hist of computer

8/6/2019 Hist of Computer

1/16

Introduction to the History of the Computer

"Who invented the computer?" is not a simple question. Thecomputer is a complex piece of machinery made possible bycontributions throughout history.

1200 A.D. The Chinese used the abacus, a hand-heldwooden device with rows of beads, to add, subtract, divide,and multiply\

1834 Charles Babbage invented his Analytical Engine in1834, a large device that used memory, programming, andstored data by way ofpunched cards to calculate numbers

1920s Expanding on many of Babbages concepts, HermanHollerith founded International Business Machines (IBM) in1924

1930s A wave of research produced an electronic computerthat could store data digitally as 0s and 1s, a vastimprovement over mechanical machines that operated ongears

1940s Second-generation computers operated viatransistors, which were much smaller and energy efficientthan vacuum tubes

1950s ASCII was established as the first standard industrycomputer language

1960sThe integrated circuit became the standard computertechnology, using many transistors and electronic circuitson 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 inMassachusetts to a computer in California using a dial-uptelephone connection

1970s present The modern era of the microprocessor a
http://gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/mechanoids/abacus-1-AJHD.jpghttp://www.henrykautz.org/Computers/BabbageAnalyticalEngineModel.JPGhttp://www.computer-history.info/Page4.dir/pages/TMDS.dir/CharacterSets/images/Punch%20cards.jpghttp://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/attic2/images/056.jpghttp://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/attic2/images/056.jpghttp://www.hrw.com/science/si-science/physics/waves/infoage/img/eniac.gifhttp://www.lostblog.net/postimages/binary.gifhttp://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/images/ENIAC_Photo1.jpghttp://library.thinkquest.org/C0130981/comput3.jpghttp://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/tubes.jpghttp://mia.ece.uic.edu/~papers/ece333/spring04/ascii-0-127.gifhttp://members.tripod.com/~ComputerLab/chip.jpghttp://www.eurotech.it/Assets/Chip_img/cpu-1231.jpghttp://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/history/ivh/arpanet.gifhttp://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics42/PDR13200.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Intel_80286_microprocessor.jpg/779px-Intel_80286_microprocessor.jpghttp://www.henrykautz.org/Computers/BabbageAnalyticalEngineModel.JPGhttp://www.computer-history.info/Page4.dir/pages/TMDS.dir/CharacterSets/images/Punch%20cards.jpghttp://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/attic2/images/056.jpghttp://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/attic2/images/056.jpghttp://www.hrw.com/science/si-science/physics/waves/infoage/img/eniac.gifhttp://www.lostblog.net/postimages/binary.gifhttp://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/images/ENIAC_Photo1.jpghttp://library.thinkquest.org/C0130981/comput3.jpghttp://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/tubes.jpghttp://mia.ece.uic.edu/~papers/ece333/spring04/ascii-0-127.gifhttp://members.tripod.com/~ComputerLab/chip.jpghttp://www.eurotech.it/Assets/Chip_img/cpu-1231.jpghttp://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/history/ivh/arpanet.gifhttp://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics42/PDR13200.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Intel_80286_microprocessor.jpg/779px-Intel_80286_microprocessor.jpghttp://gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/mechanoids/abacus-1-AJHD.jpg


2/16

phenomenal breakthrough first used in the Apple II andCommodore personal computers

Further advancements on the microprocessor (CPU) and theInternet have brought about a world powered and

