Calculate or Compute?
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
For a long time a "computer" was a person who computed. Before about 1960, if you worked for an insurance company for example, working out actuarial tables and the like, your job description might be "computer". [Computer (occupation) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer\_(occupation))
Keep Calm and Carry On
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For a long time a "computer" was a person who computed. Before about 1960, if you worked for an insurance company for example, working out actuarial tables and the like, your job description might be "computer". [Computer (occupation) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer\_(occupation))
Keep Calm and Carry On
Hmm, yes, but I would expect such a man to be a computor, his couterpart being a computrix. A computer would be an inanimate object.
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
Gerry Schmitz wrote:
So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity.
Calculating is human math. It is computing if you use a PC for that math. In the 1880's the term is correct; we even had humans computing in that era. Just posting, because you sound confused on the idea.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
There's a reason why it's not called the Association of Calculating Machinery. :-D /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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For a long time a "computer" was a person who computed. Before about 1960, if you worked for an insurance company for example, working out actuarial tables and the like, your job description might be "computer". [Computer (occupation) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer\_(occupation))
Keep Calm and Carry On
Then of course there are comptometers (from 1862) and their operators, comptometrists... ;)
Telegraph marker posts ... nothing to do with IT Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT Beekeeping and honey site ... still nothing to do with IT
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Gerry Schmitz wrote:
So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity.
Calculating is human math. It is computing if you use a PC for that math. In the 1880's the term is correct; we even had humans computing in that era. Just posting, because you sound confused on the idea.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
Your "explanations" are always a delight. Is crypto still "money"?
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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There's a reason why it's not called the Association of Calculating Machinery. :-D /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
The reason is very simple and is not at all word semantics-orientated. The Association for Computing Machinery is a given name. That's also why each word is capitalized. If given names were to follow semantics, Pres. Bidens son would be after deer each and every day.
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
Calculate and compute are synonyms, according to the dictionaries. Calculate ~~~~~~~~~ "(..)to judge the number or amount of something by using the information that you already have, and adding, taking away, multiplying, or dividing numbers(..)", source: The Cambridge Dictionary, 2022 "(..)to estimate or calculate by mathematics(..)", source: The Random House Amrican Dictionary, 1990 "(..)to estimate, enumerate, sum up, calculate(..)", source: Instant Synonyms and Antonyms, Bolander, Varner et al., 1970, 1988, Career Institute Inc "continued computing(..)", Siemens Dicitonary of Computing, 1970, Siemens GmbH Compute ~~~~~~~~ "(..)to calculate an answer or amount by using a machine", source: The Cambridge Dictionary, 2022 "to calculate", source: The Random House Amrican Dictionary, 1990 "(..)enumerate, figure, sum up, calculate(..)", source: Instant Synonyms and Antonyms, Bolander, Varner et al., 1970, 1988, Career Institute Inc "to calculate(..)", Siemens Dicitonary of Computing, 1970, Siemens GmbH
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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I just assumed that "computing" was a recent phenomenon, and that we always used to "calculate". So I'm consulting some literature from the 1880's and they're "computing" here and there. So, I compared definitions and "calculating" indicates simplicity whereas "computing" indicates complexity. So, don't calculate when you should be computing.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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Hmm, yes, but I would expect such a man to be a computor, his couterpart being a computrix. A computer would be an inanimate object.
Might be your expectation, but it doesn't match reality. See this from NASA or read the book/watch the movie "Hidden Figures."
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For a long time a "computer" was a person who computed. Before about 1960, if you worked for an insurance company for example, working out actuarial tables and the like, your job description might be "computer". [Computer (occupation) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer\_(occupation))
Keep Calm and Carry On
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Consider it brung.