January 8, 1889
Herman Hollerith was issued US patent #395,782, for the 'Art of Applying Statistics,' an early step in the development of the computer.
Washington, D.C., United States | US Patent Office
On January 8, 1889, Herman Hollerith was issued U.S. Patent No. 395,782 for his invention titled “Art of Compiling Statistics.” This patent was a pivotal moment in the evolution of data processing and the eventual development of the modern computer.
Herman Hollerith, an American inventor, and engineer, was inspired by the inefficiencies he observed in data handling, particularly during the United States Census. The 1880 Census had taken several years to complete, leading Hollerith to develop a more efficient method of data processing.
Hollerith’s patent detailed a system that utilized punched cards and electrical tabulation. It allowed for rapid counting and sorting of information, transforming the cumbersome process of data compilation. The punched cards encoded information that could be read by machines employing myriad electrical connections. This system dramatically expedited data processing by automating what had traditionally been a manual and labor-intensive task.
The success of Hollerith’s invention was most prominently exhibited during the 1890 U.S. Census. His tabulating machines reduced the time required to process data by years, demonstrating a new efficiency in handling large datasets.
Hollerith’s work laid foundational principles for data processing technology. He founded the Tabulating Machine Company, which eventually became part of the conglomerate known as International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). This marked a significant step towards the development of modern computing systems, influencing the design of future computers that would similarly rely on encoded data input.
Patent No. 395,782 represents a significant advancement in the mechanization of data handling, which was crucial to the fields of statistics and computing. Hollerith’s innovative approach paved the way for subsequent technological advancements that continue to shape the way information is processed and analyzed in the digital age.
Source: en.wikipedia.org