What is a Computer?
During the 17th century a mathematician by the name of Gottfried Leibniz developed a concept called ‘Calculus Ratiocinator’ (calculus of reason) which is a theoretical universal logical calculation framework. Leibniz believed that all human reasoning is based on the use of signs or characters, which could be written down. The concept was that not only could objects be abbreviated but also ideas of these objects could be considered, once a sign had been established for the object, memory could be relieved of containing all elements of the object.
The framework was an inference machine, in that it would produce answers from a knowledge base and could be classed as a special instance of a reason engine, which will develop a solution from a set of given rules or axioms[1]. Leibniz believed that all human thoughts could be reduced to a few simple thoughts, and then be related to mathematical symbols. To make it work Leibniz came up with the concept of ‘lingua characteristica’, a universal language able to express mathematical, scientific, and metaphysical concepts. His idea was to have a learned committee sit around a table, saying: “Calculemus!” (“Let’s Calculate!”) and then begin reasoning with problems. What must be remembered while writing about these concepts was that they were developed in the 17th century and formed the basis of early calculators.