History Of Computers

Abacus served as the computing device for about 2500 year until the 17th century when other devices were invented to automate this activity. Abacus was a computational tool that used to quickly add and subtract numbers John Napler (1550 – 1617), a Scottish, was the first to bring into being the concept of logarithms. He invented the Napier’s rod or Napier’s bones, which was made up of sticks with number on them. By arranging the sticks in a particular order, complex computations were done. William Oughtred from England thought is wise to build upon logarithms and Napier’s idea. By doing this, he also came out with the slide rule. After formulating some fundamental mathematical theorems, Blasé pascal at the age of 16 developed the Pascal’s adding machine, which could add and subtract. Pascal, a French Philosopher and mathematician thought of creating this device was to help his father in taxing work especially at the time when many people paid taxes to his father but he was not able to handle the data received. In 1673, Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibnitz (1646 – 1716) from Germany modified the Pascal’s Adding Machine so that it would multiply and divide. In the 18th century. Charles Barbage, an English man came up with the idea for a machine that could not only solve complex mathematical equations out also print them out. Although he could not finish, he invented the Analytical engine, which could store instructions. His machine became the forerunner of present day’s computers. Ada Augusta Byron worked on Babbage’s idea. She corrected some errors in Babbage’s designs and added some ideas of her own. She developed the crucial programming of loops and subroutines (self-contained computer programs for performing a specific task). Ada Augusta Byron thus became the first programmer. In 1872, Frank Baldwin invented a more efficient and reliable calculator. When Baldwin was attempting to market his machine, another American in 1885 called Don E. Felt created the very first computer-like machine with a computer like keyboard. His machine, which he called comptometer. The modern computer is not a single invention but rather an evolution of may ideas from many people. The first man who foresaw the need for computers to be developed to make communication easier was abacus. The abacus is several rows of small beads on wire first used in china thousands of years ago. To use an abacus you move the beads in the different rows to stimulate adding and subtracting. The abacus is in fact like a computer of this modern day because it does compute, add and subtract. The abacus also can store a number if you do not move the beads after a calculation, the last calculation that you did will remain on the abacus. The first modern electronic computers were invented in the late 1930’s and 1940’s they used vacuum tubes to store on off states. The first electronic computers were huge, taking up a whole room. They were also very slow; a simple addition could take a few minutes to do. The very first ones had to be programmed by hand; an operator would have to wire the computer anytime it would do a different function. At this time, large universities and researchers were the only users of electronic computers. In the 1960’s transistors were used to reduce the size of the computer. This introduced a new type of computer called a mini-computer which was only the size of a large cabinet, instead of a whole room. Because they were smaller and thus less expensive, many more people began to use them. Mini-computers began to be used by banks and other organizations that required keeping track of lots of information. In 1970’s , after they invention of the integrated circuits, a new kind of computer became available termed microcomputers, they were small enough to fit on top of a desk in the mid 1970’s they were built from kits and used by hobbyists. In 1978m a small company called Apple Computer released the Apple II , the first commercial microcomputer. With the apple II, it became possible for individuals to own a computer for their offices and homes. Because of this, microcomputers became know as personal computers (PC) In 1981, IBM, the largest computer company in the world as that time, made a deal with Intel and Microsoft to make their own personal computer. Today the IBM PC is the standard for personal computers. Other vendors make compatible computers that run in the same way called IBM PC compatibles. In 1983, Apple Computer Introduced a new computer called the Lisa, later to become the Macintosh. This was the first commercially available computer that used a windows operating system. In the 1990’s to date we have seen smaller computers, called embedded computers, being used to control household appliances, vehicles, etc. to improve the performance of these everyday machines. We also have seen the creation of even smaller computers; called notebooks or palmtop computers that are so small they are roughly the size of a human hand.