-
Period: to
The History of Computers
-
Period: to
The History of Computers
-
John Napier
A Scottish mathematician named John Napier invented a set of rods, which have become known as "Napier's Bones," that could be used to perform complex calculations. The rods could be used to divide, multiply, and even to calculate square roots and cube roots. -
Joseph-Marie Jacquard
He developed a weaving loom that used punched cards to replicate designs. The introduction of this was a revolutionary step toward computer input. -
Charles Babbage
The first machine that actually approximated the idea of a computer, that is, input-execution-output. This machine was called the 'difference engine." A glorified adding and multiplication machine, it was to be built of gears and levers, and it was to be steam- powered.It was to use punched cards or operator entry for input, and it was to record output on soft metal plates. -
Herman Hollerith
Herman Hollerith invented a punched card calculator to count the U.S. Census. The one from 1880 required more than seven years to count. Because of Hermans machine, the census of 1890 was completed in just six weeks. He went on to form the Tabulating Machine Company, which eventually became International Business Machines, or IBM. -
WIlliam S. Burroughs
Several Machines had been built by 1900's which rivaled the Analytical Engine in complexity. These were true mechanical calculators. One made by William S. Burroughs, and the Burroughs company went on to become one of the leaders in the computer industry. -
Charles Babbbage's son
Charles Babbage's son completed the central component, or mill, of his father's Analytical Engine. It worked perfectly. The never machine was never built though. -
Lee De Forest
Lee De Forest invented the electronic tube. This vacuum tube made possible the development of electronic computers. This invention must be considered one of the three technological advances that are key to the development of the computer industry, along with the transistor and the integrated circuit. -
Electronic Digital (binary) computers
True electronic digital (binary) computers was stirred greatly by the coming of World War II. The need arose for a machine capable of faster calculations. Electronic machines were developed for the purpose of breaking German Encryption codes. These machines were the forerunners of modern computers, but were designed for one specific purpose and not for general use. -
Howard H. Aiken
A computer developed at Harvard University by Howard Aiken was the first programmed controlled calculator. It worked from punched cards or paper tape. This was very close to being a fully operational computer. -
Colossus
A computer called Colossus was completed in Great Britain. This computer took over the task of code-breaking. It was a general purpose machine, and it was very fast. Ten of these computers were built, but after World War II, they were all destroyed. The British government was concerned that enemy nations would use them against the British Empire. -
Grace Hopper
During the years between 1945 and 1975, many new computer languages were written. Grace Hopper, who served in the Navy for many years, developed a high level language compiler. Her work was extremely important in the early years of computing. She even found the first computer bug- literally a moth that was preventing a computer from functioning properly. She taped it in her journal and labeled it as a "bug". Hence the term for errors in computer programs or operations. -
ENIAC
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) Ballistic Research Laboratory, capable of 100,000 calculations per second. -
Transistor
Each transistor could do the work of several electronic tubes, and each was smaller than a postage stamp. Now computers could use less electricity, give off less heat, be made smaller, and be less expensive than the old tube models. The tube models have been designated "first generation" computers, and transistor models as "second generation" computers. The transistor was developed at Bell Laboratories by William B. Shockley, Walter H. Brattain, and John Bardeen. -
EDVAC I
EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Computer) Insititute for Advance Study, Princeton, first computer to use magnetic tape for storage. -
UNIVAC I
Remington Rand, the first computer produced in numbers for business. Before UNIVAC I, the computer was strictly government or university property. -
FORTRAN
A computer language FORTRAN (FORMula TRANslator) in 1957. -
Integrated Circuit
Computing was changed forever by the invention of the integrated circuit. This led to the introduction of the modern computer "chip", which contains the equivalent power of millions of transistors. One of these chips is no larger than one tube in the first generation computers. The integrated circuit led to the "third generation" -
Third Generation of computers
The third generation of computers had a short life span, generally regarded as 1958 to 1972. These computers were fast, but they were still expensive to build, operate, and maintain. Computers were still owned only by businesses that could afford a sizable investment. -
COBOL
COBOL another important computer language developed by Grace Hopper. -
ALGOL
Important computer language ALGOL. -
APL
Important computer language -
BASIC
Important computer language (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) -
PASCAL
important computer language -
LOGO
important computer languages -
First Microprocessors
In the early 1970's the first microprocessors were developed. These devices were etched materials with the capabilities of many thousands of transistors. These little devices made computers smaller, faster, cheaper, and easier to build. The computing power shot up, and the prices fell down just as quickly. -
The fourth generation
Computers built in the 1970's through the present are known as "fourth generation" computers. They share many similarities in their design, though they vary widely in their complexity and power. -
Atari
Another major player in the personal computer market was Atari. This company had started out making video games. They offered several personal computers in the late 1970's and early 1980's, including the 400, 800, and 1200 computers. These computers were handsome, rugged, and easy to use. They faded in popularity as the IBM PC and compatibles took over the market. -
C
important computer language -
Intel 4004 the 8008
The first microprocessor to fuel the personal computer phenomenon was the Intel 4004. This microprocessor was immediately followed by an even more powerful chip, the 8008. These two processors made personal computing possible, and to a degree, affordable. -
Computers kit form
Many kits were sold in the early days of personal computing. Since most people who were interested in computers were electronics hobbyists or engineers, it was natural that early computers be introduced in kit form. The Berkeley company offered plans to build a microcomputer called Simon. In 1973, the Scelbi company offered a computer kit using the Xerox 8008 chip for $565. -
The 8080
Intel introduced a more powerful microprocessor, the 8080. This chip formed the basis of most personal computers for the next few years. Gary Kildall wrote an operating system for this chip called CP/M. Many thousands of computers used this chip and this operating system for the next few years. -
Apple Computers
A newly-formed computer club in Menlo Park, California, sees a demonstration of the Altair. In attendance at this first meeting of the Homebrew club was a man named Steve Wozniak. March of the next year Wozniak and, Steve Jobs, completed work on a circuit board for a new microcomputer the Apple I. Soon, they had sold so many that they had the money to develop an even faster, more powerful computer. This computer they called the Apple II, and it was released in 1977. -
Cray 1
Cray 1 was the first supercomputer which was available for purchase. The super computer is based upon physics principles related to supercooling. Circuits were developed which took advantage of the increased conductivity of materials when cooled near absolute zero. The Cray 1 could do an amazing 150 million calculations per second. While that may seem staggering, consider this: today's supercomputers are more than a thousand times faster. -
PET
In January of 1977, Commodore business Machines introduced its first personal computer. This was the PET, and it had feature similar to the Apple 1. Commodore computers would produce and successfully market several different models of personal computers including the C64, the C128, and the VIC-20 series. These computers shared many feature, but varied in speed and power. -
TRS-80
Radio Shack, a division of the Tandy Corp., introduced the TRS-80 in August of 1977. It was less expensive than the Apple computers, and well received by the public. The TRS-80 line of computers sold well, and were some of the most popular personal computers of the 1970's and early 1980's. -
8086 microprocessor
This was a true 16-bit microprocessor, involving the computing power of 29,000 transistors. It added more power and speed to personal computing. The IBM Corporation had watched with interest as personal computer system sales skyrocketed.
