How did people react when Charles Babbage created the first computer?

Charles Babbage's creation of the first mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine, in the 1830s was met with a mix of intrigue and skepticism. While some contemporaries recognized its potential to revolutionize computation and automate tasks, others dismissed it as overly ambitious or impractical. Funding issues and a lack of understanding of its capabilities prevented its completion during Babbage's lifetime, leading to limited immediate impact. Overall, his ideas were ahead of their time, paving the way for future developments in computing.