History of computer
history of computers is considered to be very old. It first started in the form of Abacus in China about 3000 years ago. Gradually, various calculating machines were developed and in the 19th century Charles Babbage presented the idea of an engine which was the Analytical Engine, which is now considered the ancestor of this engine. In the 20th century, electronic computers were developed, which include Z3 and ANIAC as important milestones.
Abacus
Abacus was used in ancient times (for calculations). Abacus is a device used for numerical calculations. Calculations are done by means of beads strung on wires. It was invented in China.
pascal calculator
The first calculating machine was built in 1645 by French mathematician Blaise Pascal. Interlocking gears were used in that calculator which represented numbers from 0 to 9. It was capable of doing only addition or subtraction. Hence it was also called an adding machine.
Analytical Engine
In 1801, Joseph Marie Jacquard built an automatic weaving machine. In this, metal plates were punched and were capable of controlling the weaving of the cloth.
In 1820, an English inventor Charles Babbage built the Difference Engine and later the Analytical Engine. The first computer prototype was built using Charles Babbage’s concept. For this reason, Charles Babbage is called the father of the computer. Despite ten years of hard work, he was not completely successful. In 1842, Lady Lovelace translated a paper LF Menabrea on the Analytical Engine from Italian to English. Augusta wrote the first Demonstration Program and her contribution to binary arithmetic was used by John Van Newman for the development of modern computers. Therefore, Augusta is called the first programmer and inventor of the binary system.
Herman Hollerith and Punch Cards
Around 1880, Hollerith created the punch card, which was similar to today’s computer card. He also invented the Hollerith 80 column code and the census tabulating machine.
first electronic computer
ENIAC – In 1942, H. Aiken of Harvard University built a computer. This computer Mark 1 was the prototype of today’s computer. In 1946, during the Second World War, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrated and Calculator) was built. It was the first fully electronic computer.
Stored Program Concept – EDSAC
The stored program concept states that the operating instructions and data used in processing must be stored in the computer and modified as needed at the time of program execution. The EDSAC computer developed at Cambridge University incorporated the stored program concept. It was capable of storing a sequence of instructions in the computer and was the first computer programmable.
UNIVAC-I
It is also called Universal Automatic Computer. It was the first computer available for commercial use in 1951. It contained the features of the first generation of computers.
Important facts about different computers
Abacus
Year- 3000-2000 BC
Key Facts First mechanical calculator
Pascal Calculator
Year -1645
Key Facts First machine that was able to add, subtract and count
Jacquard Weaving Loom
Year -1801
Key Facts Metal plates with punch holes were used to control the weaving pattern
Babbage’s Analytical Engin
Year 1834-1871
Key Facts Attempt to create the first general purpose computer but it was not possible during Babbage’s lifetime.
Harman Tabulating Machine
Year 1887-1896
Key Facts Codes and instruments were invented to punch data into cards and to tabulate the collected data.
howard iken mark 1
Year 1937-1944
Key Facts Electromechanical computers were invented, which used punched paper tape for data storage.
Main article: ENIAC
Year 1943-1950
Key Facts First fully electronic calculating machine with a permanent program stored in it.
Van Neumann Stored Program Concept
Year 1945-1952
Key Facts The concept of storing instructions and data in computer memory was developed. Data and instructions started being encoded in binary.
EDSAC
Year 1946-1952
Key Facts The first computer that was able to store information and instructions in its memory.
UNIVAC-1
Year 1951-1954
Key Facts The first computer that was commercially available.
generation computer
The aim of developing different generations of computers has been to make cheap, small, fast and reliable computers.
