The History of Computers

The History of ComputersThe AbacusSome people consider the abacus as the ultimate ancestor of todays computersEmerging around 5,000 years ago in Asia Minor, it quickly became the favoured arithmetic tool of early merchantsHowever, the basic workings and principles of the abacus are alienated from the workings and principles of todays computers that the only relation that can be claimed between them is that they are both used to aid in handling numerical/logical computations2The Man: Charles BabbageHe is the Father of Modern Computing because of his inventions, the Analytical and Difference Engines, which anticipated the fundamental concepts and principles that govern the manufacture and use of computers today.He was the one who laid down the basic ideas for a computing machine.The Man: Charles BabbageBorn on December 26, 1791 in Teignmouth, Devonshire in the UK, Babbage was the son of a banker.His conceptualization of his Engines began with an analysis of the calculations of tables of Greenwich star positions.He co-founded Royal Astronomical Society.

He became frustrated at the numerous errors he found that he declared, I wish to God that these calculations had been performed by steam!.4The Difference EngineDifference engine was conceived to perform quick tabular calculations, the workings of which were based on the Method of DifferencesMethod of Differences is an algorithm that lent itself to the easy creation of a wide range of mathematical tables.By May 1822, he had a small working prototype, which impressed his colleagues with its speed and accuracy.

Observing that any mathematical operation involved the application of a series of well-defined steps, Babbage guessed rightfully htat such steps can be applied more efficiently by a properly constructed machine, since machines were excellent at executing repetitive tasks without mistake.

He therefore had to find a way of translating mathematical requirements into physical processes that could be understood by a mechanical device.5The Difference EngineDifference engine was powered by steam and has a computational speeds reaching to hundred millions to billions of instructions per secondReasons of failure:Lack of consistent funding from the governmentDisagreements with the lead engineer ClementGeneral lack of focus

The Difference engine embodied the basic concepts and elements of a modern general-purpose computer. It was a breakthrough concepts.6The Analytical EngineThe analytical engine was the first ever device that can be considered a computer in the modern sense of the word.It was to utilize I/O media called Jacquards punched cards, which was originally used to lay down thread arrangements in weaving.

Babbage original concept of the analytical engine incorporated virtually every aspect that we now know to be necessary for a computer system. It used the puch cards for storing operating instructions (programs), and would have been able to store around 1,000 numbers of up to 50 decimal places. It also allowed output devices for displaying results. In these aspects, the Analytical engine was a remarkable piece of conceptualization.7Generations of ComputersThe development of computers can be observed through five stages or generations dependent on the degree of technology employed.First GenerationFirst Generation of computers were based on the use of wired circuits containing vacuum tubes, and which utilized punch cards as the main storage medium.The computers in this generation were designed to perform specific task.German Z3 used for designing warplanes and missilesColossus, used for decoding German communicationsMachine language was used to instruct computers.During the 2nd world war, governments were scrambling for any advantage they could find over any area in the war effort. They saw that developing computers with the right power can give them a strategic advantage in terms of efficiency in designing their war machines, and a tactical advantage in terms of intercepting and decoding the enemys communications.9First Generation Main FeaturesVacuum tube technologyUnreliableSupported Machine language onlyVery costlyGenerate lot of heat

Slow Input/Output deviceHuge sizeNeed of A.C.Non portableConsumed lot of electricity

ExamplesENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer)UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)IBM-701IBM-650First GenerationENIAC was a general purpose computer .Utilizes 18,000 vacuum tubes.

UNIVAC and ENIAC UNIVAC is the first computer delivered to a business client12Second GenerationThe development of transistor marked the shift from the First to the Second generation of computers.The transistors offered over the bulky, hot vacuum tubes was its smaller size and increased reliability.Assembly language (Abbreviated programming codes) is used instead of machine language.Second Generation Main FeaturesUse of transistorsReliable as compared to First generation computersSmaller size as compared to First generation computersGenerate less heat as compared to First generation computers

Consumed less electricity as compared to First generation computersFaster than first generation computersStill very costlyA.C. neededassembly languageExamplesIBM 1620IBM 7094CDC 1604CDC 3600UNIVAC 1108Third GenerationThird generation computers paved the way for a boom in the use of computer systems.Integration is a process in which numerous electronic components are brought together to compose a system unit (an integrated circuit) that combines them in a dynamic, coordinated manner.Third GenerationJack Kilby and Robert Noyce invented the first integrated circuit (IC)The result of these is that computers became smaller and smaller yet they became more and more powerful.Today engineers are able to put millions of transistors in a single chip whose size is less than 1 inch square; in fact, the Pentium 4, houses around 42 million transistors.17Third Generation Main FeaturesIC usedMore reliableSmaller sizeGenerate less heatFasterLesser maintenanceStill costlyA.C. neededConsumed lesser electricitySupport high level language

Examples IBM-360 seriesHoneywell-6000 seriesPDP (Personal Data Processor)IBM-370/168TDC-316The Fourth GenerationFourth generation computers are characterized by the application of advanced engineering techniques that allow for very-large-scale-integration (VLSI), and ultra-large-scale-integration (ULSI), which allow for the placement of millions of electronic components in a single chip.The Fourth Generation Main FeaturesVLSI technology usedVery cheapPortable and reliableUse of PCsVery small sizePipeline processingNo A.C. neededConcept of internet was introducedGreat developments in the fields of networksComputers became easily availableExamplesDEC 10STAR 1000PDP 11CRAY-1 (Super Computer)CRAY-X-MP (Super Computer)Fifth GenerationThe term fifth generation as it pertains to computer systems refers to smart systems, as in, human smart. Broadly used terms are:Artificial intelligenceExpert systemsNatural language processing

Fifth generation computers are those that can understand human speech, can recognize patterns like faces and other complex images.23Computer ApplicationsBusinessMathematics and scienceEngineeringMedicineEducationentertainmentReadHistory of AppleHistory of Microsoft