connected by computer technology

The Future Three areas of new technology are artificialintelligence (machines that imitate human thinking andbehavior), 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 ofcomputers: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.
http://www.edwardsamuels.com/illustratedstory/chapter%204/AppleII.jpghttp://www.cs.cuw.edu/museum/images/commodore_pet2001.jpghttp://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/d/d2/Internet_map_1024.jpghttp://rhapody2000.free.fr/images/wallpapers/terminator2_1024x768%5B1%5D.jpghttp://rhapody2000.free.fr/images/wallpapers/terminator2_1024x768%5B1%5D.jpghttp://www.drcetiner.org/photo_gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19636&g2_serialNumber=2http://www.kwnurwi.com/2010/07/history-of-computers-began-in-1940.htmlhttp://www.kwnurwi.com/search/label/Technologyhttp://www.kwnurwi.com/search/label/Technologyhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qGekinAB20s/TEzulQFj7II/AAAAAAAAABg/DWiSZCsyDZM/s1600/IBM-701-1953-roomphoto+1st+generation.jpghttp://www.edwardsamuels.com/illustratedstory/chapter%204/AppleII.jpghttp://www.cs.cuw.edu/museum/images/commodore_pet2001.jpghttp://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/d/d2/Internet_map_1024.jpghttp://rhapody2000.free.fr/images/wallpapers/terminator2_1024x768%5B1%5D.jpghttp://rhapody2000.free.fr/images/wallpapers/terminator2_1024x768%5B1%5D.jpghttp://www.drcetiner.org/photo_gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=19636&g2_serialNumber=2http://www.kwnurwi.com/2010/07/history-of-computers-began-in-1940.htmlhttp://www.kwnurwi.com/search/label/Technology


3/16

Vacuum tube heat quickly and easily burned. Selan that require an electricalvacuum tube so much that disrupt the smooth flow of electrically.

Vacuum tube ENIAC

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

EDSAC (electronic Delay Calculator Storage Automation) has been usingmercury 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 andJohn Mauchly.

EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) is much better thanENIAC by reducing the use of vacuum tubes. Istem EDVAC using binarynumbers. UNIVAC1 (Universal Automatic Calculator) who is also the creation ofDr. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly had been issued for commercial dataprocessing in 1951 to replace computers that are before it is used only forcounting purposes.

Second Generation

UNIVAC III

In this generation of computers using transistors and diodes to replace vacuumtubes. His computer sizes become smaller and cheaper. Transistor is not
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qGekinAB20s/TEzwwMCI3VI/AAAAAAAAABs/bRzb3DaN-i0/s1600/univac1107+2nd+generation.jpg


4/16

flammable as compared with vacuum tubes. The second-generation computersuse magnetic core for storage media. Magnetic terrace using fine iron woundaround the coil electrically. Processing capabilities as well as computer mainmemory size is also getting bigger. This makes the computer more worthy offollowing orders.

Computer programming language in the second generation using such highlevels discussed Fotran and COBOL used to replace assembly language difficultto understand. Fotran language, and COBOL computer control makes it easier.Request a computer for data processing purposes in the field of commercebegan to rise. People are starting to receive in the field of computers andcomputer kerjaya gets first place.

Family second largest category of computer that is Minikomputer. The price ischeaper compared with the main frame (mainframe). He is encouraging more

use of computers in the field of commerce. DEC PDP-8 is the first minicomputers produced in 1964 which later followed by IBM (International BusinessMachine) 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 theSystem/360. It contains all the equipment for the purpose arrangement. It can beused in a variety of purposes such as science, commerce or other. IBM's firstcomputer manufacturing industry monopoly. IBM System/360 was introducedmany new features termasuklah use Operation System (Operating System). Healso womb-stesen stesen in berasingan and escorted by the parent system. Italso introduces the term partnership System (Time Sharing). Through thissystem, all these stesen-stesen able to perform simultaneous processThrough the investigation of microelectronics, transistors have to be scaled down
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qGekinAB20s/TEzx6Mc4biI/AAAAAAAAABw/lu6xHMgIhEQ/s1600/vs-ibm-360-30+3th+generation.jpg


5/16

to microscopic size. Thousands of transistors squeezed onto the unit in a siliconchip through the process Pengamiran Large Scale (Large Scale Integration orLSI) to produce litar terkamir or more recognizable with the chips. Tansistorreplace chips as the material first computer logic. Small chip size has made himpopular 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 industrialrevolution began.

