Introduction to the History of the Computer

"Who invented the computer?" is not a simple question. The

computer is a complex piece of machinery made possible by
contributions throughout history.

• 1200 A.D. The Chinese used the abacus, a hand-held

wooden device with rows of beads, to add, subtract, divide,
and multiply\

• 1834 Charles Babbage invented his Analytical Engine in

1834, a large device that used memory, programming, and
stored data by way of punched cards to calculate numbers

• 1920s Expanding on many of Babbage’s concepts, Herman

Hollerith founded International Business Machines (IBM) in
1924

• 1930s A wave of research produced an electronic computer

that could store data digitally as 0s and 1s, a vast
improvement over mechanical machines that operated on
gears

• 1940s Second-generation computers operated via

transistors, which were much smaller and energy efficient
than vacuum tubes

• 1950s ASCII was established as the first standard industry

computer language

• 1960s The integrated circuit became the standard computer

technology, using many transistors and electronic circuits
on a single semi-conducting chip

• This led to smaller, faster, and more powerful computers, as

well as the first network and initial Internet concepts

• In 1965, Lawrence Roberts of MIT connected a computer in

Massachusetts to a computer in California using a dial-up
telephone connection

• 1970s —present The modern era of the microprocessor – a

 phenomenal breakthrough first used in the Apple II and
Commodore personal computers

• Further advancements on the microprocessor (CPU) and the

Internet have brought about a world powered and
connected by computer technology

• The Future Three areas of new technology are artificial

intelligence (machines that imitate human thinking and
behavior), nanotechnology (cell-sized computer processors),
and membrane technology - data processed within organic,
living tissue cells).

Generation of Computers

Posted by kwnurwi Sunday, July 25, 2010 Labels: Technology

The history of computers began in 1940. Here are a few generations of
computers:
First generation (1940-1959)
Second Generation (1959-1964)
Third generation (1964-1980)
Fourth Generation (1980-present)
Fifth Genarasi (future).

First Generation

IBM 701

Computer prefix 40s sizenya very large and classed as the main framework
(Manframe). By using vacuum tubes, aim for maximum processing and storage.
Vacuum tube heat quickly and easily burned. Selan that require an electrical
vacuum tube so much that disrupt the smooth flow of electrically.

Vacuum tube ENIAC

In 1946 the first digital computer that is elektronk ENIAC (Electronic Integrator
And Calculator) was created by Dr. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly. ENIAC
has 140 square meters wide, weighs over 30 tons, 130 kilowatts of energy and
menggunkan 18 000 units of vacuum tubes. Memory storage in computers or
more recognizable as a concept Aturcara Saved (Stored Program Concept) was
created by John Von Neumann who use royal binaries (0 and 1) to perform
processing tasks and storan.

EDSAC (electronic Delay Calculator Storage Automation) has been using

mercury that has been inserted into the tube to replace the vacuum tube that
serves as penyimpnan. EDSAC developed by Cambridge University, England.
EDSAC was the first computer that uses the concept of Dr.. Presper Eckert and
John Mauchly.

EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) is much better than

ENIAC by reducing the use of vacuum tubes. Istem EDVAC using binary
numbers. UNIVAC1 (Universal Automatic Calculator) who is also the creation of
Dr. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly had been issued for commercial data
processing in 1951 to replace computers that are before it is used only for
counting purposes.

Second Generation

UNIVAC III

In this generation of computers using transistors and diodes to replace vacuum

tubes. His computer sizes become smaller and cheaper. Transistor is not
flammable as compared with vacuum tubes. The second-generation computers
use magnetic core for storage media. Magnetic terrace using fine iron wound
around the coil electrically. Processing capabilities as well as computer main
memory size is also getting bigger. This makes the computer more worthy of
following orders.

Computer programming language in the second generation using such high

levels discussed Fotran and COBOL used to replace assembly language difficult
to understand. Fotran language, and COBOL computer control makes it easier.
Request a computer for data processing purposes in the field of commerce
began to rise. People are starting to receive in the field of computers and
computer kerjaya gets first place.

