Charles Babbage Charles Babbage Charles Babbage (; 26 December 1791 – 18 October 1871) was an English polymath. A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage originated the concept of a digital programmable computer. Considered by some to be a "father of the computer", Babbage is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex electronic designs, though all the essential ideas of modern computers are to be found in Babbage's analytical engine. His varied work in other fields has led him to be described as "pre-eminent" among the many polymaths of his century. Parts of Babbage's incomplete
Digital Computer Association Digital Computer Association The Digital Computer Association (DCA) was established in November 1952 in Santa Monica, California. The organization held monthly 2–3 hour technical dinner meetings at local restaurants attended by early computer engineers and computer programmers. The founder was R. Blair Smith, a local IBM salesman. He had two reasons for starting the organization: to recruit the help of all 18 IBM 701 customers in combating copyright infringement, causing salaries to increase; and to provide a forum for exchanging software programs to eliminate duplication of effort. The DCA was loosely organized, met monthly, held an annual party and put