One often forgotten but truly fascinating character in the early days of computing is Konrad Zuse [0] who arguably built the first computer. If you are interest

One often forgotten but truly fascinating character in the early days of computing is Konrad Zuse [0] who arguably built the first computer. If you are interested in computer history make sure to read his autobiography "The Computer - My Life". At some point he was financed by Nazi-Germany arms producers. About this he said (rough translation by me from German): Too often is the inventor the Faustian idealist who tries to change the world but fails due to the harsh reality. If he wants to implement his idea, he has to get involved with powers, whose sense for reality is sharper and more pronounced than his. Today such powers are, without expressing a value judgment, military and management. [...] In my experience, chances are slim to defend oneself against such pacts. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konrad_Zuse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konrad_Zuse