history of computing project

Napier's Bones

Dec 1, 1617

The Napier’s bones was created by John Napier in 1617 or calculation of products and quotients of numbers that was based on Arab mathematics and lattice multiplication. Using the multiplication tables embedded in the rods, multiplication can be reduced to addition operations and division to subtractions.

Pascaline

Oct 31, 1642

The Pascaline, invented by Blaise Pascal in France in 1642, was a mechanical calculator that could add and subtract directly. The calculator had spoked metal wheel dials, with the digit 0 through 9 displayed around the circumference of each wheel.

Step Reckoner

Jul 28, 1694

The Step Reckoner was a digital mechanical calculator invented by German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnizaround 1672 and completed 1694. It was the first calculator that could perform all four arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Jacquard Loom

Sep 15, 1804

The Jacquard loom is a mechanical loom, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804. The loom is controlled by punched cards with punched holes, each row of which corresponds to one row of the design. Multiple rows of holes are punched on each card and the many cards that compose the design of the textile are strung together in order.

First Computer Program

Sep 14, 1842

Ada Byron Lovelace, daughter of famous poet Lord Byron, published a paper in 1843 that predicted the development of computer software, artificial intelligence, and computer music. In 1834, Ada heard of Babbage’s ideas for a new calculating engine – the Analytical Engine. After translating an Italian’s summary of the engine, Babbage suggested to Ada that she add her own notes.

Analytical Engine

Jan 16, 1871

The analytical engine, an important step in the history of computers, was the design of a mechanical general-purpose computer by English mathematician Charles Babbage. In its logical design the machine was essentially modern, anticipating the first completed general-purpose computers by about 100 years. It was first described in 1837. Babbage continued to refine the design until his death in 1871.

Tabulating Machine

Feb 16, 1890

The tabulating machine was an electrical device designed to assist in summarizing information and, later, accounting. Invented by Herman Hollerith, the machine was developed to help process data for the 1890 U.S. Census. It spawned a larger class of devices known as unit record equipment and the data processing industry.