Name/Title
1964- Understanding Computers, Grace HopperDescription
by Grace Hopper, published in 1964, is a seminal work that offers an introduction to the fundamentals of computers and computing. In this book, Hopper, a pioneering computer scientist, explains the basic concepts of how computers work, their design, and their potential applications.
The book is known for demystifying computers for a general audience, making the subject accessible to those without a technical background. Hopper discusses the evolution of computers from simple calculating machines to complex systems capable of a wide range of tasks. She also addresses the importance of programming languages and the concept of machine-independent programming, which would lead to the development of COBOL, one of the first high-level programming languages1.
Hopper is credited with popularizing the term “debugging” for fixing computer glitches, inspired by an actual moth removed from a computer. Her work in this book reflects her vision of computers becoming user-friendly tools that would significantly impact business, science, and society1.
“Understanding Computers” remains an important work for its historical perspective on the early days of computing and for introducing many to the field during a time of rapid technological advancement