Family second largest category of computer that is Minikomputer. The price is

cheaper compared with the main frame (mainframe). He is encouraging more
use of computers in the field of commerce. DEC PDP-8 is the first mini
computers produced in 1964 which later followed by IBM (International Business
Machine) with their mini-computers 7090 and 7094.

Third Generation

IBM SYSTEM/360

IBM strike up this evolution by producing a generation of Main Framework of the

System/360. It contains all the equipment for the purpose arrangement. It can be
used in a variety of purposes such as science, commerce or other. IBM's first
computer manufacturing industry monopoly. IBM System/360 was introduced
many new features termasuklah use Operation System (Operating System). He
also womb-stesen stesen in berasingan and escorted by the parent system. It
also introduces the term partnership System (Time Sharing). Through this
system, all these stesen-stesen able to perform simultaneous process
Through the investigation of microelectronics, transistors have to be scaled down
to microscopic size. Thousands of transistors squeezed onto the unit in a silicon
chip through the process Pengamiran Large Scale (Large Scale Integration or
LSI) to produce litar terkamir or more recognizable with the chips. Tansistor
replace chips as the material first computer logic. Small chip size has made him
popular and he has used in electronic equipment, a lot. Cheap price causes a lot
of electronic equipment falling prices and the emergence of a second industrial
revolution began.

Microcomputers, the smallest species in the family computer at first appear. He

quickly popular because sizenya small, low prices and skill to operate alone. He
was able to overcome the ENIAC in something duties. Between-jenamanya
jenama famous as Apple II, IBM PC, NEC PC and Sinclair. He first used in small
commercial data processing. Many more languages programs appear like
BASIC, Pascal, C, Logo, and PL / 1

Microcomputer chips added to the ROM (Read Only Memory) by bina-in (Built In)
to allow the BASIC language is used. Start the popular BASIC language as the
regulator of conversation. Perisian perisian use of animal-ready (ready made)
used for the initial problems of getting things done. Arrangement field early into
the field of employment that offers a very high salary.

Fourth Generation

IBM PC

We said were in the era of transition from the third generation to fourth
generation. Within this generation, the chip was again used as a storage
memory. However, she has become more advanced so that hundreds of
thousands of transistors have been compressed into it. This process is called
Pengamiran Very Large Scale (Very Large Scale Integration or VLSI).
Processing be highly inappropriate, so millions of bits shortly. He also has led to
yet another computer class called supercomputers (Super Computer) such as
the Cray 1 is then moved forward again like a Cray XMP. Super computers using
multiple processors selari (parallel processor), which functions simultaneously.
He is widely used to assist in weather studies, weapons of war.

Microcomputers also become more advanced with having memory capability up

to 64 million temple. He also has spawned some of the smaller species such as
microcomputers Computer Book (laptop or notebook) which sizenya almost the
same as a reference book. Microcomputer which is smaller than it has been born
of Computer Hand (Palmtop). Appropriateness has also increased from period to
contemporary.

Microcomputers have also been equipped with 'multimedia' is capable of showing

movies and sounds. Storan secondary that has greater capacity is needed to
accommodate the growing number of data storage increases. Computers also
have become commonly used in offices or at home to work all day. Local Area
Series System (Local Area Network), Wide Area Series System (Wide Area
Network) and System Between nation series (International Network) has also
been produced. He has made more sophisticated computer communication in
which we may enter into a relationship antarabangsa only from your home
computer.

Programs of community-ready (ready made) has become a necessity.

