Herman Hollerith
Invented the tabulating machine, which was crucial for processing the 1890 US Census.
Most quoted
"I came to the conclusion that if I could devise a mechanism whereby the items of information could be recorded by means of holes in cards, and then combined and counted by electrical means, the whole census problem could be solved."
— from Interview/Recollection, 1889
"My invention comprises a traveling carrier for the card, a series of electrically-controlled counters, and means for bringing the card and the counters into cooperative relation."
— from Patent Application, 1889
"The problem of handling statistics by mechanical means is one of the most interesting and important problems that has ever been presented to the inventor."
— from An Electric Tabulating System, 1889
All quotes by Herman Hollerith (430)
I have always been driven by a desire to make things better, faster, and more accurate.
The challenges of scaling up production are as complex as the initial invention.
My greatest joy comes from seeing my ideas take physical form and serve a purpose.
The pursuit of knowledge and innovation is a lifelong endeavor.
I envision a world where information is readily accessible and easily processed.
The key to progress is to never be satisfied with the status quo.
My work has been a journey of discovery, filled with both triumphs and setbacks.
The impact of my inventions will continue to unfold in ways I can only begin to imagine.
There is no doubt that the use of machinery for tabulating statistics will become general.
The object of the electrical tabulating system is to substitute mechanical for mental operations in the tabulation of statistics.
The machine does not think, it only tabulates.
The census of 1890 will be the first in which the statistics are tabulated by machinery.
The system is capable of a wide range of applications beyond mere census work.
The punched card is the key to the whole system.
Time is money, and my machines save both.
The electrical tabulating system is not merely an improvement, but a revolution in statistical methods.
Without the electrical tabulating machine, the census of 1890 would have been an impossible task.
The future of statistics lies in automation.
My machines are designed to eliminate drudgery and increase accuracy.
The principles of my system are simple, but their application is profound.
Contemporaries of Herman Hollerith
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Herman Hollerith (1860–1929).