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The historical computer development
The historical computer development
History of computer development
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Every generation of computer experienced a major technological development that basically changed the way computers operate, thus resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices .The history of computer development is always referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices. The first generation (1940-1956) is the Vacuum Tubes. The first generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for their memory, and because of that they big and were often large, taking up entire rooms to build. They are so expensive to operate because they are very large and took a lot of maintenance and in addition they use a great deal of electricity and similarly to current computers problem they generated a lot of heat thus which was often are the root cause of malfunctions. The first generation computers relied on the machine language, the earliest and lowest-level of programming language understood by computer in order to perform operations, and they could only be solved for one problem at a time. The punc...
Computer programming has evolved in many ways throughout the years. The first programmer was thought to be Ada Lovelace, who lived in the 1800’s. When translating an article about the Analytical Engine from Italian to French, adding her own notes, she was referred to as the first programmer for what she wrote in the article. Computer programming started many years ago, around the 1800’s, and is only growing today. “She has been referred to as prophet of the computer age.” (Computer History Museum, 2008). What is computer programming, how does it work for gaming, and how can a programming language be used?
Through the years, developments in Science and Technology can be noticed. Advancement in science and technology have made life better, easier, and efficient. Take computers, as an example. In old days, computers were as big as a room, and were not comfortable to use because the computer screen can damage the eyes. Conversely today, computers are small as the size of our palm, and has better display. Unlike the computers in the past, which were slow and has limited functionalities, computers in the present time are fast and has all the functionalities an individual needs for his or her everyday life. Technology is still developing to improve the life of every living creature on Earth. However, such developments will not happen without the contributions of the people in the past specially the individuals during the Renaissance, which is the time when intellect, and artistic achievements were being recognized.
The subject of this term paper will be about computers in the 1950’s. The divisions that will be covered are; the types of computers there were, the memory capacity of computers, the programming languages of that time, and the uses of the computers for that time. Information will be gathered from the Internet, from books, and from magazines, and from the encyclopedia.
In 500 B.C. the abacus was first used by the Babylonians as an aid to simple arithmetic. In 1623 Wihelm Schickard (1592 - 1635) invented a "Calculating Clock". This mechanical machine could add and subtract up to 6 digit numbers, and warned of an overflow by ringing a bell. J. H. Mueller comes up with the idea of the "difference engine", in 1786. This calculator could tabulate values of a polynomial. Muellers attempt to raise funds fails and the project was forgotten. Scheutz and his son Edward produced a 3rd order difference engine with a printer in 1843 and their government agreed to fund their next project.
The only that progressed is how we’ve given the instructions used to tell the computer what to with the data: flipping switches by hand (machine code) which was an awful painful task, later computer languages (English words computers could translate into binary code) were created making programming much easier only needing to type lists of instructions. The sole reason personal computer exist right now is because back then computer terminals were uncommon, only inhabiting institutions but these fascinated nerds wanted their very own computers. However, there was a technological breakthrough required to make their dream a reality. The microprocessor chip invented by Intel, consisting millions of transistors etched in silicon replacing the once needed valves helping miniaturize huge mainframe computers into the personal computer we know
Now in our society we have the liberty to choose any brand of computer that we like, and get it for a cheap price too, but what's the history behind it and what it did take to make it. Actually it took 142 years, (from 1822-1964), to make the first computer for the public to buy. Even though the computer that was made in 1822 doesn't resembled to the computer that we used now, actually it was the first step to a brand new world of technology. Through the pass of the years human have been developed new software and programs to make their products run efficiency, but imagine all that new technology in one product. That
Another example of the change in our technology over the last century is the change in the computer. In 1946, the first electronic computer called the ENIAC took up the space of a large room. Instead of using transistors and IC chips, the ENIAC used vacuum tubes. Compared to many computers now, the ENIAC is about as powerful as a small calculator. That may not be much, but it is a milestone because there would not be computers today if it were not for the ENIAC. As the years passed, the computer became smaller and more powerful. Today, more than half of the American population has a computer in their home. The personal computers today are thousands of times more powerful than the most powerful computers fifty years ago.
