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Charles Babbage
In 1834 Charles Babbage designed the first automatic calculator called the Anylitcal Engine. -
Z1 computer
The first computer to include certain features integral to todays systems. Such as a control unit and separate memory functions. -
Eniac
It used nearly 18,000 vacuum tubes and filled approximately 1,800 square feet of floor space. It remained in use until 1955. -
1st generation computers
The first generation of computers is said by some to have started in 1946 with ENIAC, the first 'computer' to use electronic valves (ie. vacuum tubes). Others would say it started in May 1949 with the introduction of EDSAC, the first stored program computer. Whichever, the distinguishing feature of the first generation computers was the use of electronic valves. -
Univac
First commercially successful electronic digital computer. Operated on magnetic tape. The Univac gained notoriety when, in a 1951 publicity stunt it was used to predict the outcome of the Stevenson-Eisenhower. It correctly identified Dwight .D. Eisenhower the victor. It was considered a first generation computer. -
2nd generation computers
The transition from first generation to second generation of computers was not abrupt. There was all round development in technology, designs and programming languages. Diode and transistor technology formed the basis of the electronic switches and the switching time came down to around 0.3 microseconds. -
Jack Kilby
He took pride in the realization of the first integrated circuit in 1958.
he was also awarded the Nobel pize in physics. -
BASIC
Powerful programming language used to build a wide range of windows applications. Quick interface. Its real easy for a programmer to learn how to use. -
3rd generation computers
Despite the fact that transistors were clearly an improvement over the vacuum tube, they still generated a great deal of heat, which damaged the computer's sensitive internal parts. The quartz rock eliminated this problem. Jack Kilby, an engineer with Texas Instruments, developed the integrated circuit (IC) in 1958. The IC combined three electronic components onto a small silicon disc, which was made from quartz. Scientists later managed to fit even more components on a single chip, called a -
4th generation computers
After the invention of the integrated circuit, the next step in the computer design process was to reduce the overall size. Large scale integration (LSI) could fit hundreds of components onto one chip. By the 1980's, very large scale integration (VLSI) squeezed hundreds of thousands of components onto a chip. Ultra-large scale integration (ULSI) increased that number into the millions. The ability to fit so much onto an area about half the size of a U.S. dime helped diminish the size and pri -
Introduction of the GUI
Allowed users to interact with the computers more easily. -
Altair Computer
It came with a do it yourself kit for $395 or $498 for a fully assembeled unit. It had no keyboard, no monitor and completely not user friendly. -
Bill Gates
Bill Gates and paul Allen used BASIC to write their program for Altair as we noted earlier this program led to the creation of Microsoft, a company that produced computer software. -
Steve Jobs
CEO of Apple Inc., Co-Founder & Chairman. -
Apple ll
It included a color monitor, sound and game paddles. Priced around 1,300. The operating system was stored in read- only memory. (ROM) -
WordStar
First word processing application. -
Visicalc
First electronic spreadsheet app. 1978 -
Herman Hollerith
Herman Hollerith while working for the U.S census Bureau, was the first to talk Jacuards punch-card concept and apply it to computing with his Hollerith Tabulating Machine. -
Osborne Computer
It was a portable computer, the first to be exact. It was 24.5 punds. Featured a minuscule 5-inch screen and carried a price tag of 1,795 dollars. Compaq bought the Osborne design. -
PageMaker
The first desktop publishing software. -
Excel
One of the first spreadsheets to use a graphical user interface. -
Mosaic
Allowed users to to view multimedia on the web. Causing internet traffic to increase by nearly 350% -
Netscape
In 1994 a team of developers launched the Netscape web browser, which soon became a predominant player in browser software.