Microcomputers, the smallest species in the family computer at first appear. Hequickly popular because sizenya small, low prices and skill to operate alone. Hewas 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 smallcommercial data processing. Many more languages programs appear likeBASIC, 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 theregulator of conversation. Perisian perisian use of animal-ready (ready made)used for the initial problems of getting things done. Arrangement field early intothe 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 fourthgeneration. Within this generation, the chip was again used as a storagememory. However, she has become more advanced so that hundreds of
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qGekinAB20s/TEzzUwpNJmI/AAAAAAAAAB0/-40JWG05MRc/s1600/IbmPcJr+4th+generation.jpg


6/16

thousands of transistors have been compressed into it. This process is calledPengamiran Very Large Scale (Very Large Scale Integration or VLSI).Processing be highly inappropriate, so millions of bits shortly. He also has led toyet another computer class called supercomputers (Super Computer) such asthe 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 upto 64 million temple. He also has spawned some of the smaller species such asmicrocomputers Computer Book (laptop or notebook) which sizenya almost thesame as a reference book. Microcomputer which is smaller than it has been bornof Computer Hand (Palmtop). Appropriateness has also increased from period tocontemporary.

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

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

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 thatcan recognize the user by looking at the eyes of Iris hues. In this case, Palmtopor 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 asclever or more are recognized as the Multimedia Super Corridor of Malaysia.Computer designed more complex with multiple memories. Intelligent systemcalled 'Artificial Intelligence' will take over the tasks that endanger or requiremore precision than humans. United States ministerial positions have also beendesigning the use of robots in battle, the project identified by the name of 'StarWars' He also used the full use of satellites. These robots are also designed toreplace humans in refinery works like a carriage-making industry. Resolve smartresolve will also replace all documents or bank akaun users. In it containsvarious information about the user.


7/16

Programming language becomes very important, with rows of Pascal's directionsetting an example, we can direct the robot to choose between an apple fruit withlime menerusi voice directions given to him. Computers also dijangka become asophisticated form of communication. The use of 'video conferencing' can beused fully.


8/16

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 andnumerical 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 wasintroduced 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 themachine 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 ofpunched cards was later used by computer companies like IBM to program software.

Babbage
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


9/16

Charles Babbage was a mathematics professor at Cambridge University who was

interested in automated computation. In 1823 he introduced the Difference Engine, thelargest 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 BritishGovernment 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 thoughit 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 than25,000 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 thetechnology 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 eachbeen 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 tonsand 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 haveto 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
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


10/16

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, andsort 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 thatautomated 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 nameto IBM after a series of mergers with other similar companies. [19] The computer age

was about to begin.

Birth of Computers (1940-1950)WWIIWorld 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 oftroops, 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
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


11/16

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 theZ1. 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 Neumannhelped work on the ENIAC and figured out how to make computers even better. The

ENIAC was programmed externally with wires, connectors, and plugs. Von Neumannwanted 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
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


12/16

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 thepresidential 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 chanceto 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 piecesof 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 wasnamed 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 generationof computing machines and knew little of their existence.

Second Generation (1957 - 1965)

The second generation of computing took place between 1957 and 1965. Computerswere 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
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


13/16

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 andengineering, 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 computersrequired 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 inthe 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 timeintegrated 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 firstminicomputer due to its relatively small size. [34]It is classified as a third generationcomputer 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 (writtenin 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. Computerswere being used everywhere in business, government, military, and education
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


14/16

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 AgencyNetwork (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 asthe 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 becamemuch 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 theirApple 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 andwas 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 beingreleased 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-downmenus, 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]Itbecame 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
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


15/16

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 computercompanies 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 dimensionalgraphics 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 Linuxkernel 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, especiallywith 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 at1.026 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
http://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#referenceshttp://knol.google.com/k/kevin-spaulding/brief-history-of-computers/3smazt4fj02nv/24#references


16/16

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 computerspast and present.

hist of computer

Documents