Question

2.113: culminating activity final report: who invented the computer? claim: evidence: 30 points status: not submitted assignment you have completed an extensive investigation of the question who invented the computer? you have gathered sufficient evidence, and the moment has come to report your findings! step 1: write a one sentence summary of your conclusion to the question who is the inventor of the computer? step 2: choose one of the following methods as evidence to support your claim: paragraph: in a minimum of 5 complete sentences, provide specific evidence from a variety of sources timeline: create a timeline of the development of the computer. your timeline should highlight the impact of your chosen innovator concept map: create a bubble map that visually shows the relationships between the different computer innovations. your concept map should highlight the impact of your chosen innovator if you choose a timeline or a concept map: upload a picture of your diagram and include the link to the assignment (optional: you may also type your diagram here are found here

Explanation:

To answer "Who invented the computer?", we first research. Many consider Charles Babbage the inventor as he designed the Analytical Engine (a precursor to modern computers) in the 19th century. Evidence includes his detailed plans, mechanical designs, and historical accounts of his work on programmable computing devices.

Answer:

Step 1: Claim
Charles Babbage is widely recognized as the inventor of the computer due to his design of the Analytical Engine, a programmable mechanical device that laid the foundation for modern computing.

Step 2: Paragraph (Evidence)
Charles Babbage’s work in the 1820s–1830s on the Analytical Engine provides critical evidence: this machine featured a “store” (memory) and “mill” (processor) and could execute programs via punched cards, mirroring modern computer architecture. Historical records (e.g., Babbage’s notebooks, engineering drawings) and scholarly analyses (e.g., The Computer from Pascal to von Neumann) confirm his design’s originality. Additionally, Ada Lovelace’s 1843 notes on programming the Analytical Engine further validate its computational potential, solidifying Babbage’s role as the computer’s inventor.

(For the timeline/concept map: A timeline would highlight 1822 (Difference Engine), 1837 (Analytical Engine design), 1843 (Lovelace’s programming notes), and later recognitions. A concept map would connect Babbage → Analytical Engine → modern computers, showing impacts like programmable logic and mechanical computation.)