From the tiniest gadget to vast scientific simulators, computers are integral to our lives, and are developing at ever-increasing speed. "The Computer" traces the evolution of this vital machine from its earliest roots through its exciting application in code-breaking during the Second World War, and from its initial use in the workplace and home to its current status as a totally indispensable - and increasingly portable - part of twenty-first century life. Along the way, the author examines some colourful moments in the computer's development. Highly illustrated, the book brings home the rapid reduction in computer size and growth in capacity, and its vast range of uses.