Christie's auction and other computer history events

[Paul Koning]

>>>>> "William" == William Donzelli <aw288 at osfn.org> writes:

 >> Unfortunately, yes! For example, someone who knows better --
 >> relegates most of the British computing development to an appendix
 >> in hos book is the oft-quoted THE COMPUTER FROM PASCAL TO VON
 >> NEUMANN by Goldstine.  He vastly downplays the british work, like
 >> EDSAC etc. He does mention it, but almost in passing.

 William> Well, I guess it does happen, although most people I know
 William> don't really see it that way. On the flip side, it really
 William> bugs me how many give the lion's share of radar (and
 William> electronic innovation) invention in World War 2 to the
 William> British. I suppose it is the "history written by the
 William> victors" effect.

So are you saying the Germans did most of the radar work?  If so then
it probably was a case of two groups both doing the work, since
obviously the knowledge wasn't being shared.

Another example of misattribution is Enigma; usually it's reported
that the Brits (at Bletchley) broke it with the help of Turing's
machines.  Not true.  The Poles broke Enigma; what the Brits did is
mechanize the process and turn it into a production line.  Definitely
good innovative work, but giving them credit for breaking the system
is definitely inaccurate.

   paul