Between human and machine : feedback, control, and computing before cybernetics / David A. Mindell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mindell, David A.

Series:

Johns Hopkins studies in the history of technology.

Johns Hopkins studies in the history of technology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Computers--History.

Computers.

Electronic data processing--History.

Electronic data processing.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (456 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"In contextualizing the theory of cybernetics, Mindell gives engineering back forgotten parts of its history, and shows how important historical circumstances are to technological change." -- Networker.

Contents:

Contents; Preface and Acknowledgments; 1 Introduction: A History of Control Systems; 2 Naval Control Systems: The Bureau of Ordnance and the Ford Instrument Company; 3 Taming the Beasts of the Machine Age: The Sperry Company; 4 Opening Black's Box: Bell Labs and the Transmission of Signals; 5 Artificial Representation of Power Systems: Analog Computing at MIT; 6 Dress Rehearsal for War: The Four Horsemen and Palomar; 7 Organizing for War: The Fire Control Divisions of the NDRC; 8 The Servomechanisms Laboratory and Fire Control for the Masses; 9 Analog's Finest Hour

10 Radar and System Integration at the Radiation Laboratory11 Cybernetics and Ideas of the Digital; 12 Conclusion: Feedback and Information in 1945; APPENDIX A: Algorithm of the Ford Rangekeeper Mark 1; APPENDIX B: NDRC Section D-2 and Division 7 Contracts for Fire Control; APPENDIX C: Algorithm of Bell Labs' T-10 Director; Notes; Bibliography; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; R; S; T; U; V; W; Z

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 393-416) and index.

ISBN:

9780801877741

0-8018-7774-1

OCLC:

923191550