Development program change (tailor made) were also introduced to help resolve
things matter. Computers become more wise with the creation of programs that
can recognize the user by looking at the eyes of Iris hues. In this case, Palmtop
or PDA is a fourth generation computer

Fifth Generation

The fifth-generation evolution of shape yet. He was just a dream for the future.
However, pioneering projects for the long term airport project was begun as
clever or more are recognized as the Multimedia Super Corridor of Malaysia.
Computer designed more complex with multiple memories. Intelligent system
called 'Artificial Intelligence' will take over the tasks that endanger or require
more precision than humans. United States ministerial positions have also been
designing the use of robots in battle, the project identified by the name of 'Star
Wars' He also used the full use of satellites. These robots are also designed to
replace humans in refinery works like a carriage-making industry. Resolve smart
resolve will also replace all documents or bank akaun users. In it contains
various information about the user.
Programming language becomes very important, with rows of Pascal's direction
setting an example, we can direct the robot to choose between an apple fruit with
lime menerusi voice directions given to him. Computers also dijangka become a
sophisticated form of communication. The use of 'video conferencing' can be
used fully.
The Early days (1,000 B.C. to 1940)
Ancient Civilations
Computers are named so because they make mathematical computations at fast speeds.
As a result, the history of computing goes back at least 3,000 years ago, when ancient
civilizations were making great strides in arithmetic and mathematics. The Greeks,
Egyptians, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese, and Persians were all interested in logic and
numerical computation. The Greeks focused on geometry and rationality [1], the
Egyptians on simple addiction and subtraction [2], the Babylonians on multiplication and
division [3], Indians on the base-10 decimal numbering system and concept of zero [4],
the Chinese on trigonometry, and the Persians on algorithmic problem solving. [5] These
developments carried over into the more modern centuries, fueling advancements in areas
like astronomy, chemistry, and medicine.
Pascal, Leibnitz, and Jacquard
During the first half of the 17th century there were very important advancements in the
automation and simplification of arithmetic computation. John Napier invented
logarithms to simplify difficult mathematical computations. [6] The slide rule was
introduced in the year 1622 [7], and Blaise Pascal spent most of his life in the 1600's
working on a calculator called the Pascaline. [9] The Pascaline was mostly finished by
1672 and was able to do addition and subtraction by way of mechanical cogs and gears.
[8] In 1674 the German mathematician Gottfried Leibnitz created a mechanical calculator
called the Leibnitz Wheel. [10] This 'wheel' could perform addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division, albeit not very well in all instances.
Neither the Pascaline or Leibnitz wheel can be categorized as computers because they
did not have memory where information could be stored and because they were not
programmable. [5] The first device that did satisfy these requirements was a loom
developed in 1801 by Joseph Jacquard. [11] Jacquard built his loom to automate the
process of weaving rugs and clothing. It did this using punched cards that told the
machine what pattern to weave. Where there was a hole in the card the machine would
weave and where there was no hole the machine would not weave. Jacquard's idea of
punched cards was later used by computer companies like IBM to program software.
Babbage
 Charles Babbage was a mathematics professor at Cambridge University who was
interested in automated computation. In 1823 he introduced the Difference Engine, the
largest and most sophisticated mechanical calculator of his time. Along with addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division to 6 digits-- the Difference Engine could also
solve polynomial equations. [12] It was never actually completed because the British
Government cut off funding for the project in 1842. [15] After this Babbage began to
draw up plans for an Analytical Machine, a general-purpose programmable computing
machine. [13] Many people consider this to be the first true computer system even though
it only ever existed on paper. The Analytical Machine had all the same basic parts that
modern computer systems have. [5] While designing the Analytical Machine, Babbage
noticed that he could perfect his Difference Engine by using 8,000 parts rather than
25,000 and could solve up to 20 digits instead of just 6. He drew schematics for a
Difference Engine no. 2 between 1847 and 1849.
After twelve years spent trying to get his Difference Engine No. 2 built, Babbage had
to give up. The British Government was not interested in funding the machine and the
technology to build the gears, cogs, and levers for the machine did not exist in that time
period. Babbage's plans for the Difference Engine and Difference Engine No. 2 were
hidden away after his death, and finally resurfaced around 150 years after they'd each
been conceived. In 1991 a team of engineers at the Science Museum in London
completed the calculating section of Babbage's Difference Engine. [14] In 2002 the same
museum created a full fledged model of the Difference Engine No. 2 that weighs 5 tons
and has 8,000 parts. [16] Miraculously, it worked just as Babbage had envisioned. A
duplicate of this engine was built and was sent to the Computer History Museum in
Mountain View, CA to be demonstrated and displayed until May 2009.
Hollerith
In America during the late 1800's there were many immigrants pouring in from all over
the world. Officials at the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that it would take ten to twelve
years to do the 1890 census. By the time they finished it would be 1900, and they'd have
to do the census all over again! The problem was that all of the calculations for the
census were performed manually. To solve their problems the U.S. Census Bureau held a
competition that called for proposals outlining a better way to do the census. [17] The
winner of the competition was Herman Hollerith, a statistician, who proposed that the use
of automation machines would greatly reduce the time needed to do the census. He then
designed and built programmable card processing machines that would read, tally, and
sort data entered on punch cards. The census data was coded onto cards using a
keypunch. Then these cards were taken to a tabulator (counting and tallying) or sorter
(ordering alphabetically or numerically). [18]
Hollerith's machines were not all-purpose computers but they were a step in that
direction. They successfully completed the census in just 2 years. The 1880 census had
taken 8 years to complete and the population was 30% smaller then, which meant that
automated processing was definitely more efficient for large scale operations. [5]
Hollerith saw the potential in his tabulating and sorting machines, so he left the U.S.
Census Bureau to found the Computer Tabulating Recording Company. His punch-card
machines became national bestsellers and in 1924 Hollerith's company changed its name
to IBM after a series of mergers with other similar companies. [19] The computer age
was about to begin.

