerization. A calculator is a computer, for all intensive purposes.