Who designed and built the first analog computer?

Vannevar Bush is recognized for his significant contributions to the development of the first analog computer during World War II. He designed the Differential Analyzer, which was capable of solving differential equations through mechanical means. This machine utilized a series of interconnected gears, levers, and wheels to model and simulate mathematical problems, laying a foundation for future computing devices. The effectiveness of the Differential Analyzer in handling complex calculations demonstrated the potential of analog computing before the advent of digital computers.

In contrast, Blaise Pascal is known for creating one of the earliest mechanical calculators, but it was not an analog computer in the same sense as Bush's invention. Charles Babbage conceptualized the Analytical Engine, which is often considered a precursor to the modern computer, but it was a digital device, not an analog one. Howard Aiken was instrumental in developed electronic computers like the Harvard Mark I, which was also digital. Therefore, while each of these figures contributed to the field of computing, Vannevar Bush's work specifically in analog computation is what sets him apart in this context.