History of Computers - Wilhelm Schickard
Whilhelm Schickard(4/22/1592-10/24/1635) was a German inventor and mathematician. He is best known for his invention the Calculating Clock
Contents
Biography
Schickard was born in the south German town of Herrenberg. He graduated from the University of Tubingen in 1609. Throughout his life, Schickard remained attached to the university first studying theology, and after 1619 as a professor. In 1631, Schickard moved from the languages to the astronomy department. During His time at Tubingen, Schickard carried out research in astronomy and mathematics. He was also a machinest, building among other things a calculation machine and a Hebrew grammar machine
Calculating Clock
Schickard is most well known today for the Calculating Clock. He invented this machine while as a Hebrew Professor in 1623 in order to assist his good friend Johannes Kepler with astronomical calculations. This machine was one of the first mechanical calculators[1] and preceded the Pascaline by about 20 years.
[2]
Other Achievements
Outside of Them Calculating Clock, Schickard also made important contributions to other fields. In 1625 Schickard published an influential treatise, Mishpat ha-melek(Hebrew for The Kings Law) in which he analyzed hebrew political theory through the lens of rabbinical literature.[3] Schickard also invented an automatic Hebrew language translator.[4]
Significance
Schickard is noted as a father of the computing era, as he pioneered the mechanical calculating era with his Calculating Clock. Schickard also contributed significantly to the field of astronomy through his correspondence with Kepler. In addition to his direct contributions, Schickard's machine was a precursor to more advanced and eventually electrical calculating machines. Although the fir st programmable calculator didn't come about until Konrad Zuse's Z3, Schickard set the era into motion.
References
- ↑ Fragment of Schickard’s letter sent to Kepler in September 20, 1623:
- ↑ Original drawing taken from F. Seck (Editor) 'Wilhelm Schickard 1592-1635, Astronom, Geograph, Orientalist, Erfinder der Rechenmaschine', Tübingen, 1978
- ↑ Eric Nelson, "Talmudical Commonwealthsmen and the Rise of Republican Exclusivism, The Historical Journal, 50, 4 (2007), p. 826
- ↑ The calculating machines of Wilhelm Schickard
External Links
- Biography of Schickard at http://history-computer.com/People/SchickardBio.html
- History of Mathematics - Wilhelm Schickard at http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Schickard.html