Birth of Computers (1940-1950)

WWII
World War II brought concerns about how to calculate the logistics of such a large
scale battle. The United States needed to calculate ballistics, deploy massive amounts of
troops, and crack secret codes. The military started a number of research projects to try
and build computers that could help with these tasks and more. In 1931 the U.S. Navy
and IBM began working together to build a general-purpose computer called the Mark 1.
It was the first computer to use the base-2 binary system, was programmable, and made
of vacuum tubes, relays, magnets, and gears. The Mark 1 was completed in 1944. [20]
The Mark 1 had a memory for 72 numbers and could perform 23-digit multiplication in 4
seconds. [5] It was operational for 15 years and performed many calculations for the U.S.
Navy during WWII.

The Mark 1 was still a mix of electronic and mechanical. At the same time as the Mark
1, however, there was another project taking place. During WWII the United States army
was building new artillery that required firing tables. These firing tables were created by
way of intense mathematical calculation that took a very long time to manually compute.
To help make this process process quicker the Army started a project in 1943 to build a
completely electronic computing device. [21] J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly headed
the project and eventually created the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator
(ENIAC), which was completed in 1946. The ENIAC had 18,000 vacuum tubes and
absolutely gigantic; 100 feet long, 10 feet high, and 30 tons. It was about a thousand
times faster than the Mark 1 at multiplying numbers and 300 times faster at addition. [22]

Another computer designed during WWII was the Colossus, by Alan Turing. This
computer cracked the German Enigma code, helping us win the war against the Nazis.
Germany themselves were designing a computer much like the ENIAC, code named the
Z1. The Z1 project, headed by Konrad Zuse, was never completed. [23]
Von Neumann
Though the computers developed in the second World War were definitely computers,
they were not the kind of computers we are used to in modern times. Jon Von Neumann
helped work on the ENIAC and figured out how to make computers even better. The
ENIAC was programmed externally with wires, connectors, and plugs. Von Neumann
wanted to make programming something that was internalized. Instead of rerouting wires
and plugs, a person could write a different sequence of instructions that changes the way
a computer runs. Neumann created the idea of the stored computer program, which is still
implemented today in computers that use the 'Von Neumann Architecture'. [24]

First Generation (1950 - 1957)

