Dr. Gerard O'Regan is a CMMI software process improvement consultant with research interests including software quality and software process improvement, mathematical approaches to software quality, and the history of computing. He is the author of such Springer textbooks as Concise Guide to Formal Methods, Concise Guide to Software Engineering, Guide to Discrete Mathematics, and Introduction to Software Quality

Offers a comprehensive account of the history of computing

Traces the beginnings of computation from 3000 B.C. through to modern times

Includes helpful pedagogical elements such as exercises and chapter summaries

Does not require studies in computer science in order to be understood and appreciated

1. What is a Computer ?.- 2. Early Civilisations.- 3. Foundations of Computing.- 4. The First Computers.- 5. Early Commercial Computers.- 6. Transistors and Semiconductors.- 7. Early Mainframes.- 8. The IBM 360 and later Mainframes.- 9. DEC and Minicomputers.- 10. The Microprocessor.- 11. Home Computers.- 12. The IBM Personal Computer.- 13. History of Operating Systems.- 14. The Birth of Software Industry and Human Computer Interaction.- 15. History of Programming Languages.- 16. History of Software Engineering.- 17. A Short History of Telecommunications.- 18. The Internet Revolution.- 19. The Smart Phone and the Facebook Revolution.- 20. A Miscellany of Innovations.- 21. History of Databases.- 22. History of Artificial Intelligence.- 23. Ethics and Professional Responsibility.- 24. Legal Aspects of Computing.