What inspired Charles Babbage to make the computer?

This was, basically, a hand-operated mechanical calculator. He took nine years to build a part of the machine. This machine, which is in the London Science Museum, can make complex mathematical calculations. It is a basic mechanical computer. Babbage dreamed however of more complicated machines. read more

Quick Answer. Charles Babbage invented the first general-purpose computer in an effort to prevent the mathematical errors that were prevalent in the human-calculated mathematics of his time. read more

In that time, the term “computer” referred to a person who computed tables of logarithms, and such, that were compiled into book form. In fact, this definition stuck through the end of WW II. read more