The Historical Journey of Computation

This chapter examines the historical impacts of computation in physics and mathematics, reflecting on how technological advancements have revealed hidden patterns. It highlights potential breakthroughs by mathematicians like Gauss and Ramanujan had they utilized modern computational tools, while also considering the arbitrary choices that shaped computing standards. Additionally, the discussion covers the evolution of computing systems and programming languages, drawing parallels to biological evolution and the unforeseen events that influence technological progress.