Herman Hollerith

Biography

Herman Hollerith (1860–1929) was an American inventor whose electric tabulating machine revolutionized data processing and census administration. His innovative device, which used electrical impulses to read and sort data from punched cards, dramatically reduced the time required to process the 1890 U.S. Census, completing in one year what had previously taken eight years.

Hollerith's invention became the foundation for modern computing and data management, earning him recognition as a pioneer of information technology. His company, which later became part of IBM, continued to develop and refine tabulating technology that shaped the course of the computer age.