The first computer to implement Von Neumann's idea was the EDVAC in 1951,
developed in a project led by Von Neumann himself. At the same time a computer using
stored programs was developed in England, called the EDSAC. [25] The EDVAC was
commercialized and called the UNIVAC 1. It was sold to the U.S. Bureau of the Census
in March, 1951. This was actually the first computer ever built for sale. [26] The
UNIVAC 1 made a famous appearance on CBS in November, 1952 during the
presidential election. [27] The television network had rented the computer to boost
ratings, planning to have the computer predict who would win the election. The UNIVAC
predicted very early on that Eisenhower would beat Stevenson, which was correct.
Network executives were skeptical and did not go live with the prediction until they had
arrived at the same conclusion using manual methods. The UNIVAC sat right behind
CBS staff during the broadcast, and it was the first time that many people had the chance
to see this elusive new technology called the computer.
IBM's first production computer was the IBM 701 Defense Calculator, introduced in
April, 1952. [28] The IBM 701 was used mostly for scientific calculation. The EDVAC,
EDSAC, UNIVAC 1, and IBM 701 were all large, expensive, slow, and unreliable pieces
of technology-- like all computers of this time. [29] Some other computers of this time
worth mentioning are the Whirlwind, developed at Massachussets Institute of
Technology, and JOHNNIAC, by the Rand Corporation. The Whirlwind was the first
computer to display real time video and use core memory. [33] The JOHNNIAC was
named in honor of Jon Von Neumann. Computers at this time were usually kept in
special locations like government and university research labs or military compounds.
Only specially trained personnel were granted access to these computers. Because they
used vacuum tubes to calculate and store information, these computers were also very
hard to maintain. First generation computers also used punched cards to store symbolic
programming languages. [5] Most people were indirectly affected by this first generation
of computing machines and knew little of their existence.

Second Generation (1957 - 1965)

The second generation of computing took place between 1957 and 1965. Computers
were now implementing transistors, which had been invented in 1947 by a group of
reseachers at Bell Laboratories, instead of vacuum tubes. [30] Because of the transistor
and advances in electrical engineering, computers were now cheaper, faster, more
reliable, and cheaper than ever before. More universities, businesses, and government
agencies could actually afford computers now.
In 1957 the first FORTRAN compiler was released. FORTRAN was the first high-
level programming language ever made. [31] It was developed by IBM for scientific and
engineering use. In 1959, the COmmon Business-Oriented Language (COBOL)
programming language was released. Where FORTRAN was designed for science and
engineering, COBOL was designed to serve business environments with their finances
and administrative tasks. [32] These two programming languages essentially helped to
create the occupation of a programmer. Before these languages, programming computers
required electrical engineering knowledge.
This generation of computers also had an increase in the use of core memory and disks
for mass storage. A notable computer to mention from this time period is the IBM
System/360, a mainframe computer that is considered one of the important milestones in
the industry. It was actually a family of computer models that could be sold to a wide
variety of businesses and institutions. [37]

Third Generation (1965 - 1975)

The third generation of computing spanned from 1965 to 1975. During this time
integrated circuits with transistors, resistors, and capacitors were etched onto a piece of
silicon. This reduced the price and size of computers, adding to a general trend in the
computer industry of miniaturization. In 1960 the Digital Equipment Corporation
introduced the Programmed Data Processor- 1 (PDP-1), which can be called the first
minicomputer due to its relatively small size. [34] It is classified as a third generation
computer because of the way it was built, even though it was made before 1965. The
PDP-1 was also the computer that ran the very first video game, called Spacewar (written
in 1962). [35]
The software industry came into existence in the mid 1970's as companies formed to
write programs that would satisfy the increasing number of computer users. Computers
were being used everywhere in business, government, military, and education
environments. Because of there target market, the first software companies mostly
offered accounting and statistical programs. [5] This time period also had the first set of
computing standards created for compatibility between systems.
E-mail originated sometime between 1961 and 1966, allowing computer users to send
messages to each other as long as they were connected through a network. [38] This is
closely tied to the work that was being done on Advanced Research Projects Agency
Network (ARPANET), networking technology and innovation that would one day bring
the internet. [50]

Fourth Generation (1975 - 1985)

