Human Computing Practices and Patronage: Antiaircraft Ballistics and Tidal Calculations in First World War Britain

During the First World War, both antiaircraft defense and tide prediction became imperative for Britain. These required lengthy calculations by human "computers." One such computer, Arthur Thomas Doodson, became prominent in both antiaircraft ballistics and tide calculations. This article...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inLibraries & the cultural record Vol. 50; no. 1; p. 70
Main Author Carlsson-Hyslop, Anna
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Austin University of Texas at Austin (University of Texas Press) 01.01.2015
Subjects
Accuracy
Applied mathematics
Ballistics
Careers
Conscientious objectors
Historians
Laboratories
Mathematical analysis
Mathematics
Methods
Military supplies
Missiles
Patronage
Science
Scientists
Studies
Tide prediction
War
World War I
United Kingdom > UK
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Summary:During the First World War, both antiaircraft defense and tide prediction became imperative for Britain. These required lengthy calculations by human "computers." One such computer, Arthur Thomas Doodson, became prominent in both antiaircraft ballistics and tide calculations. This article examines the mathematical practices Doodson employed and, through analysis of his financial backers, why the calculations were carried out. Doodson utilized new calculation practices both to increase the complexity and amount of computations that could be carried out and to argue for further funding. Historians of science, including mathematics, can benefit from simultaneous analysis of both the practices and the patronage of scientists.
ISSN:2164-8034
2166-3033