Monday blast from the past #5: Who invented the computer?

Last week saw many denizens of the Intertubes linking to or tweeting about an article in the New York Times on the Science Museums plans to build Babbage’s Analytical Engine. The general direction of the article and many of the comments was whether Babbage can be considered to have invented the computer or should this honour rather go to Alan Turing. Having written a post or three on this subject I have chosen this Monday to represent my thoughts on the subject here, here, here and here.