The Evolution of the Computer

The history of computers initially started with humans using tools like pebbles and notches in sticks to count objects. The human aspect of computers is that they wanted a way to do calculations, which includes adding and multiplying multiple numbers. The manual calculator was one of beginning stages of computer history, even though humans were the ones who had to perform the calculations. The manual computer had the abacus, which was a frame that contains beads mounted on rods. This technology was used in Rome, Greece, India, China, and Japan.

In 1623, Wilhem Schicard, a college professor, developed the first mechanical calculator. It performed by itself, although a human had to enter the numbers. Later, a mathematician named Charles Babbage designed a general purpose calculator that was called an Analytical Engine. The concept of this computer was to modernize by having memory, processor and an output device. The information was on punch cards and allowed the user to define and enter programs.

In the 1890’s, metal rods were used to read cards or data was introduced by Herman Hollerith, a statistician, with the U.S Bureau of the Census. Hollerith was the first American to use that device. He later founded the Tabulation Machine Company. The tabulation of numbers soon became the way of sorting and counting cards. Tabulating also became the way of doing business for many companies.

In 1936 Konrad Zuse designed the Z1 computer, which was the first freely programmable computer. In 1942, John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry started the ABC Computer which was first in the computing business – although it was not always easy as ABC. In 1944, Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper invented the Harvard Mark 1 computer.

In 1946 John Pr...

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...which appeared by 1971 on minicomputers, which was one of the programs for electronic design automation. Eventually, the microprocessor led to the development of the microcomputer, which was a small, low-cost computer that could be owned by individuals and small business. Thus, microcomputers became obsolete by the 1980’s. Today, the personal computer is used by millions of individuals. They are also utilized in business and academia. Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is one of the largest industries in the world and the computer is owned by most households in America.

Works Cited

CIS 111, Parson, Oja, Beskeen, Cram, Duffy, Fredrichson, Reding, Basic PC Literacy, First edition 2011

History of Modern Computing: Paul E Ceruzzi Second Edition MIT press Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1998

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computing_hardware