Some Thoughts on Computational Models: From Massive Human Computing to Abstract State Machines, and Beyond.

I sketch what I think led to the emergence of Abstract State Machines. A central role in this is played by the work of Ashok Chandra and David Harel on computable queries in databases. I also define Chandra-Harel Algebras, and analyse Blum-Shub-Smale computability over these algebras.