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A Special Kind of Loom
A fabric loom is designed by Joseph Marie Jacquard that uses punch cards. Similar types of punch cards will be used in later models of the computer. (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html) -
Steam-Powered Calculator
At this time, a man named Charles Babbage came up with an idea that was funded by the English government. He proposed the idea of a steam powered calculating machine. Unfortunately, his prototype did not work (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
A Census
A punch card system is developed to tally the 1880 census which saves the government a significant amount of time and money. The man who designed this system, Herman Hollerith, founds a company that will eventually become IBM (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
Digital Electronic Computer
J.V. Atanasoff of Iowa State University, designs the first digital electronic computer (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html; http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). -
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First Generation Computers
The computers that fell into the category of First Generation Computers were large and simple in the tasks they could perform. Mark I is an excellent example of a First Generation computer. It was a very large computer that took up its own room but could only perform simple calculations. First Generation computers also used simple machine code to process and understand functions to be carried out (http://www.nortonsecurityonline.com/security-center/evolution-of-computers.html). -
Simple Calculations
A computer is designed that can simultaneously hold and calculate 29 equations. This computer is designed by Atanasoff and his student Clifford Berry (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
Harvard Mark I
Designed by Howard Aiken, the first computer known as Mark I is developed. It is considered the first full-sized First Generation digital computer and while it only did calculations, it weighed five tons (http://www.nortonsecurityonline.com/security-center/evolution-of-computers.html; http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html)
Check out the following link to watch a short video presentation of Mark I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMO9a2h-s2I -
The Transistor is Developed
Bell Laboratories invents the transistor which allows for computers to be built without using the vacuum tubes in order to function (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
UNIVAC
UNIVAC, a magnetic tape strip used for input and output, is tested successfully and becomes available for commercial purchase. The system weighed 29,000 pounds (http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). -
Model 604
IBM produces the Model 604 computer which is its first computer with transistors instead of vacuum tubes. A magnetic drum calculator was also developed in order for the computer to develop a memory that was different from the punch card method (http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). -
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Second Generation Computers
Second Generation Computers were much faster and smaller than First Generation Computers. They were able to use transistors instead of vacuum tubes and so, these computers used less energy and produced less heat. The use of transistors also allowed the computers to develop core memory along with magnetic memory (http://www.nortonsecurityonline.com/security-center/evolution-of-computers.html). -
The Computer Chip
The computer chip or integrated circuit was developed and presented by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
American Airlines Comes Online
IBM produces a software tracking system for American Airlines and their reservations (http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). -
A Peek of the Modern Computer
A prototype of the modern computer with a mouse is presented by Douglas Englebart. This has special importance as it shows the progression of the computer being used for strictly scientific or governmental purposes to becoming more accessible to the general public (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
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Third Generation Computers
Third Generation Computers showed significantly different changes from its predecessors. With the development of the computer chip or integrated circuit, the chips were able to hold many transistors which improved the speed of the computers, size of the computers, and the cost of the computers. The development of keyboards and monitors also allowed computers to become more interactive than the punch card system (http://www.nortonsecurityonline.com/security-center/evolution-of-computers.html). -
Floppy Disk
The Floppy Disk is developed by IBM engineers which allows for data sharing (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
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Fourth Generation Computers
Fourth Generation Computers have seen many changes throughout their timespan. This timespan is marked by personal computers and changes within personal computers. From this timespan, tablets and other hand-held devices are produced along with the creation of the Internet in the 1990s. Change and personalization of technology is the mark of the Fourth Generation (http://www.nortonsecurityonline.com/security-center/evolution-of-computers.html). -
Audio Digital Devices
LSI circuits were produced by Intel and was the first audio digital device (http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). -
Apple
Steve Jobs produces Apple I with a single system circuit board (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html; http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). To view the progression of Apple, copy and paste the link below for a short overview on their development (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZyKlZcqrjk). -
Video Games
In Japan, Nintendo games were being developed and stored information and data on chips (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
IMB and Microsoft
IMB and Microsoft signed a contract that ended up putting Microsoft on the rise and the front of computer software development (http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). -
The Internet
The World Wide Web was developed and released (http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/recording.technology.history/computer1.html). -
Google
Google is developed at Stanford (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
Social Media
Social Media sites such as Facebook and YouTube begin to appear and become popular (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
iPhone
The iPhone is released and shows many technological advancements (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
iPad
The iPad is released and shows a new way of interacting with technology (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
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Fifth Generation Computers
Fifth Generation Computers have yet to be defined as we are currently in the era of the Fifth Generation Computers. With the different directions and branches that computer technology is now involved in, there will be many more advancements and developments in this generation of computer technology (http://www.nortonsecurityonline.com/security-center/evolution-of-computers.html). -
Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is released and shows a different level of utilizing computer technology (http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html). -
Near Future Prediction
A technology that is currently in the works and has been talked about in the media is the self-driving car. While that is already a technology in the works, I believe it will have a very profound impact on society in the near future as we will see changes in car standards and the computerized technology that is in cars and will also impact the way we drive and interact on the road. This could also change the way people in the car will interact and how business is done. -
100 Years Down The Road
It is hard to predict what technology will look like in 100 years. I am fairly certain it will have morphed and evolved into something that will be hardly recognizable to us from what we have now. I would guess there would be a projected and interactive form of monitor that can move around to fit the space rather than stay a hard and formed material. I would also guess there would be many improvements and advancements in artificial intelligence as well. -
The Message of this Medium
Computer Technology seems to emphasize efficiency and speed as a common improvement in the computer technology is speed and efficiency.In our culture, if we aren't doing things efficiently and quickly, then we are doing things wrong. Even when we are supposed to be enjoying things, there is still this feeling of wasting time if we aren't flying through whatever we are doing. This minimizes some of the simple joys of life and the importance of relaxing and living in the moment.