![]() Emphasis in this article will be on the early steps. As he began this work in 1946, and produced a sample proof-of-concept, machine-generated concordance in 1951, his professional life spans the entire computing chapter in the history of scholarship. ![]() Father Busa, of course, is best known as the producer of the landmark 56-volume Index Thomisticus. Redirecting scholarship, he essentially invented the machine-generated concordance, the first of which he had published in 1951. As will be seen, this was a case of fortune favoring the prepared mind. ![]() J., namely, to look at "tools developed primarily for science and commerce" and to see other uses for them. First, Tasman's thesis, as subsequent history turned out, was a huge understatement and second, it essentially defines the first large invention of Father Roberto Busa, S. had assigned him in 1949 to be IBM liaison and support person for a young Jesuit's daring project to produce an index to the complete writings of St. ![]() His view of the future was a projection from his recent past. Tasman's 1957 prophecy was no shot in the dark. From a time even before programming itself. This is a story from early in the technological revolution, when the application was out searching for the hardware, from a time before the Internet, a time before the PC, before the chip, before the mainframe.
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