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Manual calculators are invented
A manual calculator is a device that assists in the process of numeric calculations, but requires human operator to keep track of the algorithm -
Napier's Bones is invented
John Napier, invented logarithms and a device for multiplication and division. The device consisted of several rods, divided into ten squares, each labeled with two numbers. These rods were often constructed out of bones so they came to be called Napier's Bones. -
Mechanical calculators are invented
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Blaise Pascal invents the Pascaline
The Pascaline is a mechanical device that could be used to perform addition, substraction, multiplication, and division -
de Colmar's Arithmometer becomes first mass-produced calculator
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Charles Babbage proposed the Difference Engine
This engine would operate using steam power--cutting edge technology during Babbage's lifetime. It was intended to quickly and accurately calculate large tables of numbers used for astronomical and engineering applications. -
The Hollerith Tabulating Machine was effective
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The Atanasoff-Berry Computer is first demonstrated
The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) was the first to use vacuum tubes instead of mechanical switches for processing circuitry. Its design also incorporated the idea of basing calculations on the binary number system. -
COLOSSUS is created
COLOSSUS is an electronic device designed to decode messages encrypted by the German Enigma machine. It contained 1,800 vacuum tubes, used binary arithmetic and was capable of reading input at the rate of 5,000 characters per second. -
A team starts working on ENIAC
ENIAC is a gigantic, general-purpose electronic computer. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was designed to calculate trajectory tables for the U.S. Army. It was over 100 feet long and 10 feet high and weighed 30 tons. This gigantic machine contained over 18,000 vacuum tubes and consumed 174,000 watts of power. -
First-Generation Computers
Can be characterized by their use of vacuum tubes, to store individual bits of data. A vacuum tube is an electronic device that controls the flow of electrons in a vacuum. Vacuum tubes respond more quickly than mechanical relays, resulting in faster computations. The prototype for first-generation computers, contained about 18,000, and every tube was replaced at least once in the first year of operation. First-generation computers were characterized by custom application programs. -
UNIVAC is the first commercially successful digital computer
Univac could read data at the rate of 7,200 characters per second and complete 2.25 million instruction cycles per second. -
Second-Generation Computers
Second-generation computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes. Transistors regulate current or voltage flow and act as switch for electronic signals. Transistors performed functions similiar to vacuum tubes but they were much smaller, cheaper, less power hungry, and more reliable. By the late 1950's, transistors, had replaced vacuum tubes as the processing and memory technology for most computers. Second-generation computers also ran programming language compilers that allowed programmers -
Third-Generation Computers
Became possible when Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor independently developed integrated circuits. Integrated circuit technology made it possible to pack the equivalent of thousands of vacuum tubes or transistors onto a single miniature chip, vastly reducing the physical size, weight, and power requirements for devices such as computers. Two of the first computers to incorporate integrated circuits were the RCA Spectra 70 and IBM 360. -
Fourth-Generation Computers
Appeared when Ted Hoff developed the first general-purpose microprocessor called the Intel 2004. This microprocessor dramatically changed the computer industry, resulting in fourth-generation microprocessor-based computer systems that were faster, smaller, and even less expensive than third-generation computers. In 1976, Zilog introduced the Z80, an enhanced 8080 microprocessor that was used in many early computer systems. Microprocessors are a key component of all types of computers. -
MITS Altair is introduced
Ed Roberts and the MITS (Micro Instrumental and Telementry Systems) company announced the MITS Altair, which many believe to be the first commercial micro-computer. The Altair was a computer for the hobbyist. -
Release of Apple I
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer Corporation and released the Apple I, a kit containing a system board with 4 KB of RAM that sold for $666.66. -
Apple introduces Apple II
Apple introduced a preassembled computer called the Apple II, which featured color graphics, expansion slots, a disk drive, a 1.07 MHz 6502 processor, and 16 KB of RAM for $1,195.00. One of the main reasons behind its success was a commercial software program call VisiCalc--the first electronic spreadsheet. -
IBM began processing a PC
IBM began marketing what is called a personal computer, or PC based on the 8088 processor. When the PC version of VisiCalc became available, the IBM PC quickly became the top-selling personal computer. -
IBM PC XT
The IBM PC was soon followed by the IBM PC XT, which featured RAM upgradable to 640 KB and a 10 MB hard disk drive. -
Apple introduces Apple Lisa
A key feature of the Lisa was its graphical user interface--an idea borrowed from the Xerox Alto computer. -
Two primary platforms
The computer industry had begun to consolidate around two primary platforms--the MS-DOS based IBM-compatible platform and the Apple Macintosh. -
Apple Macintosh is released
The $2,495 Macintosh featured a graphical userface that made programs easier to use than those on the command-line-based IBM PC. The Macintosh became the computer of choice for graphical applications such as desktop publishing. -
Computer sales
IBM-compatible computer systems accounted for more than 90% of all personal computer sales. The Apple Macintosh accounted for most of the remainder with other proprietar platforms accounts for a very small percentage of new computer sales. -
Internet starts personal computer popularity
In the late 1980's, Internet opened to public use. Graphical browsers appeared, ISP's provided inexpensive connections, e-mail began to fly, and e-commerce sites opened their doors. Because of this availability, personal computers had finally reached mass popularity.