The fourth generation of computing spanned from 1975 to 1985. Computer technology
had advanced so rapidly that computers could fit in something the size of a typewriter.
These were called microcomputers, the first one being the Altair 8800. The Altair 8800
debuted in 1975 as a mail-order hobby kit. Many people acknowledge the Altair 8800 as
the computer that sparked the modern computer revolution, especially since Bill Gates
and Paul Allen founded Microsoft with a programming language called Altair BASIC--
made specifically for the 8800. [36] Now that computers could fit on desks they became
much more common.
A small company called Apple Computer, Inc. was established in 1976 and single
handedly changed the industry forever. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs began to sell their
Apple 1 computer that same year, and it quickly gained popularity. It came with a
keyboard and only required a monitor to be plugged into the back of the system, which
was a novel idea for computers at that time. The Apple II was released the next year and
was the first mass produced microcomputer to be commercially sold, and also ushered in
the era of personal computing.
In 1981, Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS) was released to run on the Intel
8086 microprocessor. [39] Over the next few years MS-DOS became the most popular
operating system in the world, eventually leading to Microsoft Windows 1.0 being
released in 1985. [40] In 1984 Apple introduced their Mac OS, which was the first
operating system to be completely graphical. Both Mac OS and Windows used pull-down
menus, icons, and windows to make computing more user-friendly. Computers were now
being controlled with a mouse as well as keyboard. The first mouse was developed in
1981 by Xerox. [41]
Software became much more common and diverse during this period with the
development of spreadsheets, databases, and drawing programs. Computer networks and
e-mail became much more prevalent as well.
The first truly portable computer, called the Osborne 1, was released in 1981. [37]
Portable computers like the TRS-80 Model 100 / 102 and IBM 5155 followed afterward.
[38]
Not all the computers of the time were small, of course. There were still being
supercomputers built with the aim of being as fast as possible. These supercomputers
were sold to companies, universities, and the military. An example of one such
supercomputer is the Cray-1, which was released in 1976 by Cray Research. [39] It
became one of the best known and most successful supercomputers ever for its unique
design and fast speed of 250 MFLOPS.
This generation was also important for the development of embedded systems. These
are special systems, usually very tiny, that have computers inside to control their
operation. [42] These embedded systems were put into things like cars, thermostats,
microwave ovens, wristwatches, and more.

Fifth Generation (1985 - Present)

The changes that have occurred since 1985 are plentiful. Computers have gotten tinier,
more reliable, and many times faster. Computers are mostly built using components from
many different corporations. For this reason, it is easier to focus on specific component
advancements. Intel and AMD are the main computer processor companies in the world
today and are constant rivals. [42] There are many different personal computer
companies that usually sell their hardware with a Microsoft Windows operating system
preinstalled. Apple has a wide line of hardware and software as well. [45] Computer
graphics have gotten very powerful and are able to display full three dimensional
graphics at high resolution. [41] Nvidia and ATI are two companies in constant battle
with one another to be the computer graphics hardware king.
The software industry has grown a lot as well, offering all kinds of programs for
almost anything you can think of. Microsoft Windows still dominates the operating
system scene. In 1995 Microsoft released Windows 95, an operating system that
catapulted them to a new level of dominance. [46] In 1999 Apple revamped its operating
system with the release of Mac OS X. [47] In 1991 Linus Torvalds wrote the Linux
kernel that has since spawned countless open source operating systems and open source
software. [44]
Computers have become more and more online orientated in modern times, especially
with the development of the World Wide Web. Popular companies like Google and
Yahoo! were started because of the internet. [43]
In 2008 the IBM Roadrunner was introduced as the fastest computer in the world at
1.026 PFLOPS. [40] Fast supercomputers aid in the production of movie special effects
and the making of computer animated movies. [48][49]

Conclusion
This is a very exciting time to be alive since we all get to see how quickly computer
technology is evolving, and how much it is changing all of our lives for the better. I
recommend that you take the time to visit a computer history museum so you can see
some of the machines mentioned in this knol. I also suggest that you do in-depth research
to learn more about any specific areas of computing that interest you. It is a vast and
exciting world that is always changing. We are lucky to be alive to witness computers
past and present.