Prior to the revolution in technology that was microprocessors, making a computer was a large task for any manufacturer. Computers used to be built solely on discrete, or individual, transistors soldered together. Microprocessors act as the brain of a computer, doing all mathematics. Depending on how powerful the machine was intended to be, this could take weeks or even months to produce with individual components. This laborious task put the cost of a computer beyond the reach of any regular person. Computers before lithographic technology were massive and were mostly used in lab scenarios (Brain 1).
The First Generation of Computers The first generation of computers, beginning around the end of World War 2, and continuing until around the year 1957, included computers that used vacuum tubes, drum memories, and programming in machine code. Computers at that time where mammoth machines that did not have the power our present day desktop microcomputers. In 1950, the first real-time, interactive computer was completed by a design team at MIT. The "Whirlwind Computer," as it was called, was a revamped U.S. Navy project for developing an aircraft simulator.
Without dragging on a long history and kill the excitements, I would just get started here, Charles Babbage created the first computing machine in 1822. He wasn’t planning to actually built a real computers that had millions of software’s in it but indeed a computer that actually solved math problem. He was sick of correcting math problems that all human brains couldn’t solve, therefore he thought of inventing something that would help him solve the headache, but then what he finally was a computer. Computer! What is an computer. As we all know computer is device storing and processing data, typically that binate, according to instructions given to it in a variable program. Computers are also known as PC, laptop, netbook, ultraportable, desktop or even terminal. A brief history on how was a computer was invented, computer was originally found being used in 1613 that meant “ humans who perform calculation and computations. The definition of a computer never changed until 19th century when humans began to realize machines never get tired and can perform calculations much accurately and effectively than any human beings that could ever do. More on, in World War II, mechanical analog computers were used for specialized military applications. During this time the first electronic digital computers were developed.the digital computers were a size of a large room,and it consumed power as 50 over personal computers. The machine contained fifty-foot long camshaft that carried the machine’s thousands of component parts. To prodeuced mathematical tables the MARK -1 was used but than soon it was superseded by stored program computers.
Computer history is based and consisted of different components during different periods of time. There are five different generations and during each one, different components are invented and used to make computers better. The development of computers is known as generations. Usually, the generations develop how computers operate, to make them smaller, cheaper, and make it more efficient and more reliable. All the generations started in 1940 by ENIAC. All computers till 2014 use low language, but humans use high level language which is close to English. Low level language is a computer language which is consisted of zeros and ones. Some of the high level languages are FORTRAN, Pascal, Basic, C and C++, and finally, Java. Computers have been
Computer history goes back to the 1800s when Charles Babbage created the first computer, named the Babbage model. It was an analytical model that was composed of gears and levers and was about the size of a desk calculator ("Computers" Ferguson's Career Guidance Center). Computers that used vacuum tubes to store space concepts were considered first generation computers. Overtime, computers became smaller, faster, more reliable, and much easier to use than the previous models. In 1971, the first microprocessor was invented, which led to the fourth generation computers, which are used to this day. By the 1980s, competition among companies, such as IBM, Apple, and Packard Bell, resulted in lower prices for computers ("Computers"). Now, computers are affordable for businesses, schools, and homes.
Thousands of years ago calculations were done using people’s fingers and pebbles that were found just lying around. Technology has transformed so much that today the most complicated computations are done within seconds. Human dependency on computers is increasing everyday. Just think how hard it would be to live a week without a computer. We owe the advancements of computers and other such electronic devices to the intelligence of men of the past.
If nineteenth century was an era of the Industrial revolution in Europe, I would say that computer and Information Technology have domineered since the twentieth century. The world today is a void without computers, be it healthcare, commerce or any other field, the industry won’t thrive without Information Technology and Computer Science. This ever-growing field of technology has aroused interest in me since my childhood.
Almost every device has some type of computer in it. Whether it is a cell phone, a calculator, or a vending machine. Even things that we take for granted most cars since the 1980’s have a computer in it or a pacemaker. All of the advancements in computers and technology have led up to the 21st century in which “the greatest advances in computer technology will occur…” Mainly in areas such as “hardware, software, communications and networks, mobile and wireless connectivity, and robotics.”