emberszámítógépes

Emberszámítógépes, meaning "human computer" in Hungarian, refers to individuals, often women, who performed complex mathematical calculations by hand before the advent of electronic computers. These individuals were crucial in fields like astronomy, physics, and engineering during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They meticulously worked through equations, often for extended periods, to generate tables, solve problems, and perform simulations.

The term highlights the significant intellectual effort and computational power these humans provided. Their work was essential for scientific progress and technological development. Many emberszámítógépes were employed by universities, observatories, and government agencies. Their contributions, though often uncredited, laid the groundwork for many modern scientific discoveries and engineering marvels. The transition from human computers to electronic machines marked a major shift in computational capability, but the legacy of the emberszámítógépes remains an important part of the history of computing and science.