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History of Computer - Notes

The document outlines the history of computing from ancient counting tools to modern advancements, highlighting key figures and inventions such as the abacus, mechanical calculators, and Charles Babbage's contributions. It details the evolution of computers through various generations, emphasizing trends like miniaturization, affordability, and the rise of mobile computing. The narrative illustrates the significant milestones that have shaped the technology we rely on today.

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jumanamoosa05
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244 views1 page

History of Computer - Notes

The document outlines the history of computing from ancient counting tools to modern advancements, highlighting key figures and inventions such as the abacus, mechanical calculators, and Charles Babbage's contributions. It details the evolution of computers through various generations, emphasizing trends like miniaturization, affordability, and the rise of mobile computing. The narrative illustrates the significant milestones that have shaped the technology we rely on today.

Uploaded by

jumanamoosa05
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Early History:

● Ancient Counting Tools: Early civilizations used tools like the abacus (around 2700 BC)
for basic arithmetic.
● Mechanical Calculators:
○ Wilhelm Schickard (1623): Designed the "Calculating Clock," the first known
mechanical calculator.
○ Blaise Pascal (1642): Created the "Pascaline," a mechanical calculator that could
add and subtract.
○ Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1671): Improved Pascal's design with the "Stepped
Reckoner," capable of multiplication and division.
● Jacquard Loom (1801): Joseph Marie Jacquard invented a loom that used punched
cards to automate weaving patterns, a concept later used in early computers.
● Charles Babbage (early 1800s): Considered the "Father of the Computer," he designed:
○ Difference Engine: A mechanical calculator for complex mathematical tables.
○ Analytical Engine: A more general-purpose computer with concepts like memory
and conditional branching (never fully built during his lifetime).
● Ada Lovelace (1840s): Wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine
(Babbage's Analytical Engine), making her the first computer programmer.
The 20th Century and Beyond:
● Tabulating Machines (late 1800s): Herman Hollerith developed machines using
punched cards to process census data, leading to the formation of IBM.
● Analog Computers (early 1900s): Used mechanical or electrical means to model
problems.
● World War II (1939-1945): Spurred rapid advancements in computing technology:
○ Alan Turing: Developed the concept of a "universal machine" and contributed to
code-breaking efforts with the "Bombe" machine.
○ Konrad Zuse: Built the Z3, considered the first programmable digital computer.
○ ENIAC (1945): The first general-purpose electronic digital computer, used vacuum
tubes and was enormous.
Generations of Computers:
● First Generation (1946-1959): Vacuum tubes, large, expensive, unreliable. (ENIAC,
UNIVAC)
● Second Generation (1959-1965): Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, smaller, faster,
more reliable.
● Third Generation (1965-1971): Integrated circuits (ICs) further miniaturized components,
increased speed and efficiency.
● Fourth Generation (1971-present): Microprocessors (single-chip CPUs) led to the
development of personal computers.
● Fifth Generation (present and beyond): Focus on artificial intelligence, parallel
processing, and quantum computing.
Key Trends:
● Miniaturization: Computers have become exponentially smaller and more powerful.
● Increased affordability: Computers have become more accessible to the general public.
● Networking and the Internet: Connecting computers has revolutionized communication
and information sharing.
● Mobile computing: Smartphones and tablets have made computing ubiquitous.
This is a condensed overview of computer history. Each era and individual mentioned has a rich
story behind it, and further exploration will reveal the fascinating journey of computing from its
humble beginnings to the powerful technology we have today.

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