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How did World War II stimulate the development of the modern computer?

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Final answer:

World War II spurred the development of modern computers with technological advancements for military purposes like the deciphering of the Nazi Enigma code and calculating artillery trajectories. The post-war transition to digital computing, facilitated by inventions like the transistor, led to the proliferation of computers in commercial and scientific fields.

Step-by-step explanation:

World War II played a pivotal role in the development of the modern computer. The need for advanced calculations, such as those for artillery trajectories and breaking encrypted communications like the Nazi Enigma code, led to significant technological investments. British mathematician Alan Turing was instrumental in creating an early electromagnetic computer to decipher Nazi codes, which was a foundation for future computing technology. Simultaneously, the U.S. Army's ENIAC, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, performed calculations at electronic speeds, contributing massively to computational advancements. These efforts laid the groundwork for the digital age and the subsequent commercial proliferation of electronics. After the war, the transition from analog to digital computers, accelerated by the invention of the transistor, allowed for efficient processing of large amounts of data, propelling the Computer Age forward.

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