progress of computers

Progress of Computers

Created on Aug 5 2014

For

The Windows ClubBy PowercutIN

Early computers were mechanical

Computers were there since Leonardo Da Vincis time. He created some

good machines that relied upon computing. However, those machines

never got to be used by mathematicians etc. and served personal

interests of then then kings etc. (eg: self propelled cart, mechanical lion)

Anything that helps in computing anything is a computer. Todays

computers compute, store and do many more operations on data.

Early computers were basically calculators with or without storage

capability. This presentation is a tour of interesting pieces I found

when checking out progress of computers.

2Progress of Computers -

www.thewindowsclub.com

The Night Time Machine

A device by Leonardo that

helped people figure out

time during the nights.

In case you are wondering how is

this relevant, clocks are also a

form of computers that compute

time using tension or crystal

algorithms that hold true to date



Designed using pinwheels for tough calculations,

Among the first computers that were used by mathematicians



Designed in beginning of 1820s.

Also, one of the first calculators used by clerks for computing.

Arithmometer:



FELTs COMPTOMETER

Designed 1889

First calculator able to print

Subsequent versions were called Comptograph as it

could print calculations using narrow width paper

Can you figure out howto use it?Looks more complex than mathematics subject!



Early 1900s (1904

onwards)

Burroughs was the

widely accepted

calculator with printing

abilities as you can see

in the image.

It was said that

Burroughs was pretty

easy to use after being

trained and was a hit

among clerks and

mathematicians. It

kept on adding

features to make it

much acceptable.



1910

The desktop model of

Burroughs Adding machine.

Burroughs had a storage

system and printing system

too.

They kept on improving the

quality of adding machine

and were also into

manufacturing and sales of

related accessories such as

ink ribbons, storage devices

etc.



Hermann Hollerith Punching Card

Around 1890s, as others developed calculators, Hermann Hollerith came

up with the idea of punching cards that he used with his custom designed

equipment (see next slide) for computing things as complex as census.



Hollerith Tabulating Machine and Sorting Box

Replica of early Hollerith punched card tabulator and sorting box

(right) at Computer History Museum



A description of this system, An

Electric Tabulating System (1889),

was submitted by Hollerith to

Columbia University.

The punched cards were put into

the main machine that would

contain electric pins. When they

encountered hole (punch), they

touched the other part and circuit

was completed to add one.

The doctoral thesis was printed and is available under the name of Randel

Origins of Digital Computing



ENIAC: The first real computer with general purpose and

some special functions. Whole image is one computer,

excluding the ladies!



ENIAC 1: Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer

Was designed around 1945 & served war purpose initially



Released around

1948, was a bunch

of vacuum tubes

still employing

punch cards and

IBM reader for

input and output.

IBM Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator (SSEC)



SEAC (Standards Eastern Automatic Computer)

First-generation

electronic

computer, built

in 1950

A small-scale

computer

designed to be

built quickly and

put into

operation.



IBM CPC (Card Programmed Computer);

Built 1952

Hinted the rise of

smaller and easily

usable computers

Was double the size

of a xerox machine

and was still

dependent on cards

for programming.



UNIVAC: Universal Automatic Computers

Built in 1951

Capable of storing

programs inside the

computer rather

than feeding them

again and again

using punch cards



IBM 650

First mass

produced light

computers that

was available to

both military and

civilians.

The size was

much shorter

compared to

other computers

we saw in the

slide. Early

buyers were

hobbyists.



IBM 7090 Console Designed in 1959

Was much bigger

and not intended

for personal use.

The rates were

too high

But this

computer

marked the

transition of

computers from

vacuum tubes to

transistors which

now form the

base of modern

computers.



MITS Altair 8800: Designed in 1974

Beginning of Micro

computers.

There were some

smaller models

before too but this

one was widely

sold out due to

extensive

advertising.

Magnetic Disks

(Floppy) were

used to feed data

and programs.



IBM 8086: Designed around 1974.

Brings us up to date

with modern day

computers. This was a

16 bit computer that

allowed internal hard

disk storage and

external floppy drives.

The demand for this

computer made it so

popular that IBM

continued with the

models until Pentium 4



Desktops were further compressed into laptops

using integrated circuits.

The possibility of

manufacturing complex

circuits with smaller

transistors made it

possible to make portable

computers that can be

used anywhere. There

are plenty of brands

available each varying in

size of screen, weight and

other features



The present is a transition

from desktops (slide 21) to

convertibles.

Convertibles serve both as a

laptop and as a tablets

(computers with touchscreen

that are more mobile than

laptop given their weight).

Microsofts Surface Pro



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