After the invention of the transistor in the late 1940s and the integrated circuit a few years later, the seeds were lain for the computing age to take off. In the following fifty years, developments in electronics and circuitry would lead to a world economic boom and revolution unprecedented in mankind’s history. The idea for a purely mechanical computer was conceived more than a 100 years before the invention of the computer however – by British inventor Charles Babbage. It begs the question then – what would’ve happened if the computing revolution happened a century earlier with the creation of Babbage’s analytic engine?
The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, takes place in a world where the above takes place. In this alternative history, Babbage completes his analytic engine – the sequel to the difference engine – and ushers the computer age in Great Britain in the mid 1800s.
The novel limits itself to a mechanical revolution – the transistor does not exist yet in this universe, and instead of having machines built around the integrated circuit, mechanical steam powered machines become commonplace. The technology that comes to Great Britain is steampunk in design. For example, there are steam powered carriages and televisions called Kinotropes. While a little suspension of disbelief is required to believe that steam is an adequate power source and that these technologies are actually possible, the world they create is very interesting to me. I’m personally very biased towards scientific research and development. If I could rule the world I would move entire economies to produce technologies in every field full time. I’ve always wondered what would happen if humanities focus shifted purely to the pursuit and development of knowledge, and I believe that great wonders would be produced in no time. This novel explores some lines of my fantasy in that Britain begins to turn towards science and hold scientific figures like Charles Darwin in high light. Other studies are pushed aside and science and technology are put at the forefront. As a result, technological progress proceeds at a breakneck speed as “modern” devices appear and globalization looms.
Baada ya uvumbuzi wa transistor mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1940 na mzunguko wa pamoja miaka michache baadaye, mbegu zilipandwa kwa ajili ya umri wa kompyuta kuondoka. Katika miaka hamsini iliyofuata, maendeleo katika vifaa vya elektroniki na mzunguko yangesababisha ukuzi wa uchumi wa ulimwengu na mapinduzi yasiyo na kifani katika historia ya wanadamu. "Kama vile ilivyotarajiwa, ""mfano wa kompyuta"" ulibuniwa zaidi ya miaka 100 kabla ya uvumbuzi wa kompyuta na Charles Babbage." Ni begs swali basi <unk> nini ingekuwa<unk>imekuwa kilichotokea kama kompyuta mapinduzi kilichotokea karne moja mapema na uumbaji wa Babbage <unk>s injini ya uchambuzi? The Difference Engine, na William Gibson na Bruce Sterling, hufanyika katika ulimwengu ambapo hapo juu hufanyika. Katika historia hii mbadala, Babbage kukamilisha injini yake ya uchambuzi - mwendelezo wa tofauti injini - na ushers umri wa kompyuta katika Uingereza katikati ya miaka ya 1800. Riwaya hiyo inajizuia kwa mapinduzi ya mitambo <unk> transistor haipo bado katika ulimwengu huu, na badala ya kuwa na mashine zilizojengwa kuzunguka mzunguko wa jumuishi, mashine za mitambo zinazotumiwa na mvuke zinakuwa za kawaida. Teknolojia inayokuja Uingereza ni steampunk katika kubuni. Kwa mfano, kuna magari ya kubebea magari yanayoendeshwa kwa mvuke na televisheni zinazoitwa Kinotropes. Ingawa ni lazima kusimamishwa kidogo ya kutokuamini kuamini kwamba mvuke ni chanzo cha kutosha cha nguvu na kwamba teknolojia hizi ni kweli inawezekana, ulimwengu wao kujenga ni ya kuvutia sana kwangu. Mimi binafsi ni very biased kuelekea utafiti wa kisayansi na maendeleo. Kama ningeweza kutawala ulimwengu ningehamisha uchumi mzima kuzalisha teknolojia katika kila uwanja wakati wote. Sikuzote nimejiuliza nini kingeweza kutokea ikiwa lengo la kibinadamu lingegeuka tu kwa utafutaji na maendeleo ya maarifa, na naamini kwamba maajabu makubwa yangetengenezwa kwa muda mfupi. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""kitabu hiki kinachunguza baadhi ya mistari ya ndoto yangu katika kwamba Uingereza inaanza kugeuka kuelekea sayansi na kushikilia takwimu za kisayansi kama Charles Darwin katika mwangaza wa juu.""" Mafunzo mengine huondolewa kando na sayansi na tekinolojia huwekwa mbele. Matokeo ni kwamba, maendeleo ya kiteknolojia yanaendelea kwa kasi sana kadiri vifaa vya "siku-hizi" vinavyoonekana na jinsi utandawazi unavyosonga mbele.