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

Perform a mail merge to send invitation, Question Elaborate the various...

Question Elaborate the various steps in performing a Mail Merge. Perform one mail merge operation for sending invitation for a conference which is being conducted in your organ

What is a middleware, QUESTION (a) Using diagrams, describe the 2-tier ...

QUESTION (a) Using diagrams, describe the 2-tier and 3-tier architectures. (b) What is a middleware? Explain the functions of a middleware. Give two examples of middleware.

Operating system, Operating System: Operating  System is the software ...

Operating System: Operating  System is the software that manages all the computers' resources to optimize its performance provides common services for efficient execution of v

Dfd, best example of dfd?

best example of dfd?

Diskless workstations, Diskless workstations:    Most people assume th...

Diskless workstations:    Most people assume that the operating system is stored on a disk that is connected directly to the computer, but this is not necessarily true. If the

Gui design, how to load a video using push button in gui design click

how to load a video using push button in gui design click

Trap doors and Logic Bombs, Trap doors:  This is a way of bypassing normal...

Trap doors:  This is a way of bypassing normal authentication procedure (windows/ operating system user name  and password) to access a system. Once a system is compromised (impac

Data transmission, #quesetion..explain the concept of data transmission giv...

#quesetion..explain the concept of data transmission giving details of the transmission rate and bandwidth with details explanation of the transmission media

Working of a computer, Working of a Computer Computer may be div...

Working of a Computer Computer may be divided into the following units     Input Unit     Main Memory or Primary Storage Unit     Arithmetic-Logic Unit

What is computer, how to use computer and how we can manage it

how to use computer and how we can manage it

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