The History of Computers
1. Introduction
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You can use a computer to type documents, surf the Internet, play games, and much more.
The first computers were created in the early 1800s. They were called mechanical calculators, and they could only be used by mathematicians and scientists. In 1876, Charles Babbage designed a machine called the Analytical engine. The engine could be programmed to perform any calculation that could be done by hand. However, the machine was never completed.
In 1890, Herman Hollerith invented a machine that could read information stored on punch cards and tabulate the results. Hollerith’s machine was used to tabulate the 1890 U.S. Census. This was the first time a machine was used to process large amounts of data.
In 1897, another mechanical calculator was invented by William Burroughs. His machine could add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers. It was called the Adding and Listing Machine.
By the early 1900s, several different types of machines were being built. In 1903, a German engineer named Konrad Zuse designed and built a machine called the Z1 Computer. The Z1 was the first programmable computer. Zuse also invented the first programming language for computers called Plankalkul in 1941.
During World War II, many scientists from around the world came together in England to work on a secret project. They were trying to build a machine that could crack Nazi codes. The team included Alan Turing, who is considered to be the father of computer science. They built a machine called the Colossus. The Colossus was used to help decode German messages.
After the war ended, several different types of computers were developed. In 1951, UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer) was completed. It weighed 16 tons, took up 1800 square feet, and had 5400 vacuum tubes. It could perform one thousand operations per second. In 1957, FORTRAN (Formula Translator) became the first programming language available for commercial use. In 1958, Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit (IC) chip. This made it possible to fit thousands of transistors onto one small chip. In 1971, Intel released the world’s first microprocessor chip, which they called the 4004. The microprocessor chip allowed computers to be smaller and more powerful than ever before.
As computers became more powerful, people began to develop ways to use them for more than just calculations. In 1963, Ivan Sutherland developed Sketchpad, which was the first computer drawing program. In 1968, Douglas Engelbart demonstrated how a mouse could be used to control a computer. And in 1974, two scientists working at Stanford University developed a way to search for information on the Internet using keywords.
Today, there are two main types of computers : personal computers (PCs) and servers. PCs are designed for individual users and are typically used at home or at work. Servers are much larger than PCs and are designed to store and provide information or services to other computers connected to them via a network.
2. The first computers
a. The Analytical engine
The Analytical engine was a far more sophisticated general-purpose computing device that included five of the key components that performed the basics of modern computers. Those five components were:
1. an input device
2) memory
3) a control unit
4) an arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
5) an output device Babbage started work on his Analytical Engine in 1834, and he continued to work on it until his death in 1871. Ada Lovelace, a mathematician and daughter of Lord Byron, is credited with coming up with the concept of programming the machine to perform certain tasks, rather than simply being a calculator. In fact, she is often referred to as the world’s first computer programmer.
b. The Hollerith’s Census Machine
Hollerith’s census machine was used to tabulate the 1890 US Census data much faster than previous manual methods, completing the task in only six weeks. Hollerith’s company eventually became part of IBM. His machine read information stored on punch cards and tabulated the results. This was the first time a machine was used to process large amounts of data.
The US Census had been taking place every ten years since 1790, and by 1890 it was clear that the task of tabulating the results by hand was becoming too large for the government to handle efficiently. In 1886, Congress appropriated $5 million to fund the 1890 census, which would be conducted using new mechanical tabulating equipment designed by Herman Hollerith, who founded the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896 (which later became part of IBM). Hollerith’s machine could read information stored on punch cards and tabulate the results. This was the first time a machine was used to process large amounts of data.
The census data from 1890 showed that the population of the United States had grown to 62 million people, a increase of nearly 30% from the previous census in 1880. The results of the 1890 census were also used to help plan for the construction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects across the country.
c. The Adding and Listing Machine
The Adding and Listing Machine was invented by William Burroughs in 1897. It could add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers. This machine was an important early step in the development of computers because it showed that it was possible to build a machine that could perform complex tasks with just a few simple parts.
The Adding and Listing Machine was an important early step in the development of computers because it showed that it was possible to build a machine that could perform complex tasks with just a few simple parts. Burroughs’ machine was also one of the first examples of what is now known as feedback control systems, which are used in everything from thermostats to washing machines.
Burroughs’ machine was not actually used for computation; instead, it was sold as a way to automate bookkeeping tasks in businesses. However, it did inspire others to build similar machines for computation, including Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine and Konrad Zuse’s Z1 Computer.
Feedback control systems are used in everything from thermostats to washing machines. Burroughs’ machine was one of the first examples of what is now known as feedback control systems, which are used in everything from thermostats to washing machines.
d. The Water Braltan
The water braltan was a German computer designed and built by Konrad Zuse in 1941. It was the first programmable computer. The machine was destroyed in World War II, but Zuse went on to build the Z1 Computer in 1936, which was based on the design of the water braltan.
The water braltan was a German computer designed and built by Konrad Zuse in 1941. It was the first programmable computer. The machine was destroyed in World War II, but Zuse went on to build the Z1 Computer in 1936, which was based on the design of the water braltan.
The machine used punch cards to input data and could be programmed to perform any calculation that could be done by hand. It could also store data in memory and retrieve it when needed.
The machine was never completed, but it was an important early step in the development of computers. Konrad Zuse went on to build the Z1 Computer in 1936, which was based on the design of the water braltan.
3. The Von Neumann Architecture
a. John Barden
John Barden was an American engineer who worked on early electronic computers. He is best known for his work on the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), which was one of the first electronic computers. He also helped develop the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) and the BESM (Binary Electronic Self-Measuring machine).
John Barden was an American engineer who worked on early electronic computers. He is best known for his work on the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), which was one of the first electronic computers. He also helped develop the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) and the BESM (Binary Electronic Self-Measuring machine).
Barden’s work on the ENIAC led to the development of the EDVAC, which was an improvement on the ENIAC design. The EDVAC included a new idea called the stored-program concept, which is still used in modern computers.
Barden’s work on the EDVAC also led to the development of the BESM, which was a more powerful version of the EDVAC. The BESM was used for scientific calculations and for developing new weapons during the Cold War.
b. William Shock
William Shock was an American engineer who worked on early electronic computers. He is best known for his work on the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), which was one of the first electronic computers. He also helped develop the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) and the BESM (Binary Electronic Self-Measuring machine).
William Shock was an American engineer who worked on early electronic computers. He is best known for his work on