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2500 BCE
Abacus
The abacus is the earliest known counting device. It was invented by merchants who needed to count large quantities when trading goods. This device helped them keep inventory and can add, subtract, multiply, and even divide. It is usually made of wood and has rods with beads strung on them. It is still used to this day in certain parts of the world. -
200 BCE
Astrolabe
An astrolabe is an ancient astronomical instrument that is a model of the universe you can hold in your hand. The astrolabe has many functions. It can help with astrology, astronomy, religion, and daily time keeping and tides. It was invented by Apollonius of Perga. It is regarded as a rudimentary analog computer because it helps astronomers calculate the position of the sun and stars with respect to both the horizon and the meridian. They were widely used in the Middle ages for navigation. -
1 BCE
Antikythera mechanism
The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient Greek hand-powered orrery. It is often described as the oldest analogue computer that was used to predict eclipses and astronomical positions years in advance. The doors of the case and the face are covered with Greek inscriptions. This mechanism could tract the lunar calendar and the seasons. It was discovered in a Roman-era shipwreck and named after a Greek island. Historians think that Hipparchus, an ancient astronomer, created it. -
Slide Rule
The slide rule is a mechanical computing device, no bigger than a 12 inch ruler, marked with numbers. Part of it slides in and out to show relationships between different sets of numbers. NASA engineers have used it to build rockets and plan the Apollo 11 mission. The first one was built by William Oughtred, a math teacher in England. When Hewlett Packard came out with the first handheld electronic calculator, the slide rule got forgotten about. -
Napier's Bones
Napier's Bones were a set of rods or ten 'bones', with multiples of a given number written on them. John Napier came up with this idea to help make arithmetic easier. The best sets of these numbering rods was made of ivory, they looked like bones. People could conduct multiplication and division using these rods. This became popular fast because many people did not have these mathematical skills. -
Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage invented the Difference Engine when he saw the need to help sailors with their navigation. The current system sailors used often had errors, he wanted to invent a device that was accurate. It had storage for data and stamped the output into soft metal. The operator would set up all the data and then it would be applied to all registers for a solution. -
Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace was a mathematician and writer best known for her work with Charles Babbage. She was the first to figure out that the Analytical Engine could do things beyond just calculation. Some people say she is the first computer programmer. -
Harvard Mark 1
The Harvard Mark 1 was an early electromechanical computer invented by Howard Aiken and built by IBM. It was used during the last part of World War II and was the first machine that could perform long computations automatically. Operators would put rolls of perforated paper into it, and the machine would follow the punched holes getting the instructions. It weighed nearly 5 tons and was over 50 feet long. -
Alan Turing
Alan Turing was a British mathematician who made significant contributions to the computer science world. He designed the Automatic Computing Engine. This was the first complete electronic all-purpose digital computer. Alan Turing also designed an input-output system and wrote the first programming manual that was used to market the first electronic digital computer. -
Transistor
A transistor is a device that regulates current or voltage flow and acts as a switch for electronic signals. Researchers working for Bell Labs spent many hours trying different experiments to finally come up with a working transistor. It is said to be the most important invention of the 20th Century. A transistor can function as an amplifier or a switch. Hearing aids are an example of how it is used as an amplifier. Computer chips use transistors as a switch. -
Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper was a pioneer in the field of computer science and a naval officer. She has been called the "Mother of Computing". She wanted to make computers more user friendly and was head programmer for Remington Rand. She assisted in helping the army with calculations and ran the numbers that were used in making the bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. -
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who was one of the first African American women to work as a scientist for NASA. She contributed to many documents and reports regarding space technology and it was the first time a woman in her division received credit as an author. She calculated launch windows and return paths for spaceflights including the first landing on the moon. -
Graphical User Interface
The graphical user interface allows users to interact with electronic devices using symbols, audio, and pointing devices. It replaced the difficult textual interfaces of previous computing. Commands no longer have to be typed on the keyboard. GUI's are used in mobile devices like phones and gaming devices. We use this today in many ways. The icons you see on the computer screen and the mouse you use to point and click are examples of this. -
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is an electronic device that has a microprocessor as its CPU. The first microcomputer was invented by Ed Roberts and was called the Altair 8800. It had no operating system and contained a single chip that held everything. In the 1980s microcomputers began to be used in businesses as workstations and are referred to as personal computers. -
Apple 1
The Apple 1 was designed by Steve Wozniak and was Apple's first product. Steve Jobs was the one who thought of the idea to sell it. To have money to do this, Jobs sold his VW bus and Wozniak sold his HP-65 calculator for $500. The Apple 1 went on sale in July 1976 at $666.66, the equivalent of $3,032 today. It had a built in terminal circuitry and all you needed was a keyboard and a tv set. It did not come with a case so people had wooden cases made or it could be used just as it was. -
Commodore PET 2001
The Commodore PET 2001 was one of the first personal computers. The keyboard on it was similar to what you would see at the grocery store register. It also featured a cassette deck for putting programs on the computer. You could do math problems and design simple graphics on it. It came fully functional right out of the box. -
Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak is the co-founder of Apple Computer. He designed his own microcomputer, which became Apple I. He also has worked at middle and high schools teaching computer literacy. He is known for starting the personal computer revolution and for co-founding one of the most popular and influential companies ever. -
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is a simulated experience that is similar to or completely different from the real world. There have actually been similar inventions, to the ones we have today, using virtual reality in different ways. In the 1960s, a military engineer created the first flight simulator for the Air Force. In the 1980s stereo vision glasses were created. Today we see virtual reality almost everywhere. From the Oculus headset we play games on to VR roller coaster rides. -
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is a wide ranging branch of computer science focused on building smart machines that can perform tasks that require human intelligence. There are four types of AI, reactive machines, limited memory, theory of mind, and self-awareness. Siri and Alexa are examples of AI, along with self-driving cars and email spam filters. AI is often seen in movies that depict intelligent robots that overrun humanity. The first humanoid robot was created by Hanson Robotics. -
Smartphones
Smartphones are mini PCs that are not just used to make calls or text message. They can be used to manage company workloads, watch videos on them, browse the internet, and play games.