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Modern computing only exists because of wartime codebreaking and artillery calculations. This reddit post is a good writeup on the latter: https://www.reddit.

by xor1 8y ago

Modern computing only exists because of wartime codebreaking and artillery calculations. This reddit post is a good writeup on the latter: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3kbt3w/was_american_artillery_more_effective_and/cuwzi9t/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3kbt3w/was_a...

VikingCoder 8y ago
And the Nobel Prize only exists because of dynamite. So what? Now it honors peaceful efforts. Just because something is born one way doesn't define its entire existence.
- xor1 8y ago
  The current context of this discussion is the primary driving force behind technological innovation, you seem to be addressing a different context entirely.
  - VikingCoder 8y ago
    No, you assert that that's the context. I assert that inventors and inventions need not be shackled to their origin. Case in point, it's entirely possible that ARPANET was used by foreign powers to subvert American Democracy in the 2016 election. I'm not advocating that, I'm saying it's worth recognizing. You can retort, yes, that's continued weaponization. And I can respond, that I can want to work on altruistic internet projects, and not feel "guilt" that the internet was invented by the military. And if someone subverts my project to military uses, I have every right to voice my objections.
    - xor1 8y ago
      >I assert that inventors and inventions need not be shackled to their origin. How did you get the idea that I disagree with this?
SamReidHughes 8y ago
We'd have modern computing without those things. There was enough demand to develop computing even without military purposes in mind. The transistor was invented at a telephone company.
- asdsa5325 8y ago
  "There was enough demand to develop computing even without military purposes in mind" No, there was not.
  - kuschku 8y ago
    Zuse started developing his computers and programming languages before the war. Of course there would have been.
    - sitkack 8y ago
      The Difference Engine was instrumental in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. It was later used by Dred Pirate Roberts to manage logistics of rum and parrots to his fleet of leased pirate ships in the Caribbean.
      - kuschku 8y ago
        Zuse actually built modern, electromechanical computers, and developed software for it.

by xor1 8y ago

VikingCoder 8y ago

And the Nobel Prize only exists because of dynamite. So what? Now it honors peaceful efforts. Just because something is born one way doesn't define its entire existence.

xor1 8y ago
The current context of this discussion is the primary driving force behind technological innovation, you seem to be addressing a different context entirely.
- VikingCoder 8y ago
  No, you assert that that's the context. I assert that inventors and inventions need not be shackled to their origin. Case in point, it's entirely possible that ARPANET was used by foreign powers to subvert American Democracy in the 2016 election. I'm not advocating that, I'm saying it's worth recognizing. You can retort, yes, that's continued weaponization. And I can respond, that I can want to work on altruistic internet projects, and not feel "guilt" that the internet was invented by the military. And if someone subverts my project to military uses, I have every right to voice my objections.
  - xor1 8y ago
    >I assert that inventors and inventions need not be shackled to their origin. How did you get the idea that I disagree with this?

SamReidHughes 8y ago

We'd have modern computing without those things. There was enough demand to develop computing even without military purposes in mind. The transistor was invented at a telephone company.

asdsa5325 8y ago
"There was enough demand to develop computing even without military purposes in mind" No, there was not.
- kuschku 8y ago
  Zuse started developing his computers and programming languages before the war. Of course there would have been.
  - sitkack 8y ago
    The Difference Engine was instrumental in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. It was later used by Dred Pirate Roberts to manage logistics of rum and parrots to his fleet of leased pirate ships in the Caribbean.
    - kuschku 8y ago
      Zuse actually built modern, electromechanical computers, and developed software for it.