Charles Babbage, often referred to as the ‘father of the computer,’ was 30 years old when he first conceptualized the idea of a programmable computer. In 1822, he proposed the concept of the Difference Engine, a mechanical device designed to compute polynomial functions. This marked the beginning of his journey towards inventing the computer.
Babbage’s work on the Analytical Engine, which is considered the first general-purpose computer, began in the 1830s. Although the Analytical Engine was never fully constructed during his lifetime, its design laid the foundation for modern computing. Babbage continued to refine his ideas and designs until his death in 1871 at the age of 79.
In summary, Charles Babbage was 30 years old when he first conceived the idea of a computer, and he spent much of his life developing and refining his groundbreaking inventions.