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1200 BCE
Abacus
The abacus was invented around 1200 C.E. in China (Britannica). While the primitive technological advancements prior were designed for the purpose of streamlining manual labor, the abacus was likely the first tool made to make intellectual work (mathematical calculations) easier. -
Period: 1200 BCE to
Technological developments over time
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Punched-Card Tabulation
"Punched cards were invented about 1750 for the control of textile looms, and were adopted for use in Herman Hollerith in the 1890 US census" (columbia.edu). The punch card was the first mainstream form of physical data storage that was meant to be interpreted by computers. In this sense, a punch card is not dissimilar to a primitive form of hard drive. Having machines interpret the information given to them allowed for much more efficient collection of data, hence their use for the census. -
Cash Register
The cash register was invented in 1879 as a way for expanding stores to better track their finances. Cash registers allowed positions for unskilled workers; "After the Civil War, as American cities and businesses grew, business owners increasingly hired strangers to assist customers" (americanhistory.si.edu). Many of these positions were held by women, who were expected to do repeated, mundane computing tasks. This trend continues to be commonplace for later computational developments. -
Radio
Radio was developed by Heinrich Hertz who discovered that electromagnetic waves could be generated 1885, and Geglielmo Marconi, who proved Hertz's theory by transmitting radio waves in 1895. Telecommunication expanded to take many forms. Radio was the first form of home entertainment, as Americans tuned in to radio shows, and music stations. On November 2, 1920, station KDKA made the nation's first commercial broadcast (pbs.org). Radio was also adopted for military communication. -
ENIAC
In 1945 "the U.S. Army unveiled the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, or ENIAC" (Moye). The Army-financed project was the first programmable computer, which opened an infinite number of doors for programmers and consumers alike. The ENIAC was meant to be used for calculating paths for artillery weapons, and demonstrated the potential of computers to be used for military purposes. The ENIAC was an early stepping stone to the technological weaponization we see in modern armed conflict.
