Charles Babbage, The Difference Engine (1822)

As I was watching an episode of the very entertaining What the Victorians did for us (a BBC series) this morning, I learned a little more about the infamous "difference engine." For those among you who might not have heard about it, the Difference Engine was an invention by English mathematician Charles Babbage, one that was supposed to "fix" the (inevitable) calculation errors of "computers" (the name given at the time to people doing calculations manually) through means of a mechanical device. Through an intricate system of rotating clogs, you would be able to perform complex calculations and always get your answers right. The British Government, which had been the victim of some financial fiascoes because of such human errors, invested in the project. Unfortunately, as Babbage dragged on, the government grew impatient and pulled the plug (and, sadly enough, parts of the original machine was destroyed for scraps(!))

The picture above is a reproduction of this incredible machine, visible at the Science Museum of London (which also exhibits parts of his uncompleted work, such as the piece shown below). It is, by the way, the machine that inspired William Gibson for his novel, The Difference Engine and that is at the core of many computing/technological fantasies of contemporary steampunk literature.