Computer History Museum
- Visited the Computer History Museum in Mountain View for an in-person non-SJSU event
- I completed this activity on March 2nd, 2024. Spring ’24 term.
- The museum has many sponsors including Accenture, the Broadcom Foundation, and CHM’s partner and presenter at the State of the Valley conference.
- I went on 3/2/24 in Mountain View.
- I learned a lot of interesting info. Specifically about how IBM technology was instrumental in World War 2. A punch card machine was made to decode encrypted messages sent by the Nazis through their Enigma machine. Although IBM supported America’s war effort, Nazi Germany was also able to use IBM punch card equipment, including to keep records in concentration camps. Information about IBM’s role in the accounting challenges that came with the Social Security Act of 1935 was also provided. Additionally, a machine called the Colossus was used at Britain’s Bletchley Park to break German Lorenz codes and shorten the war by 2 years. Winston Churchill acknowledged their importance but ordered them to be destroyed out of fear the technology would get into the wrong hands. The creators would eventually get credit but only many years later.
- Spending time at this museum showed me how rich the history of tech and computers is. It gave me a newfound appreciation for how far the world has come and how much effort has been and is being put into the advancement of our society. I plan to go back to the museum again to see even more artifacts and information that I didnIMG_2291 IMG_2285 IMG_2290 IMG_2291 IMG_2322‘t get to see the first time. Knowing what I know now will give me more context for what I learn in my coursework and give me a foundation for what else I learn in my career.IMG_2290 IMG_2291 IMG_2322