But Computer technology in the design process has become in itself influential and indispensable in modern production or communications processes and in countless appliances in daily use in our highly mechanized civilisation. It has had a broad effect on the form of things up to their, until now, still virtual existence in cyberspace.
The beginnings of the computer reach far into the past. A mechanical calculator was already known in the 17th century. Konrad Zuse completed the first fully functional program-driven and fully programmable computer in 1941. But the last decades are those that have borne the greatest consequences for our life: In 1968 the first mouse was created, in 1971 the first microprocessor, in 1980 the first hard disk in 1981 the first portable computer, in 1990 the World Wide Web. The "Digital Revolution" also fundamentally changed design. Through micro-electronics, components of electrical equipment have shrunk to a minimum. Designing no longer has to take into account the inner mechanical function and can orientate itself on the human anatomy. Noted designers (Bill Moggridge, Ettore Sottsass, Mario Bellini, Hartmut Esslinger of Frog, Richard Sapper, etc.) deal with hardware. The increasing number of possible functions and the interface between computer and man have developed new design needs: "user friendly," the self-descriptive shaping of entertainment electronic devices, the information technology as well as Software production are included.
The beginnings of the computer reach far into the past. A mechanical calculator was already known in the 17th century. Konrad Zuse completed the first fully functional program-driven and fully programmable computer in 1941. But the last decades are those that have borne the greatest consequences for our life: In 1968 the first mouse was created, in 1971 the first microprocessor, in 1980 the first hard disk in 1981 the first portable computer, in 1990 the World Wide Web. The "Digital Revolution" also fundamentally changed design. Through micro-electronics, components of electrical equipment have shrunk to a minimum. Designing no longer has to take into account the inner mechanical function and can orientate itself on the human anatomy. Noted designers (Bill Moggridge, Ettore Sottsass, Mario Bellini, Hartmut Esslinger of Frog, Richard Sapper, etc.) deal with hardware. The increasing number of possible functions and the interface between computer and man have developed new design needs: "user friendly," the self-descriptive shaping of entertainment electronic devices, the information technology as well as Software production are included.
