Programmers Aren't People

9 hours ago

The word 'computer' originally referred to a person who performed calculations, dating back to the early 1600s.
Historically, computers were human workers, such as mathematicians, astronomers, and women at institutions like Harvard and NASA, who performed complex calculations manually.
With the advent of machines like ENIAC in 1945, the term 'computer' shifted to describe electronic devices, leaving the human role behind.
The suffix '-er' in words like 'computer' and 'programmer' denotes the performer of an action, not a fixed identity, allowing the terms to transfer to machines.
Dorothy Vaughan and other human computers adapted to technological change by learning to program machines, transitioning from 'computer' to 'programmer'.
The author reflects on being a programmer, noting that the term may follow the same path as 'computer,' becoming obsolete as machines take over programming tasks.

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