05 Hamming, Learning to Learn: History of Computers - Applications, 6 April 1995
Channel: Hamming on Hamming: Learning to Learn
Date: 2018-02-20

History of Computer Applications. As you have probably noticed, I am using the technical material to hang together a number of anecdotes, hence I shall begin this time with a story of how this, and the two preceding talks, came about. By the 1950’s I had found that I was frightened when giving public talks to large audiences, this in spite of the fact that I had taught classes in college for many years. On thinking this over very seriously, I came to the conclusion that I could not afford to be crippled that way and still become a great scientist; the duty of a scientist is not only to find new things, but to communicate them successfully in at least three forms: writing papers and books, prepared public talks, and impromptu talks.

00:00 Introduction: Applications of computers
06:20 Computing began as simple arithmetic
07:56 As machines became cheaper we started doing other things
09:38 Las Almas: partial differential equation relays
11:36 Mass production of a variable product
12:56 Engineering problems
17:22 The major cost for failure in this business is not enough capital
21:10 The presence of the machine changed the job
22:17 Boeing computing center story
24:16 You can not do an optimization design if the constants you are using are constantly changing
26:30 Scientific Databases
30:18 Cheaper, faster, freedom from boredom
32:12 Range of applications in computers is only beginning
37:32 When can machines replace us?
39:13 What would be the smallest program that I would consider thinking?
42:17 If you think machines can think and do anything at all you are bound to fall on your face
48:07 End

* NPS Hamming portal: https://www.nps.edu/hamming
* NPS course site: https://cle.nps.edu/portal/site/hamming