Jack Peacock wrote:
>
> >She said that they were invented by Hollerith
> at the end of the last century for use with the census. Was I drunk or
> did
> we just go through a whole discussion about the cards being invented for
> the Jacquard loom?
>
> Different types of punched cards. Hollerith invented the modern
> computer punch card. The Jacquard loom used punched cards in a linked
> belt type arrangement, similar to a player piano, to control the shuttle
> of his loom. Jacquard had more in common with pianos than computers.
> Jack Peacock
True. It was Babbage who adapted them to programming -- Hollerith
only used them for counting. Babbage and Hollerith each got the idea
from Jacquard. And admitted it. (As far as I know, Hollerith was
never aware of Babbage).
--
Ward Griffiths <mailto:gram_at_cnct.com> <http://www.cnct.com/home/gram/>
Bill Gates has this situation where the federal government wants him
convicted for attempting a monopoly. Has Bill considered responding
with a question as to why there's only one Justice Department?
Received on Thu Aug 20 1998 - 21:41:26 BST