Comment Feed for Channel 9 - Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing http://ecn.channel9.msdn.com/o9/previewImages/100/249485_100x75.jpg Channel 9 - Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing I recently got the chance to sit down with Brian Beckman, physicist, programmer and Channel 9 celebrity, to learn about the history of computing. As you know, Brian is a great teacher. This lesson focuses on the evolution of computing devices and delves into some of the not-so-obvious uses of hand-held programmable calculators in the not-so-distant past. Did you know that the 1975 Apollo Soyuz international space mission incorporated a programmable calculator, the HP-65, to calculate precise course corrections for the rendezvous and linking of Apollo and Soyuz space crafts? A calculator!! Indeed, programmable calculators are the predecessors of today's computers. But what came before the hand-held computing titans of the 70s? What was the first computer? Brian has quite a collection of computing devices in his office, some of which, as expected, predate digital devices. We get a look at these and learn about their place in history. Of course, Brian is a software developer with uncanny capability for designing accurate simulations (remember the Forza math interview?) so he decided to write an innovative application that simulates the HP-97, precisely. Brian works on the Data Programmability team (SQL, LINQ, Entity Framework, etc) so he implemented the HP-97's programmability and storage in ADO.NET and SQL. Brian will be producing a C9 Screencast to dig into what he did, so look for this showing up soon!As always, it was a pleasure to converse with Brian and learn about how computers got to where they are today. It's a long interview, so get comfortable, relax, and learn from a master. en Sun, 26 May 2013 00:09:07 GMT Sun, 26 May 2013 00:09:07 GMT Rev9 Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing

posted by Cyonix

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242121710000000 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 02:56:11 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242121710000000 Cyonix Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing I for one, would love to see a regular "Brian Beckman" show here on C9.

Just a quick note, tried to stream this and I was having some problems, then I went to download it. Isn't 1.2 gigs a bit large for an hours worth of video?

Now don't get me wrong, it's Brian Beckman, I truly feel like you could just film that guy ordering lunch and somehow I'd learn...., so I'll download it size be damned Smiley

posted by Cavan

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242184980000000 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:41:38 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242184980000000 Cavan Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing More Brian Beckman! This is so awesome.

 

I cant thank both you, Charle, and Brian, for all good shows Big Smile

posted by Chadk

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242277510000000 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:15:51 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242277510000000 Chadk Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing

posted by martin_lovick

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242375670000000 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 09:59:27 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242375670000000 martin_lovick Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing posted by vesuvius

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242658020000000 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:50:02 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242658020000000 vesuvius Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing
"I for one, would love to see a regular "Brian Beckman" show here on C9."
At least, he has allready his own tag.

posted by GamlerHart

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242667560000000 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:05:56 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242667560000000 GamlerHart Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing posted by alwaysmc2

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242745730000000 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:16:13 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242745730000000 alwaysmc2 Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing posted by CRPietschmann

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242958140000000 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 02:10:14 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633242958140000000 CRPietschmann Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing posted by crollins

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633243532420000000 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:07:22 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633243532420000000 crollins Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing That was a nice video ....

cool staff

posted by liridon shala

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633243659470000000 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:39:07 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633243659470000000 liridon shala Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing posted by BillP

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633244153610000000 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:22:41 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633244153610000000 BillP Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing Nice interview.

I actually wrote my first program on the HP calculator with memory cards around 1980.

Brings back memories of a similar kind, in 1983 I was in high school and wrote a simulator of a NORD-100 (mini computer from Norsk Data) using Microsoft MBasic (when Microsoft was a somewhat more modest outfit) that ran on a MP/M terminal based Mycron machine running a 80186 processor.

Øystein

posted by vzczc

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633244529400000000 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:49:00 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633244529400000000 vzczc Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing
Brian is very busy, so I can't promise a regular show (as you can imagine, his team relies on his engineering skills to ship products)... However, as you see, I've given him his own tag Smiley When time permits and good topics arise (no problems here!), you will see more Brian on C9.

We're lucky to have him at Microsoft.

C

posted by Charles

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633244639330000000 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:52:13 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633244639330000000 Charles Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing posted by littleguru

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633246936580000000 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:40:58 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633246936580000000 littleguru Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing
@Charles: I just found the tag, great idea!

posted by ilmar

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247020980000000 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:01:38 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247020980000000 ilmar Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing Nice work guys!

posted by littleguru

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247107820000000 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:26:22 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247107820000000 littleguru Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing If you have a guy at Microsoft with such deep knowledge of computing and calculators, why did not you implement the sqrt function in the scientific mode of Windows calculator? Anybody noticed it's available in normal mode only? Big Smile

posted by akopacsi

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247951790000000 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:52:59 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247951790000000 akopacsi Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing
There really should be a Brian Beckman show (and also a Jeffrey Snover and Scott Guthrie show for that matter. although you probably should let him have a long vacation first! he looks like a two year crunch at least)

Well and since I am at it already: THANK YOU Charles!

posted by Apogeum

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247964750000000 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:14:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633247964750000000 Apogeum Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing

posted by martin_lovick

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633251440610000000 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:47:41 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633251440610000000 martin_lovick Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing posted by brianbec

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633252446890000000 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:44:49 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633252446890000000 brianbec Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing Dr. Beckman: you're really a ROCK-STAR!

(You must have a big talent for teaching, for explaining things...)

Thank you very much for the time you took from your busy schedule, to offer us such a great video!

Thanks also to the Channel 9 interviewer.

I'm looking forward to download the historical-HP emulator code.

BTW#1: the RPC notation is also used in more modern HPs like HP49, and you are right: it's great!

BTW#2: Is there any reason to develop the emulator GUI using WinForm and not WPF? Speed of execution?

Greetings from Italy

Giovanni

 

posted by Sys64738

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633255622990000000 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:58:19 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633255622990000000 Sys64738 Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing
we are having a very long thread on the MFC newsgroup about floating point numbers, precisions, how to compare them, discussions about significant digits, why "25/30*30 - 1" is not 0 in float, how to increase precision, etc.

Could you please use your talent for teaching and explaining things and your math knowledge and background to discuss in a Channel9 interview about topics like floating point numbers, how computers store them, how to *correctly* manage them, how can we use arbitrary precision (if possible), difference between Decimal and Float, how Windows calculator works, a BIGNUM class, etc. ?

Thank you very much
Gio

posted by Sys64738

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633276884430000000 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:34:03 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633276884430000000 Sys64738 Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing

posted by Yankee

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633429707850000000 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:39:45 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633429707850000000 Yankee Re: Brian Beckman: A Brief History of Computing That was pretty cool. I did something similar using Wpf  - took a couple weekends

http://www.limpidfox.com/hp97.htm

 

posted by mike0203

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633501288760000000 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:01:16 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Charles/Brian-Beckman-A-Brief-History-of-Computing#c633501288760000000 mike0203