4 Answers

Latin origins of the word not recognize the fact that numerical counting systems originate in the evolution of creature consciousness, perhaps even in biological systems and there too computing also. The term computers was applied to persons who could demonstrate a skill set involving numerical manipulations. In the US the job of Computer was held by many persons occupying the task until the 1950s. Computers filled libraries with books of tables such as log numbers which are useful in surveying and mapping. When the TI-30 handheld calculator came to market with its cos,sine, and tan functions built in thousands of libraries filled with books for that purpose were gutted and burned  in the streets. The job of the human calculator had ended. I saved one of this books as a memorial as did others also. It was the dawn of a new age.

Mechanical computers date back to Roman times and many adaptations were evolved to enable variations of function. The Jacquard Loom, used to produce complex tapestry patterns in 1791 solved several problems leading to modern computers.

http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~ped/teachadmin/histsci/htmlform/lect4.html

The history of these primitive devices in our past is our history. To know where we are going an understanding of how we got here is vital.     

Konrad Zuse, a construction engineer, invented the first working programmable computer in 1941.

Generally considered to be Charles Babbage who invented a mechanical computer in the 19C.

The machine is exhibited in the Science Museum London.

al gore