Historical background of computers, Basic Computer Science

Assignment Help:

Historical Background

The brief history of the growth of computers is given below:

  1. Abacus:  It was the first mechanical device developed approximately 3,000 years ago, it consists of beads that can slide on wires. Wires represent columns. Right most column is for units, the next is for tens and so on. Various numbers can be represented by pushing appropriate beads. This device could perform simple additions and subtractions.
  2. Pascal Calculating Machine:  In 1642, Pascal devised a calculating machine for calculations. This consisted of a series of wheels having digits of zero to nine around the circumference.
  3. Jacquard Card: This utilized the concept of cards with punched holes. This was used for weaving patterns into fabric using cards with punched holes to guide the warp threads on a loom. This was invented in 1801 by Joseph Marie Jacquard.
  4. Analytical Engine:  In 1833, Charles Babbage developed the concepts for an analytical engine which could perform arithmetic functions on data, reading in from punched cards.
  5. Punched Card: In 1890, Herman Hollerith successfully devised electrical tabulating equipment. A coding scheme which would be punched into cards to represent data was devised by him. Hollerith coding system is used widely even today in the punched card equipment.
  6. Mark-1: Mark-1 was the first general purpose computer developed by Prof. Howard Aiken. It consisted of telephone relays and rotating mechanical wheels. Sequence of instructions were given using a paper tape.
  7. ENIAC: In 1946, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator) was developed. It was a large machine containing 18,000 vacuum tubes, weighed 30 tons, occupied 1,500 sq. ft. space and a small memory of 20 accumulators each capable of storing 10 digits. It did in 1 day what once took 300 days to perform.
  8. UNIVAC: The World’s first commercial data processing machine UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) of 1951, made by Remington Rand Corporation was installed for and used by the US Bureau of Census. It was used 24 hours a day for 12 years, and also is well known for having predicted the victory of President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 elections of the US, thus exposing to the general public the uses and capabilities of electronic computer.

 

Over the last years, the computer technology has been significantly developing. There has been tremendous reduction in size while storage capacity, speed and reliability have been increasing. 


Related Discussions:- Historical background of computers

If staement, if statement with explanation

if statement with explanation

Why learning of Assembly language is beneficial?, The first reason to work ...

The first reason to work with assembler is that it offers the opportunity of knowing more the operation of your PC, which permits the development of software in a more constant man

Computer science, Explain Canonical cover and Extraneous Attributes with ex...

Explain Canonical cover and Extraneous Attributes with examples.

Data structure and algorithms, need help with global alignment and local al...

need help with global alignment and local alignment for the sequences X and Y

Write down dijkstra''s algorithm, QUESTION (a) Write down the Update ...

QUESTION (a) Write down the Update Step in the Dijkstra's algorithm explaining its complexity. (b) Propose a Generic Algorithm for Depth-First Search Algorithm, assuming

Application programming, Do you offer application programming? Please sugge...

Do you offer application programming? Please suggest?

Database management software, Database Management Software: For storage of...

Database Management Software: For storage of large amounts of varied data, and rapid retrieval and interpretations of data, the database is the ideal tool. It is most useful for s

Briefly explain registers, Question 1 Briefly explain Registers Que...

Question 1 Briefly explain Registers Question 2 What are complier and interpreter? Question 3 Explain the process of installing Windows XP Question 4 Wr

Unix, Shell Scriptiong

Shell Scriptiong

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd