History of Computers

  • Analytical Machine Prototype designed

    Charles Babbage designs the first Difference Engine prototype
  • Difference engine produced

    Charles Babbage and Joseph Clement produces a Difference engine prototype segment
  • Punch card proposed

    Semen Korsakov proposes the usage of punch cards for information storage and search
  • Analytical Machine designed

    Charles Babbage conceived and designed the Analytical Machine
  • Analytical Machine first exposition

    Analytical Machine's first public exposition in Turin, Italy
  • Binary Algebra developed

    George Boole develops Binary algebra, called Boolean Algebra
  • Arithmometer manufactured

    The arithmometer, the first mass-produced mechanical calculator, is produced
  • Tabulating Machine completed

    The first full scale Difference Engine, called the Tabulating Machine, is completed by the Scheutzes in Sweden
  • The logical abacus is built

    The first practical logic machine, the Logical Abacus, is built by William Jevons
  • Hollerith Tabulating Machine first used

    Hollerith Tabulating Machine first used
    The Baltimore Dept. of Health uses the Tabulating machine created by Herman Hollerith
  • First 10-key adding machine released

    The Standard Adding Machine Company releases the first 10-key adding machine
  • First flip-flop circuit design published

    William Eccles and F.W. Jordan publishes the first flip-flop circuit design
  • Punch card standardized

    IBM standardizes punch cards, called IBM Cards
  • Z1 completed

    Konrad Zuse completes Z1, the first mechanical binary programmable computer
  • Z2 completed

    The Z2, the successor to the Z1, is completed which combined the Z1's memory with new arithmetic unit using relay logic
  • Z3 completed

    The Z3, the first operational programmable computer, is completed with backing from the DVL
  • S1 completed

    Konrad Zuse develops the S1, the first process computer
  • Plankalkul developed

    Zuse develops the first higher-level programming language
  • First assembly language developed

    Kathleen Booth develops the first assembly language
  • EDSAC computer developed

    Maurice Wikes and his Cambridge team executes the first stored program on the EDSAC computer
  • UNIVAC created

    UNIVAC, the first commercially successful electronic computer and first general-purpose computer designed
  • Whirlwind becomes operational

    Whirlwind, the first real-time computer, becomes operational
  • Integrated circuit developed

    Jack Kirby develops the first integrated circuit
  • Spacewar! developed

    Spacewar!, an early and influential computer game, is written
  • CDC 6600 developed

    The first supercomputer, the Computer Data CDC 6600, is developed