Modern computers exist today because of advancements and discoveries made over many years, and the coming together of many branches of science. Edison pioneered practical applications of electricity we now take for granted. Morse and Bell provided the links that captured data in electrical form. Steinmetz advanced essential circuit theories. Farnsworth invented the television camera, and thus the video display. Goddard pioneered the use of liquid powered engines for rockets. The impetus to put this all together was the space race and the pressure to pack more data and controls into smaller packages to save weight when launched into orbit. Along the way came printed circuits, transistors, integrated chip technology, computer languages, and or course today's computers. The spin-offs include computer graphics, satellite transmissions, video imaging and of course the Web. And tomorrow? Computers!
