Evolution Of Computers PDF
In the early days, people relied on basic tools like sticks, stones, and bones for counting. Over time, as our understanding of the world and technology advanced, we created more sophisticated counting devices. Let’s take a journey through some notable computing devices, starting from the earliest ones to the more recent innovations.-Evolution Of Computers PDF
Evolution Of Computers PDF
Abacus
Evolution Of Computers PDF-The history of computers traces back to the invention of the abacus, considered the first computer. Around 4,000 years ago, the Chinese are credited with creating the abacus—a wooden rack equipped with metal rods and beads. In this early computing device, operators moved beads along the rods based on specific rules to carry out arithmetic calculations. Even today, countries such as China, Russia, and Japan continue to use the abacus. The tool, shown below, reflects a significant milestone in the evolution of computing.
Napier’s Bone
John Napier, from Merchiston, created a manual calculating device around 1550-1617. This tool, known as “Napier’s Bones,” featured nine ivory strips or bones marked with numbers, enabling multiplication and division. Interestingly, it was the pioneer in utilizing the decimal point
Paskaline
Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician-philosopher, crafted a groundbreaking invention known as the Pascaline, also called the Arithmetic Machine or Adding Machine. This ingenious device, created between 1642 and 1644, marked the advent of the first mechanical and automatic calculator.
Evolution Of Computers Pdf
Pascal designed the Pascaline with the primary purpose of aiding his father, who worked as a tax accountant. The machine’s capabilities were limited to performing addition and subtraction. Constructed as a wooden box, it featured an arrangement of gears and wheels. Each wheel, when rotated one full revolution, caused the neighboring wheel to turn as well. The top of these wheels had a set of windows through which users could read the calculated totals.
The Pascaline represented a significant advancement in the history of calculators, serving as a practical tool for basic arithmetic tasks during its time.
Stepped reckoner Or Leibnitz Wheel
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a German mathematician, created a mechanical calculator known as the stepped reckoner or Leibniz calculator between 1672 and 1694. The name is derived from the German term “Staffelwalze,” meaning “stepped drum,” which describes its operating mechanism. This calculator was groundbreaking as it was the first of its kind capable of performing all four basic arithmetic operations.
Difference Engine
A difference engine is like an old-school automatic calculator from the 1820s, and it was invented by Charles Babbage. Its main job is to help with mathematical functions, especially ones involving polynomials. The name “difference engine” comes from a technique called divided differences, which is a way to figure out or make a table for functions using a specific set of polynomial coefficients. This machine was handy for calculating tables related to common math functions used in fields like engineering, science, and navigation, where things like logarithmic and trigonometric functions play a big role. Essentially, a difference engine could do the math to create useful tables for various purposes.
Analytical Engine
Charles Babbage, a notable English mathematician and computer pioneer, conceptualized the analytical engine in 1837 as an advanced version of his earlier design, the difference engine—a simpler mechanical calculator. The analytical engine was a groundbreaking proposal as it featured an arithmetic logic unit, control flow with conditional branching and loops, and integrated memory. Essentially, it can be considered the first design for a general-purpose computer with modern characteristics like being Turing-complete. This structure, resembling the basis of computer design in the electronic era, marks one of Charles Babbage’s significant accomplishments.
Tabulating Machine
Herman Hollerith came up with the tabulating machine, an electromechanical device meant to make summarizing information from punched cards easier. He invented it to streamline data processing for the 1890 U.S. Census. Over time, newer versions of the machine found widespread use in business tasks like accounting and inventory control. This invention gave rise to a category of machines known as unit record equipment, shaping the data processing industry. In 1931, the term “Super Computing” was coined by the New York World newspaper to describe a large, specially built tabulator created by IBM for Columbia University.
Differential Analyzer
The differential analyser is a kind of old-school computer that tackled math problems, particularly solving differential equations. Instead of digital circuits, it used physical parts like wheels and discs to do the math. At first, it couldn’t do simple addition, but someone cleverly realized that if you turn the two wheels of a rear differential, the middle shaft would give you the average of the left and right wheels. By cleverly using gear ratios, they figured out how to do addition and subtraction. Multiplication, in this context, is just a fancy way of doing integration, which is essentially adding up a bunch of constants.
Mark-I
In 1944, Professor Howard Aiken collaborated with IBM to create a programmable electromechanical calculator known as the Mark I. This machine, installed at Harvard, was an impressive feat with its 765,000 parts, equivalent to stringing together 78 adding machines. It utilized paper tape for input and had typewriters for output. According to Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, the Mark I emitted a sound reminiscent of a thousand knitting needles.
Evolution Of Computers PDF
Generation Of Computer
1. First Generation Computers
The first generation of computers emerged with the use of vacuum tube technology, which controlled the flow of electrons in a vacuum. These tubes were commonly employed in switches, amplifiers, radios, televisions, and other electronic devices. First-generation computers were bulky and heavy, making them impractical for programming purposes. They lacked an operating system and relied on basic programming, posing challenges for users. These early computers required a dedicated large room and consumed substantial amounts of electricity.
Notable examples of first-generation computers include
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer): Crafted by J. Presper Eckert and John V. Mauchly, it housed a staggering 18,000 vacuum tubes.
EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer): Conceived by Von Neumann, it played a pivotal role in the early development of computing.
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer): Engineered by Eckert and Mauchly in 1952, it stood as a significant milestone in the evolution of computing technology.
2. Second Generation Computers
the power and speed of computers during this era. Unlike their predecessors, these computers were smaller in size and generated less heat, thanks to the replacement of vacuum tubes with transistors. Second Generation Computers also introduced key components such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and input/output units. This era saw the emergence of programming languages like FORTRAN (1956), ALGOL (1958), and COBOL (1959), which played crucial roles in software development for these computers. Overall, the Second Generation of Computers brought about significant improvements in terms of size, efficiency, and functionality.
3. Third Generation Computers
During the evolution of Third Generation Computers, there was a significant transition from transistors to integrated circuits, commonly known as IC. These computers were characterized by their speed and reliability. The integrated circuits, or silicon chips, used in these machines were made from silicon and packed with numerous transistors, registers, and capacitors on a single thin slice of silicon. This innovation led to increased memory space and improved efficiency. Additionally, higher-level programming languages like BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) became prevalent during this era. The introduction of Minicomputers was also a notable development in the Third Generation of Computers.
4. Fourth Generation Computers
Between 1972 and 2010, the fourth generation of computers emerged, marked by the use of microprocessor technology. A key advantage was the ability of microprocessors to integrate all necessary circuits for arithmetic, logic, and control functions onto a single chip. This breakthrough led to computers becoming significantly smaller and portable.
The fourth generation also introduced various technologies, including multiprocessing, multiprogramming, time-sharing, increased operating speed, and the implementation of virtual memory. This era witnessed the realization of private computers and the establishment of computer networks, making significant strides in the evolution of computing.
5. Fifth Generation Of Computers.
The Fifth Generation of Computers utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, allowing computers to mimic human behavior. This advancement is evident in applications such as voice recognition and entertainment. Notably, these computers boast the highest speed and smallest sizes compared to previous generations. Over the years, we’ve witnessed significant improvements in computer generations, with notable enhancements in speed, accuracy, and dimensions.