First Generation Computers 1942-1955
UNIVAC 1 was the first commercial computer. This machine was developed for military and scientific use. Vacuum tubes were used in it. These were large in size and produced a lot of heat. All the instructions and information were stored in the computer in the form of 0 and 1 and machine language was used in it. Punch cards were used for storage. Example – ENIAC, UNIVAC and Mark 1 are examples of this. There were some drawbacks in the use of vacuum tubes. It took time for the vacuum tube to heat up and after heating, a lot of heat was produced which had to be kept cool by using expensive air conditioners and a lot of electricity was consumed
Second Generation Computers – 1955-1964
In this generation of computers, small light transistors were used instead of vacuum tubes. Magnetic cores were used to represent data in the computer. Magnetic disks and tapes were used to store data. Magnetic disks had a layer of iron oxide. Their speed and storage capacity were also fast. During this period, the use of computers started in business and industry and new programming languages were developed.
Third Generation Computers 1965-1974
Continuous technological development in electronics reduced the size of computers and made them work at a faster speed. In the third generation of computers, Integrated Circuit (IC) started being used instead of transistors, which was developed by J.S. Kilvi. Initially, LSI (Large Scale Integration) was used in which a large number of ICs or transistors were used on a silicon chip. The use of RAM (Random Access Memory) increased the storage capacity of magnetic tapes and disks. Time sharing developed in the computers used by people, through which more than one user could use the resources of the computer simultaneously. Hardware and software started being available separately so that the user could get the software as per his requirement.
Fourth generation (1975 – up till now)
In the fourth generation of computers, instead of LSI IC, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) and ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) started being used in which almost millions of things could be stored in a single chip. Using VLSI technology, microprocessor was made which reduced the size of the computer and increased its capacity. Microprocessor was used not only in computers but also in many other products: like vehicles, sewing machines, microwave ovens, electronic games etc. Semiconductor memory started being used in place of magnetic disk and tape. Increase in RAM capacity saved time and work started happening at a very fast speed. During this time, the development of GUI (Graphical User Interface) made the use of computer even easier. MS-DOS, MS-Windows and Apple Mac OS operating systems and C language were developed. High level language was standardized so that the program could be run in all computers.
Fifth Generation Computers – At Present
In the fifth generation computer, ULSI was developed in place of VLSI and it became possible to perform millions of calculations on a single chip. Compact disc (CD) was developed for storage. Internet, email and World Wide Web (WWW) were developed. Very small and fast working computers were developed. The complexity of programming was reduced so that the computer could take decisions according to the situation. Portable PC and desktop PC brought revolution in the computer field and it started being used in every sphere of life.
Features of different generations
First generation features
1. Use of vacuum tubes in electronic circuits.
Use of magnetic drum as primary internal storage.
3. Limited main storage capacity.
4. Slow input-output.
5. Low level programming language, machine language, assembly language.
6. Inconvenience in temperature control.
7. Use – For payroll processing and record keeping.
8. Example – IBM 650 UNIVAC
Second Generation Features
1. Introduction of transistors.
2. Use of magnetic cores as primary internal storage.
3. Increase in main storage capacity.
4. Fast input output.
5. High level languages (COBOL, FORTRAN)
6. Reduction in size and heat.
7. Fast and reliable.
8. Bench oriented uses billing, payroll processing, updating inventory files.
9. Example – IBM 1401 Honeywell 200 CDC 1604.
Third generation features
1. Use of IC chips.
2. Use of magnetic core and solid state as main storage. (SSI and MSI)
3. More flexible input output. 4. Fast, small, reliable.
5. Extensive use of high level language.
6. Remote processing and time sharing systems, multi programming.
7. Software available to control input output.
8. Uses – Airline reservation systems, credit card billing, market forecasting.
9. Example – IBM System/ 360 NCR 395, Burrough B6500
Fourth generation features
1. Use of VLSI and ULSI.
2. High and fast capacity storage.
3. Compatibility between devices from different hardware manufacturers so that consumers are not tied to a single vendor.
4. Increase in the use of minicomputers.
5. Introduction of microprocessors and minicomputers.
6. Uses – electronic fund transfer, commercial production and personal use.
7. Examples – IBM PC-XT, Apple II
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