In the beginning (more or less)

In the beginning, there was Charles Babbage ("father of computing") and and his wondrous machine, the difference engine. (aka: the world's first computer. unless you count abaci) . Unfortunately, he was ahead of his time and the project was not completed. (it was rebuilt in the 90s using his plans). He also created the Analytical engine (also not completed) which was powered by steam and used punch card technology adopted from the Jacquard Loom. Charles Babbage was also a friend and supporter of Ada Lovelace. Lovelace was the daughter of poet Lord Byron. Her mother wanted her to have nothing to do with the arts (this didn't work-- note to future parents.. This NEVER works) so Ada grew up steeped in mathematics. She heard of Babbage's machine and quickly saw the artistic possibilities (she suggested that this machine might be used to generate graphics and music!) She suggested to Byron that he use this machine to generate Bernoulli numbers. Her algorithm for doing this is considered the first computer program.

And then.

Not much happened regarding computers again until the 1930s. (WWII moved things along a bit). Some early computers include Mark 1 at Harvard: the first truly automatic computer and ENIAC at University of Pennsylvania. (It was rumored to make Philadelphia's lights flicker when in use.) The UNIVAC followed in 1951 (the first commercial computer, but hardly for home use!). It's programming language was developed by Commodore Grace M Hopper. Among her other multiple accomplishments, she is credited with the term "computer bug" after finding a moth caught in a computer which caused the machine to malfunction.

The personal computer took a leap forward in 1984 with the introduction of the Macintosh, featuring a 9" monitor, a mouse and keyboard, and a handle on top (for portability) , it retailed at $2500. Macs claim to fame was it's ability to deliver graphics at an affordable price.

 

And now.

With the release of the Macintosh, technology became affordable to the public, and , for our purposes, affordable to artists. This led to exciting experiments in a new media combining what have often been thought of as separate fields of study. As technology has become even more affordable, what was previously available to large companies is now in the hands of individual artists and designers. The following list is not comprehensive, but is meant to spark your imagination as to possibilities:

early pioneers

Ben Laposky (created the first electronic abstractions)
Edward Zajec
John Whitney Sr
Roman Verostko

currently working

George Legrady
Casey Reas
Jared Tarbell
Gary Stasiuk (liquidjourney)
Ben Fry
Josh Davis
Jon Maeda
Mary Flannagan
Yugo Nakamura
Carla Diana
William Ngan
Manny Tan