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Napoleon invented the computer?

Posted on 28. Feb, 2008 by Cameron in General

Well, not quite, but listener Arni Sigurdsson from Iceland found this website which explains how Napoleon was important to the development of the modern computer. According to the site:

Napoleon’s troops in Egypt buy shawls and start a fashion craze.

In Europe the shawls get made on automated, perforated-paper control looms.

This gives an American engineer Herman Hollerith the idea to automate calculation using punch cards.

Which get used to control ENIAC, the first electronic computer!

Thanks for the link Arni, fascinating!

3 Responses to “Napoleon invented the computer?”

  1. Jerry 29 February 2008 at 11:19 pm #

    Hello David and Cameron,
    Found Napoleon 101 last week and started listening. Love the show! You guys do a great job! Good luck on the new podcast. I look forward to listening to it also. Thanks for the entertainment!!

  2. Frelt 9 March 2008 at 11:37 am #

    By extension Napoleon also invented the internet.

    Wonder how many foreigners will get that joke…

  3. Antonio 11 March 2008 at 5:09 am #

    Maybe Napoleon predicted global warming too.

    Antonio
    Lisbon, Portigal

    PS: Frelt – Hey I got that joke! lol


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LWNvbnRlbnQvd29vX3VwbG9hZHMvMy1uYXBvbGVvbl90cG4tc2hvd2hlYWRlcl9uZXcuanBnPC9saT48L3VsPg==