Vannevar Bush: Mastermind of Analog Computing and Science Administration and Information Age Visionary

Vannevar Bush (1890-1974) was "the grand old man of science" during and a bit beyond the Second World War. His computing credentials were of the analog variety, making him the first non-digital computing person to appear in this column, although you will see below his considerable connections to some previously discussed digital master minds. His career carried him well beyond computing and engineering into the highest ranks of science leadership. I'll briefly review his early life, his analog computer, his war-time leadership, and his two 1945 articles that still have relevance today.